Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
MICHEL ANTOINE BERTIN BURIN DU BUISSON, of Lambs Conduit
Street, in the County of Middlesex, Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,
by Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-third day of June, in the ninth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Michel Antoine Bertin Burin Du Buisson, Her
especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the
said Michel Antoine Bertin Burin Du Buisson, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Michel Antoine
Bertin Burin Du Buisson, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in all Her Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney,

page_text: Sark, and Man, my Invention of "NEW AND IMPROVED METHODS FOR THE
DISTILLATION OF BITUMINOUS SCHISTUS AND OTHER BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES,
AS WELL AS FOR THE PURIFICATION, RECTIFICATION, AND PREPARATION
NECESSARY FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE PRODUCTIONS OBTAINED BY SUCH
DISTILLATION FOR VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Michel Antoine
Bertin Burin Du Buisson, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and
to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calender months next and immediately after the
date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Michel Antoine Bertin Burin Du Buisson, do hereby declare that
the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the same
is to be performed, is particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following description thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:
Bituminous schistus and other bituminous substances, such as clay
slate (which latter is, however, more scarce), are to be met with, like
coal, in large quantities in veins and masses in various parts of Europe;
France and England contain very large quantities. Many attempts
have been made to render bituminous schistus useful, and various
means have been proposed to effect this object; in England they have
all failed; while in France, on the contrary, in the extensive works at
Autun, Department of the Saone and Loire, (which are partly my
property, and of which I have the management as chemist,) the most
important results have been obtained, which place the distillation and
treatment of schistus amongst the most useful and productive of
chemical manufactures.
The following is the description of the furnace employed for the
distillation of schistus or any other. bituminous rock. This furnace

page_text: (shewn in Sheet 1, at Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4,) is composed of a conical or
funnel shaped retort or pyramid, formed of two funnel shaped vessels
A, A, of different sizes, placed one inside the other, so as to leave
a space between them to recieve the schistus to be distilled. The
space between the cones is hermetically closed by a ring A', furnished
with pipes E, E, which serve as supply pipes for the schistus, and
also for the escape of the vapors evolved during the process of
distillation. For this purpose the tubes E, E, are furnished at their
sides with pipes which serve to supply the pipes E", which conduct
the distilled vapors to the hydraulic main appointed to receive them,
and also for the escape. of steam, which does not contain any oil,
and to clean the tubes when necessary. The bottom of the interior
cone is stopped up by a moveable metallic stopper, whereby it may be
emptied of cinders which may accumulate during the operation. The
two cones are kept at a suitable and uniform distance apart by means
of metallic ribs. There is a third cone C, which serves to conduct the
flame and hot air from the fire-place to the chimney D, which must be
protected as much as possible from the heat. The flue or chimney D,
must be furnished with a small fire-place d, for the purpose of assisting
the draft when the fire is first ignited. When the flame from the
fire-places rises up the side of the hollow cone A, and passes through
the space left between the cone C and the hollow cone A into the
chimney, it communicates a great portion of its heat to the outside of
the hollow cone in passing up along its outer surface, and inside on
passing down to the chimney; the hollow space A thus deriving heat
from both sides. The width of the flues for the passage of the flame
must be regulated in proportion to the distance that the flame has to
travel from the fire-places and the surface required to be heated; the
fire-places must be constructed in such a manner as to allow the flame
to divide and issue therefrom at both sides of the furnace, and the
bricks at the end must be placed edgewisc at certain distances apart,
in order to allow heat to pass to the bottom of the cone. Any number
of fire-places may be employed, but I have shewn four, as best suited
to the scale I have adopted. The tubes a, a, are for the purpose of
watching the operation of the flame. These pipes also serve to clean
D

page_text: the sides from any soot which might be deposited thereon and obstruct
the passage of the heated air and smoke to the chimney D. The cone C
is filled with sand or carbonate of lime, or any other substance which
is a bad conductor of heat, and which might be most casily removed in
case any repairs should be necessary. I place either on the bed of
the furnace or at any convenient height a series of steam pipes I,
joined together, so as to convey steam from a boiler or generator into
the conical retort containing the schistus, which steam on passing
through these tubes, which are heated to redness, acquires a high
degree of temperature. The steam is made to enter the conical retort
at its lower extremity (as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1). I adapt two,
three, or four series of steam pipes; the entrance of the steam into
those pipes (which are heated to redness) is regulated by means of a
stop cock in the main pipe leading from the steam generator.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, Sheet I. A, A, hollow cones, having a space
between them, and thereby forming a retort; B, space at the
bottom of the conical retort for the reception of ashes and soot which
may accumulate in the chimney D. It is closed by a metal plug
or stopper which must be opened when it is necessary to remove
the soot and ashes. C is the central cone, in the centre of which
the chimney D is fixed. A space is left all round between this cone
and the retort A, forming a flue or passage for the flame into the
chimney D. The chimney D is furnished with a small fire-place d,
for aiding the draft. E, E¹, pipes for filling the retort. E" (see Fig.
2 & 3) is a pipe leading to the large iron cylinder or hydraulic main
E, into which the distilled vapors pass on their way to the refrigera-
tors or condensers; the heavier matters carried off in the process of
distillation are condensed and remain in the cylinder or main E¹¹¹,
which is furnished with a syphon-shaped pipe forming an bydraulic
joint, allowing the liquid products condensed in the cylinder or main
E (see Fig. 3) to escape. It will be understood that in order to
furnish the syphon with water, and thereby form an hydraulic joint;
the Lydraulic main must always be furnished with water at the bottom,

page_text: and as soon as the heavy oils, being condensed, reach the upper level,
they will escape into any suitable receptacle. The hydraulic main E
may be placed directly above or on one side of the pipe for the exit of
the distilled vapors. F, F, fire-places, the backs of which are con-
structed in a manner suitable for keeping the fuel in its place. F',
dome or arch, open on each side in order to divide the flame. This
dome is supported behind by means of bricks placed edgeways at cer-
tain distances apart to allow the heat froin the fire-place to pass to the
bottom of the retort. G, brickwork or masonry. I, I, cast iron pipes
for heating the steam before its introduction into the retort. This
steam must be heated to a very high temperature, and for this purpose
a space
is left between each of these small tubes to allow the flanie and
heated air to pass between and around them. They may be fixed in
any convenient place, either in spaces left in the brickwork for that
purpose, or on the bed of the furnace, as shown in the Drawing; the
principal point being to allow them to be heated to a cherry red, but
not to a greater heat, as it would be injurious. Theso pipes are all
joined together at the end by small pipes, and are supplied from the
boiler by one large pipe, the entrance of the steam into the small pipes
being regulated by a stop cock at one end. After being heated to a
high degree of temperature by passing through these red hot tubes, the
steam is allowed to pass freely into the retort at its lower extremity, as
shown by the arrows in Fig. 1. K, exit aperture for the schistus after
distillation; it is closed by a metallic cover. In Fig. 4, Y is the hopper
for filling the retort.

page_text: dimensions (four feet six inches in height and four feet wide), a space of
about six inches being left between them on all sides and at the bottom.
A copper tube C is fixed in the cylindrical vessels, passing through the
space left between them at the side near the top and bottom, and enter-
ing the interior cylinder A. This pipe is open the greater part of its
length (i. e. its vertical part) for the purpose of exposing to view. a very
strong glass. or crystal tube luted carefully inside it, to shew the level
of the oil in the vessel A. B¹, B', is a pipe furnished with a stop cock
for conducting steam from a generator into the space between the two
cylinders. F, F, is another pipe for conducting steam from the same
generator into the vessel A; and for this purpose to the extremity of
this pipe a spiral pipe A', A', is affixed parallel with and along the
whole length of the bottom of the vessel A, at about one inch distance
therefrom; these pipes are pierced with a multitude of small holes on
their whole surface, for the purpose of emitting the steam in small jets
into the oil; instead of these spiral tubes a diaphragm or double bottom
pierced with small holes may be employed; it must extend over the
whole surface of the interior cylinder A, and at about two inches dis-
tance from the bottom, and about half that listance above the steam
pipe, which will introduce the steam between the bottom of the vessel
A, and the perforated diaphragm. On the top of the cylindrical vessel
A, containing the oil is fixed a still head D, furnished with a pipe G,
for conducting the distilled vapors to the refrigerator. Inside the still
head there are four diaphragms E, at a distance of about one inch from
cach other; these diaphragms are made of galvanized iron wire work of
close meshes; their use will be hereafter described. H is a pipe for
supplying the oil to the apparatus. Near the supply pipe H, is the
man-hole T, for entering the vessel A, if necessary. Between the man
hole and the still head is a small pipe, forming a communication
between the cylinder A and a manometer M, which indicates the près-
sure inside the vessel. The pipe G, (the length of which must be.
regulated according to circumstances, viz, the locality, &c.) is furnisherl
with a cock I, having a dial divided and numbered (see Fig. 2). A
needle or indicator L, in connection with this dial, shows to what extent
the cock is open; the numbers on the dial are intended to guide the.

page_text: attendant so that he may open or close the cock according to the pres-
sure that exists in the vessel A; that is to say, if he finds
is
meter that the pressure inside the vessel amounts to four atmospheres,
then he must turn the cock until the number 4 is brought' beneath the
index, and so on for any other amount of pressure. By this arrange-
ment it will be clearly understood that the distance the cock is open
ascertained by observing the number which is opposite the needle.
Upon the same pipe G, there is another cock N, for the escape of air
when introducing oil or steam into the vessel. There is also a cock O,
for allowing air to escape from the space between the two cylinders
when it is to be filled with steam.
ascertained by observing the number which is opposite the necure.
Upon the same pipe G, there is another cock N, for the escape of air
when introducing oil or steam into the vessel. There is also a cock O,
for allowing air to escape from the space between the two cylinders
when it is to be filled with steam.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Fig. 1, Sheet II. A, is a wrought iron cylindrical vessel for .the
reception of the oil; B, wrought iron cylinder surrounding the cylin-
drical vessel A, a space being left at bottom and all round between.
them, but not at top; C, pipe for-shewing the height of the condensed
water and oil in the vessel A; D, is the still head made of tinned
copper; E, E, E, E, diaphragms of galvanized iron wire work in the
still head; G, copper pipe for conducting the distilled vapors to the.
refrigerator or condenser; H, pipe for supplying oil to the apparatus,
either by a lift or force pump, or by placing a vessel containing oil at a
higher. 'level; B', B', pipe and stop cock for conveying steam to the
space between the cylinders; F, F, pipe for conveying steam into the.
inner cylinder; A', A', are spiral or convolute pipes at the bottom of
the vessel A, (or, if preferred, à diaphragm pierced with a number of;
small holes may be employed,) in order to divide the steam into a mul-
titude of small jets; I, cock and indicator; L, needle placed over the.
dial (see plan view, Fig: 2); M, manometer; N, cock for the escape
of air; O, cock for the escape of air from the space between the cylin-
drical vessels; P, cock for 'emptying the vessel A; R, cock for the
escape of water from the space between the cylindrical vessels; T,
man-hole. There being no improvement in the refrigerators I have not
thought it necessary to shew them; the oil and condensed water on

page_text: leaving them are received in a vessel having two exit openings, the one
below for the escape of the water, which, being heavier, sinks to the
bottom, and the other above for the escape of the oil. In order to
distil with this apparatus the volatile oil of schistus, No. 1, for example,
the density of which is from 0.81 to 0.82 degrees, water being 100,
and the boiling point of which is consequently below 802° Fahrenheit,
the steam to be employed is maintained at a pressure of 8 atmospheres,
and the apparatus is half filled with oil; the induction aperture into the
space B, is then opened and the air allowed to escape through the pipe
O, the oil is thus heated to about 212° of Fahrenheit, after which steam
is introduced into the oil through the pipe F, and the pressure in the
vessel A, is allowed to become equal to that of the steam generator
(i. e. 3 atmospheres), the cock I is then opened to a suitable extent,
and the process of distillation begins. The operator, guiding himself by
the figure of the indicator on the one hand, and by the manometers of
the generator and vessel A, on the other, must conduct the operation
in such manner as to keep the pressure as nearly as possible equal in
both, and for this purpose he must allow the water condensed in the
space between the vessels A and B to escape through the pipe R. In
this manner the distillation will proceed in the most satisfactory manner.
Note. The steam jacket is for the purpose of keeping up the pressure,
and consequently the temperature inside the vessel A, as nearly as pos-
sible equal to that of the steam generator; this is of the greatest
importance and is the principal feature necessary for successfully car-
rying on the operation. In fact without this steam jacket the pressure
in the vessel A, owing to the cooling effect of the surrounding air, would
always be below that of the steam generator, the steam from which on
entering the vessel A, possessing greater expansive force and pressure
than could be neutralized by the pressure inside, a part of it would rush
through the oil into the refrigerators, and would carry off a portion of
the latter in a liquid and undistilled state, thereby spoiling the distilled
products. In order entirely to obviate this serious evil the metallic
diaphragms are placed in the still head, their object being in case the
operator should open the cock I too suddenly and to too great an
extent, to stop the passage of any oil which might be carried off in a

page_text: liquid state by the steam; the friction occasioned by the oil in passing
through the meshes of the diaphragmns is sufficient to arrest the pro-
gress of any oil and prevent it from being carried off in a liquid state,
which will by this means fall back into the vessel A.
through the meshes of the diaphragms is sufficient to arrest the pro-
gress of any oil and prevent it from being carried off in a liquid state,
which will by this means fall back into the vessel A.
DISTILLATION OF BITUMINOUS SCHISTUS, BY MEANS OF THE APPARATUS
ABOVE DESCRIBED, AND REPRESENTED IN SHEET I., AT FIG 1, 2,
AND 3.
The schistus is first reduced to pieces not larger than half the size
of a man's hand; it is then spread in thin layers round the furnaces
to dry, as if it is put into the retort in a damp state a loss of time
and fuel will be occasioned. The schistus, after being thus dried,
is put into the hopper Y, which is applied to the upper ends of the
pipes E', whence it passes into the conical retort; according to the
scale shewn in the Drawings, and which is the one that I prefer
to adopt in erecting the apparatus, cach furnace contains about seven
cubic yards of schistus. The apparatus having been filled, the hopper
Y is to be removed, and the openings of the pipes E' closed; the
furnaces are then set to work. At the expiration of a certain time
first water begins to be distilled therefrom, then oil and water. When
the oil begins to be disengaged, steam is introduced through the cock
into the cast iron pipes I, which are now heated to redness, and passing
through them enters the retort containing the schistus at a very high
temperature; the schistus is thus heated inside as well as outside, by
which means the process of distillation is very expeditiously and effec-
tively performed. As soon as oil ceases to be evolved, except perhaps
in very small quantities, the steam is shut off and the operation con-
tinued for ten minutes, in order to expel the remainder of the steam,
after which the fires are put out and air is allowed to enter the appa-
ratus by opening the top of the retort where the charge is introduced
(this precaution is indispensably necessary to prevent explosions), when
the bottom of the retort is opened to let out the distilled schistus, which
falls into an iron carriage, by which it is carried away and thrown into
a sort of well or pit, of which mention will be made hereafter, and
where it is immediately quenched by being kept from contact with the

page_text: atmosphere. The retort is then filled with a fresh charge, which is
operated upon as before. At the same time that the water introduced
into the retort in the form of steam at a high-temperature and the oil
vapors enter the refrigerators, a quantity of ammoniacal water also
passes over with them; all the water distilled with the oil must there-
fore be collected, in order to be employed as hereafter described.
Besides the oil and ammoniacal water a quantity of carburreted
hydrogen gas, suitable for lighting, is always formed; this must be
removed from the refrigerators by means of pipes which conduct it to
the lower part of the furnace, where it is employed for heating the
retort, and for this purpose it is distributed by cocks at those parts
farthest from the fire-places; a certain quantity of this gas is also
employed for lighting the works. Note. The time necessary for
listilling seven cubic yards of schistus, as above, is about ten:
consecutive hours, including the time necessary for charging the
apparatus; it will, however, be understood that the process might be
carried on without introducing steam at a high temperature into the
retort, but in that case the schistus, which is a bad conductor of heat,
would only receive heat from outside the conical retort; it would
therefore be necessary to continue the operation for a much longer
time, in order to distil the mass perfectly, that is to say, it would
last sixteen hours instead of ten. The effect of introducing steam at
high temperature is, therefore, to shorten the time necessary for
distillation, six hours for every sixteen, which is a very great advantage,
as it nearly doubles the quantity of oil produced in a given time,
and besides this, the quantity of oil obtained from a given quantity of
.schistus is much greater, as when the process is carried on without the
intervention of steam the retort must be kept a red heat for some time,
which causes the decomposition of a portion of the oil, and the pro-
duction of a large quantity of gas; on the contrary, when the steam is
applied, the retort does not require to be heated to so high a tempera-
ture, which prevents the decomposition of the oils, and saves wear and
tear of the apparatus. The products of the distillation of bituminous
schistus are a liquid bitumen, which I call raw oil of schistus, ammo-
niacal water, and a carbonaceous residuum.

page_text: RAW OIL OF SCHISTUS, AND OF OTHER BITUMINOUS ROCKS,.
PETROLEUM, &c..
The raw oils of schistus and of other mineral bituminous substances,
by being treated as hereafter described, and by fresh distillation and
rectification, also hereafter described, form the following products,
viz. :-
.
First, a volatile oil, perfectly colorless and transparent, chemically:
pure, having a very slight and by no means disagreeable sinell. This
oil may be extracted either from raw oil of schistus or other bituminous
rock, froin petroleum, or.from any other bituminous mineral substance.
This oil may be employed in various ways as a solvent, and may be used
for all the purposes for which the most highly rectified spirit of turpen-
tine is employed. That which is obtained from schistus is of a density
of from 0-80 to 0.81, water being 100. I have given it the name of
mineral spirit, but this oil, by suitable distillation, may be divided into
three oils, two of which are of a density below 0.80, and the third is of
a density of from 0.82 to 0.89.
: The mineral spirit or oil of schistus No. 1, dissolves in alcohol in the
proportion of from twenty-eight to forty per cent.; thus it is used in.
Erance for spirit lamps. It may also be used in lamps, where it is
vaporized before. burning, by constructing apparatus for burning the
vapor, so that the burner may be heated to three hundred and two
degrees of Fahrenheit, the density of these oils being from 0.80 to 0.81,.
their evaporating point is consequently below three hundred and two:
degrees Fahrenheit; but the use to which the mineral spirit or oil, of
schistus N° 1 can be put with the greatest advantage is its employment:
in lamps with 'a reservoir below, and with a double current of air, in
which the oil rises a distance of about five inches by the capillary:
attraction of the wick. In this way it gives a light-superior to that of:
gas, without any unpleasant smell or smoke; the said lánips have a glass
or chimney with a diaphragm of the same diameter as the wick, and:
placed a little above the top of the burner (for instance,. the camphine
lamp, which is constructed on this principle, burns the mineral spirit
very well). Moreover, the mineral spirit, on account of its purity, has

page_text: this advantage over gas, that it will not tarnish the polish of metals nor
spoil the color of fabrics, disadvantages which the purest gas always
possesses, as it always contains some portion of sulphureous compound.
Second, another oil, obtained from raw oil of schistus, not very volatile,
of a density of from 0-86 to 87, with a smell scarcely perceptible, and
by no means disagreeable, of a light lemon color, with no tendency to
become rancid, and capable of burning pure in ordinary oil lamps,
having a reservoir above and a double current of air with a slight
modification of the glass, which must be narrower at the lowest part of
the flame; this chimney or glass must also be one fifth longer than in
ordinary oil lamps. This oil may also be burnt in the said lamps
without any alteration by mixing with it a corresponding oil, obtained
from petroleum and other mineral bituminous substances; it will also
dissolve in any proportion with seed or fish oil, of which it augments
considerably the illuminating power and the time of burning, and
prevents them from so soon becoming rancid and congealing from the
cold.
Third, a fatty mineral oil, extracted from the raw oil of schistus,
without smell, liquid at the same degree of temperature as olive oil;
this oil contains parafine in large quantity. It is particularly applicable
for lubricating for machinery, and has the advantages of olive oil, seed
oil, or neats-foot oil, of preserving all its unctuosity while in contact with
metals, and of being incapable of becoming siccative; it saponifies very
well, and appears to derive the greater part of its properties or qualities
to the presence of parafine.
Fourth, parafine. This substance is obtained by crystallization from
fat and thick oils; it is thus obtained very pure, and requires but little
treatment to make excellent candles. The presence of this substance
is scarcely perceptible in raw oil of petroleum, bituminous stone,
asphalte, or other bituminous mineral substances; it is in schistus that
it is contained in the largest proportion. I always leave the parafine in
the fat oil N° 8, in order to render it of better quality.
Fifth, grease. This grease is slightly alkaline; it is obtained from
raw oil of schistus, and contains a large quantity of parafine, but by
reason of the absence of this latter substance the grease obtained from

page_text: other bituminous matters is not near so valuable as that obtained from
schistus; this latter is superior to animal oil for lubricating carriages,
machinery, &c., and for many other purposes; it is of a deep brown
color, but without any smell whatever, never becomes rancid, and
preserves its unctuosity when in contact with metals. This grease and
the fat oil No 3, being inodorous, and always remaining so as they will
not become rancid, even after a lapse of time (except the fatty oil in a
scarcely perceptible degree), by employing them, instead of animal fat
and oil, the very disagreeable smell which is always found about
machinery and steam boats would be entirely done away with.
Sixth, tar. This tar, which is quite black, is very siccative, and may
be used to preserve wood and metal from the action of the air and
damp, and may, in general, be applied to all the purposes for which
siccative and mineral tar are employed.
Seventh, soap, with excess of alkali obtained by treating the oils with
caustic solution of soda or soap lye in the various stages of the opera-
tions hereafter described, for the purification of the oils; the use of this
product will be hereafter explained.
Eighth, sulphate of ammonia, obtained by treatment and evaporation
of the ammoniacal waters, as hereafter mentioned.
Ninth, manure. The base of this product is formed from the residue
of the distilled schistus, which is quenched, in order to preserve the
carbon or animal and vegetable black contained therein.
Bituminous schistus consists of rocks formed by the combination in
a peculiar form of organic and other remains, which have evidently
formerly belonged to numberless generations of animals, probably
aquatic, as is pretty clearly shown by numerous forms of fish on the
surface of the schistus; also shells, and sometimes plants. All these
animal and vegetable remains are intimately united by a cement,
having for its base silicate of alumina, and the whole forms a homo-
geneous rock, the siliceous cement being in the proportion of about
forty per cent. to the mass of schistus. By distillation the schistus is
deprived of its azote, hydrogen, and a part of its carbon, under the form
of carburetted gas and oil or liquid carburet of hydrogen, but contains
even after distillation an excess of carbon, fixed salts from the animal

page_text: .
and vegetable matters, such as earthy and alkaline phosphates, sul-
phates of potash and soda, and silicates of alumina, potash, soda, and
magnesia. If it be observed, moreover, that silicate of alumina and
free silica, having been submitted during distillation to a high tempe-
rature, must necessarily have acquired the property of dissolving in
acids and even in water, and have consequently acquired the properties
necessary for the nourishment of plants, and if it be observed,-more-
over, that to this manure is added (in the manner hereafter described)
all the ammonia coming from the distillation of the schistus, and
all the alkaline grease rich in azote, and caustic alkali remaining after
the treatment of the oils, and adding to all this the advantages of
the carbon by the absorbing properties of the gas and anti-putrescents,
it will be easily understood that the manure thus prepared from the
residuum of the schistus possesses all the properties which seem
necessary in the present state of chemical, knowledge, and will, no
doubt, be of great advantage in agriculture..
1
:
MODE OF TREATMENT FOR OBTAINING THE ABOVE PRODUCTS FROM THE
RAW OIL, AND FOR PURIFYING AND RECTIFYING THE SAID PRODUCTS.
The first thing to be done is to free the raw oil entirely from water;
if necessary the oil is heuted a little, to facilitate the separation of the
water, after which the oil is put into wooden vessels, the bottoms of
which are lined with sheets of lead at the height of one-foot. These
vessels are called agitators; they are furnished inside with shafts, having
at their lower ends and very near the bottom of the vessel inclined
wings, which are turned by a handle or other suitable means. To the
oil, when cold, is added three per cent. of sulphuric acid at sixty-six
degrees of density, and the mixture is to be very briskly stirred during
half an hour. The agitator is furnished with a cover, having a pipe
as large as the finger, for the escape of any gases generated by the
action of the acid upon the oil; this tube must be arranged in such a
manner that the gas escaping shall not inconvenience the attendants.
After having thus carefully agitated the oil, it is left in repose during
about two hours, and at the end of that time the greater part of the tar

page_text: will have been precipitated by the acid, and sunk to the bottom of
the vessel; the supernatant oil is then drawn off into another agitator,
containing four per cent. of caustic solution of soda at thirty-six
degrees or thirty-eight degrees. This mixture is briskly agitated during
ten minutes, or until the oil has changed its color; the coloring matter
and tar,which have remained in suspension are thus precipitated, and
the acid which has remained interposed is saturated; the mixture is
then left in repose for two or three hours and the oil drawn. off, after
which the same operation is repeated with the same quantities of acid
and alkali. The acid tar precipitated is put on one side, to be treated as
quickly as possible the manner hereafter described, and the residue
of the alkali operation is treated the same way. The oil thus treated
no longer contains any tar; it is almost colorless; the alcohol, never-
theless, carries off a fine ruby red coloring matter, which has not been
chemically examined. In this state the oil is introduced into an iron
cylindrical vessel or ordinary generator, and one per cent. of caustic
soda solution added thereto; three fourths of it are then distilled, di-
viding the products in the following manner:-The extremity of the
tube which has carried the oils through the refrigerators branches off
therefrom into three tubes, cach leading to a separate receiver 1, 2, 3.
Each of these tubes is furnished with a cock at its base, and the cock
corresponding to the receiver N° 1, carries also N° 1; the second, N° 2;
and the other, N° 3. This arrangement being made, the attendant at
the commencement of the operation shuts the cocks 2 and 3, and as
soon as the distillation begins the light oils successively pass into
the receiver N° 1, intended to receive them, and which must be of
sufficient size to contain from fifty to fifty-five per cent. of the charge of
the distilling apparatus. An instrument for ascertaining the specific
gravity of the oil, and made of metal (tin or silver), ought to be con-
stantly kept in this receiver, and as soon as the operator perceives that
by the mixture of. the different oils which compose the oil N° 1, the
mass of oil distilled has reached a density of 0-82, which is always the
case when about forty-five per cent. of oil has been distilled, he shuts
the cock No 1, and directs the new products of distillation into the
receiver N° 2; and the distillation is then continued in full operation

page_text: until eighteen per cent. more oil is obtained; and another specific
gravity apparatus in the receiver No 2, shews the density of that oil to
be from 0.86 to 0.87, after which he shuts the cock 2, opens the cock 3,
and obtains twelve per cent.. more of fatty oil. The fire is then put
out, and the residuum allowed to cool for an hour; it is then poured into
a close iron vessel below, through a large pipe uniting the two vessels,
and furnished with a cock near the upper one. The residuum of this
distillation remaining in the vessel after the oils No 1, 2, 3, have been
obtained is exactly one fourth, or twenty-five per cent. in weight of the
raw oil treated by the acid and alkali, and constitutes, without further
preparation, the grease described above under N° 5.
.
PURIFICATION, RECTIFICATION, AND DISINFECTION OF OIL No. 1.
This product being intended more especially for lighting the interior
of dwellings, it is indispensable on the one hand that it should be
deprived of its bad smell, which would render its employment disagree-
able, and, in fact, impossible; and, on the other hand, as the schistus
contains a large quantity of iron pyrites, it is not impossible that badly
purified oil of schistus may contain volatile metallic matters, which must
be especially avoided. This oil must therefore be brought to a chemically
pure state, and deprived of all bad smell, which double result is obtained
by the following simple means: -The oil is introduced into an agitator
perfectly closed, furnished with a metal pipe for the escape of gas into
a chimney or to the outside of the apparatus, and whilst the oil is cold
six per cent. of sulphuric acid at 66° of density is added, and the mixture
stirred for fifteen minutes and left at rest for three quarters of an hour,
then agitated again, and so on for twelve hours, after which the result
is attained, and the operation completed when the oil has assumed a deep
red color, and has become charged with a large quantity of sulphurous
acid gas in solution; this result being attained, it remains for an hour,
and the oil drawn off and again agitated in another vessel, with eight
per cent. of caustic soda solution, a sufficient length of time to bring
every part of the oil in contact with the alkali, and to cause the mix-
ture to assume the color of a white emulsion; a quart of hydrate of
protoxide of iron, obtained by the process hereafter mentioned, is then

page_text: added, it is again agitated, and then left to settle and clarify itself.
When the separation is complete, the oil is decanted off and conducted
to the rectifying apparatus (Sheet 2, Fig. 1), above described; seven
eighths of the oil are then distilled, and the remainder mixed with
the oils No 2. The product of this distillation constitutes the oil N° 1,
or mineral spirit, with all the properties above described. In order
to prepare the hydrate of protoxide of iron, take fifty pounds sul-
phate of iron of commerce, and dissolve it in twenty gallons of boiling
water in a wooden vessel, and add twenty-five quarts of caustic solution
of soda, and agitate the mixture; a quantity of precipitate will be
formed, which is hydrate of iron, then let it settle, decant off the water,
and wash it three times in fresh hot water, agitating all the time; after
which it is kept in a small quantity of water, and every time it is
required to be used agitate the mixture of water and hydrate, and take
out the required quantity. Note.-The least portion of water added to
the oil effectually prevents the action of the acid in the last operation.
This must not be lost sight of for a moment. Also, if the oil be washed
with water after treatment with the acid, and even if a little water were
added to the acid oil before the caustic solution, this latter would not act
properly, and the oil would retain a combination either of sulphuric acid
or sulphurous acid with the elements of the water and oil. This com-
bination which is then fixed in the oil alters neither its color nor trans-
parency, and when cold it is not affected by any re-agents; but if the
oil be heated to its point of vaporization, or if it be attempted to burn
it in a lamp, the wick becomes clogged, and a large quantity of sul-
phurous
gas is disengaged, which would render its use impossible; and
even on distilling the oil in this state, although it is true it would be
deprived of the sulphurous compound, still it would acquire a very
disagreeable smell, owing to the presence of sulphurous acid gas. Oil of
schistus treated with acid, then washed with water, and lastly treated
with alkali, would therefore be a very impure liquid, even if it were
submitted to a final distillation. If, then, the smallest quantity of water
were added to the oil after the acid treatment, the only remedy would
be to separate the water with care, and recommence a fresh operation
with two per cent. of acid, and afterwards go on with the alkali. The

page_text: to treat it with acid, in order to precipitate the coloring matter and
obtain white parafine. With regard to the extraction of parafine from
the thick oils, they are, when well bleached, left in a cool place about
fifteen days in winter or a month in summer; for this purpose they are
placed in large wooden vessels, lined with tin and furnished with a
cover. I call these vessels crystallizers; they are oblong, and about two
feet deep. These crystallizers are so arranged as to have a slight incli-
nation at one end in the direction of their length, and at this end there
are three large cocks, one at each corner and one in the middle; cach
cock has inside a tin plate pierced with holes, to allow the oil to pass,
and at the same time to prevent the passage of crystals of parafine by
being left at rest, and by lowering the temperature the parafine sepa-
rates from the oil in the form of scales or plates, of the length of the
When the crystallization is imagined to be as
complete as possible (for there always remains a certain quantity of
parafine in the oil), the three cocks are opened, and as much as pos-
sible of the oil is allowed to flow out, after which the crystals of
parafine are placed in a large tin funnel to drip; they are then sub-
mitted to strong cold pressure, in the same manner as for preparing
stearine and stearic acid. It is then melted and filtered on a small
quantity of animal black in a double funnel heated by steam or merely
boiling water, and it is thus rendered fit for manufacturing candles.
finger nail, or more.
TREATMENT OF ACIDULATED TAR.
After being separated from the oil, the acidulated tar remaining
after the treatment of the raw oil with acid is placed directly in a
wrought iron vessel with a little water. This vessel must be furnished
with a pipe and stop cock for conducting steam from a boiler into it in
a number of small jets; this vessel must have a double bottom or
steam jacket to heat it. The acid tar being placed with a little water.
in this vessel, steam is introduced into the double bottom to liquefy the
tar, and steam is introduced into it inside. The vessel must be of large
dimensions and very wide, as the substance swells considerably. The
tar being thus agitated by the steam, and all parts of it divided at the
contact of the water and steam, the water carries off all the free acid

page_text: contained therein. After having kept up the action of the steam upon
the tar a sufficient length of time the steam is shut off, it is then left at
rest and the acid water drawn off through a pipe at the bottom of the
vessel; a little more water is then added to the tar, and steam is again
introduced. This operation is repeated until the water flows out taste-
less, or nearly so, after which a little caustic solution of soda is added
in the proportion of about two per cent. by weight to the tar; this is
mixed by stirring carefully; steam is then again introduced and the
water is allowed to run off. This latter, containing soda and sulphate
of soda, must be mixed with the ammonial waters before treating the
latter, as will be presently explained. Steam must then be introduced
into the double bottom to heat the tar to a temperature of about one
hundred and twenty degrees centigrade, care being taken to agitate
constantly. This latter operation is for the purpose of depriving the
tar of any air and water it might contain; this result being obtained,
(which may be ascertained when the tar has become a uniform mass,
and when no more bubbles of air or steam burst on its surface,) it must
then be poured into suitable vessels and kept for the purposes above
contained therein. After having kept up the action of the steam upon
the tar a sufficient length of time the steam is shut off, it is then left at
rest and the acid water drawn off through a pipe at the bottom of the
vessel; a little more water is then added to the tar, and steam is again
introduced. This operation is repeated until the water flows out taste-
less, or nearly so, after which a little caustic solution of soda is added
in the proportion of about two per cent. by weight to the tar; this is
mixed by stirring carefully; steam is then again introduced and the
water is allowed to run off. This latter, containing soda and sulphate
of soda, must be mixed with the ammonial waters before treating the
latter, as will be presently explained. Steam must then be introduced
into the double bottom to heat the tar to a temperature of about one
hundred and twenty degrees centigrade, care being taken to agitate
constantly. This latter operation is for the purpose of depriving the
tar of any air and water it might contain; this result being obtained,
(which may be ascertained when the tar has become a uniform mass,
and when no more bubbles of air or steam burst on its surface,) it must
then be poured into suitable vessels and kept for the purposes above
described.
TREATMENT OF THE ALKALINE RESIDUUM.
All the matters remaining separated from the oil after the different
operations with alkali or caustic soda solution must be collected in a
vessel constructed for that purpose, and a small layer must be left on
their surface to intercept the action of the air. By remaining in a
state of rest this residuum is separated into two parts, one, below, liquid
and very limpid; this is caustic solution of soda, which may serve for
other operations, but as it is colored it must only be used for raw oil
and for treating tar; the other, above, the caustic soda solution, is a
soap with excess of alkali, which must be put on one side to serve as
hereafter mentioned for preparing the manure.
TREATMENT OF THE AMMONIAL WATERS.

page_text: both volatile; the first thing to be done is therefore to add to them a
sufficient quantity of sulphuric acid, to convert the ammonia into a
fixed salt, viz., ammoniacal sulphate. For this purpose the acid water
coming from the first action of the steam upon acid tar may be used,
but in all cases an excess of acid must be avoided; if however this
should occur, a little of the impure alkali from the preceding operation
must be added. to saturate the excess of acid. This result being
obtained the ammoniacal water must be concentrated by evaporating
about seven tenths of the water. To do this I employ with great
advantage and economy a portion of the heat of the vapors, of the
distillation of the schistus, and for this purpose all the same vapors on
leaving the main pass into a large iron vessel. perfectly closed, and
which is above and in communication with the refrigerators.. This vessel
is very shallow in proportion to its surface; it is furnished on its upper
part with rims on all sides, which thus form a second exterior vessel
from a foot and a half to two feet or more in depth, placed above; and
open in this latter vessel the ammoniacal waters are placed, which
are thus evaporated by the action of the heat transmitted to it by the
vapours of distillation which circulate inside the lower vessel. The
ammoniacal water thus treated and concentrated is employed as herein-
after described for the preparation of manure.
.
PREPARATION OF THE MANURE.
As has been already said, the schistus on coming from the retort is
received in iron vessels mounted on wheels, and turned out into a pit or
well, which is iminediately shut closely to quench them, and thus prevent
the combustion of the carbon. This pit for extinguishing the schistus
on coming from the retort is a hole made in the ground and built up
with bricks inside covered with fire clay; it is about three yards deep
and four yards wide. The bottom must be rounded in the shape of a
cone, having at its centre a hole leading to a gallery below for the exit
of the schistus when cool. This pit must therefore be constructed upon
an incline, or embankments made, which is, besides, necessary for the
service of the distillation furnace. The hole at the bottom of the pit
must be completely stopped up with a metallic stopper (having a lever,

page_text: by means of which a person placed at the entrance of the gallery may
easily work the stopper for letting out the schistus into the said gallery.
The upper part of the pit is narrowed, so as to leave only one opening
for the entrance of the schistus of about a yard and a half in diameter,
which receives a stopper fitting exactly. This stopper may, if required,
be covered with earth in order to intercept the current of air when it is
necessary to cool the schistus. After remaining ten or twelve hours in
this pit the schistus is to be reduced to a pretty fine powder, which
need not be completely uniform. This may be done by any convenient
means (having at my disposal a stream of water, I make use of
granite mills in France). The schistus being reduced to powder, it is
made to absorb concentrated ammoniacal water, in which the alkaline
soap had previously been dissolved, and a complete and uniform mass
will be formed of the whole, which must be divided into masses of one
ton each; and this mixture thus prepared constitutes the manure of
which I have described the chemical composition above. Note.-Th
addition of water holding sulphate of ammonia in solution, and also
the alkaline soap, have not by any means saturated the absorbent
power of the carbonaceous powder; the manure may therefore be
increased considerably, in the matter of azote, the power of the
manure prepared as above, by allowing it to absorb from five to six per
cent. of fresh or coagulated blood, or any other soft animal matter,
such as night soil or brains, or liquid, such as urine. This powder of
the carbonaceous residuum of schistus, by its anti-putrescent and
absorbent properties as a porous body, allows substances to be but very
slowly decomposed in the earth, so that five per cent. of blood or other
animal matter employed in this manner acts as a manure as well as
five times the quantity by itself. This last property of carbon and
porous bodies is now established, and, so to speak, rendered practical, by
the very extensive use as a manure of animal black from the sugar
refiners. Before employing the above manure it may, therefore, if
thought advisable, be made to absorb either fluid or semi-fluid animal
matters, in the proportion of from five to six per cent. by weight, but
there is no real advantage in this over their employment without the
addition of the manure prepared above, for the efficacy of a manure

page_text: depends not only upon its richness in azote, but also more especially
upon the unison of certain other conditions possessed in the highest
degree.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I claim as the
Invention secured to me by the heroin-before in part recited Letters
Patent,-
First, the peculiar arrangement and construction of furnace or
apparatus for the distillation of schistus and other bituminous rocks,
represented in Fig" 1, 2, and 3, Sheet I, and which consists principally
of inverted cones placed one inside the other, whereby I am enabled to
obtain a very extensive heating surface and a thin layer of schistus,
which is thereby more effectually operated upon.
Secondly, the application to the said furnace or retort of jets of
steam, highly charged with caloric, by introducing which inside the said
retort, so as to act upon the schistus, the distillation of the schistus,
which is a bad conductor of heat, is materially assisted, so that tho
time required for distillation is much shortened and a great economy
therein produced. I also claim the application of the same principle
of introducing steam inside the retorts for the distillation of bituminous
schistus, to the apparatus for which a Patent was obtained in England
by Mr. Mollerat, of Dijon, sealed Second May, One thousand eight
hundred and thirty-seven, and which apparatus, with the steam pipes
adapted thereto, is shown in Fig 5, 6, and 7, of Sheet I, (the steam pipes
being drawn in red).
Thirdly, the process, above set forth and described, for the purification,
disinfection, and rectification of the bituminous oils No 1, 2, 3, which
process is composed of the various means and apparatus herein-before
explained.
Fourthly, obtaining from acid tar an excellent siccative tar by means
of the process above described, or any other analagous process.
Fifthly, the employment of ammoniacal water, treated and con-
centrated as above described, and also of the soap with excess of alkali,
for the preparation, together with the residuum of schistus pulverized,
of an excellent azotous, saline, an alkaline manure, and also the

page_text: application of the residuum resulting from the above described process
for the producing of manure, as above explained and set forth.
Sixthly, and lastly, I claim the exclusive right, during the duration of
my Patent, to use the said processes and apparatus to obtain and prepare
the said products.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michel Antoine Bertin Burin Du
Buisson, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-
second day of December, One thousand eight hundred and
M. A. B. BURIN DU (L.S.) BUISSON,
uniste.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Twenty-second day
of December, in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Michel
Antoine Bertin Burin Du Buisson came before our Lady the Queen,
in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and
all and every thing therein contained, in form above written. And also
the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the Twenty third day of December in the your above
Inrolled the Twenty third day of December, in the your above
written. .