Process for the Manufacture of Phosphates of Ammonia and Potash in an Alkaline Mixture suitable for Manure.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Process for the Manufacture of Phosphates of Ammonia and Potash
in an Alkaline Mixture suitable for Manure.
THOMAS JAMIESON Agricultural Chemist Glasterberry Milltimber Aberdeen-
shire do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:―
The process consists in forming a strong (saturated or supersaturated) solution
in water of sulphate of ammonia & sulphate of potash, then adding solid super-
phosphate in quantity about equal to the salts & stirring rapidly; the mass becomes
at first limpid & then thickens, & if allowed to rest would solidify; there is thus
formed a mixture of phosphates of ammonia and potash, sulphate of lime, and some
unacted upon phosphate of lime. Just before it begins to thicken, a quantity of
dry organic substance is added (such as bran, fish-powder, peat-dust or sawdust)
sufficient to absorb the liquid, & to prevent the mass from becoming hard or pasty;
the mass is again vigorously stirred in order to secure uniform mixture. After
resting till the mass has become solid, moderately dry & friable it is mixed with
more organic matter which has previously absorbed a strong solution of carbonate
of potash, in quantity sufficient to make the whole mass faintly alkaline. The mass
may, as required to farther dry it, or enrich it, be finally mixed with phosphatic
powder, or nitrogenous powder (such as coprolite, slag, or steamed bone flour, horn
dust, dried blood or fish powder.
Dated this 2nd dor of Notahan 1805
Process for the Manufacture of Phosphates of Ammonia and Potash
in an Alkaline Mixture suitable for Manure.
THOMAS JAMIESON Agricultural Chemist Glasterberry Milltimber Aberdeen-
shire do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The process consists in forming a strong solution in water by an excess of
sulphate of ammonia or sulphate of potash or both, the salt or salts being in such
quantity, say 2 of water to 5 of salts or thereby that much remains undissolved,
then adding superphosphate in solid form, in quantity about equal to the salts, &
stirring rapidly; the mass becomes at first limpid, & then thickens, & if allowed to
rest would solidify; there is thus formed a mixture of phosphate of ammonia, or
phosphate of potash or both, along with sulphate of lime, unacted on phosphate of
lime, & the other ingredients of superphosphate. Just before it begins to thicken
a quantity of dry organic substance is added (such as bran, rape seed powder,
fish-powder peat-dust, sawdust &c.) sufficient to absorb the liquid & to prevent
the mass from becoming hard or pasty; the mass is again vigorously stirred in
order to secure uniform mixture. After resting till the mass has become solid,
moderately dry and friable, it is mixed with more organic matter which has

page_text: previously absorbed a concentrated solution of carbonate of potash in quantity
sufficient to make the whole mass faintly alkaline. The mass may, as required
to further dry, or enrich it, be finally mixed with phosphatic powder, or nitrogenous
powder (such as coprolite, slag, or steamed bone flour, horn dust, dried blood, or fish
powder).
This method of mixture of the sulphates of ammonia or potash with super-
phosphate in such a way as to produce a semi-solid mass, while securing free action
by the liquidity ultimately produced by the chemical reaction, renders evaporation
unnecessary, the excess of moisture being absorbed by the dry organic matter which
also secures pulverulence. The avoidance of evaporation as well as the retention
of the residual matters, renders the mixture cheap, & yet presents a comparatively
rich mixture most suitable for manure, which is rendered more effective by the
addition of carbonate of potash to the extent of producing a slight degree of
alkalinity.
In the case of other manures than the one described in this specification, the
carbonate of potash is mixed after the ordinary manufacture is completed; or, in the
case of a mixed manure, after the ordinary mixture of the materials forming
the mixture, or during such mixture. Such admixture with carbonate of potash
being most uniformly made by dissolving the salt, and absorbing the solution
with organic matter, which is then mixed with the manure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The process of mixing in the solid form, the "superphosphate" of commerce
with a supersaturated solution, that is with excess beyond the power of solution in
water, of sulphate of ammonia, or sulphate of potash, or both, retaining the unacted-on
matter, and absorbing the excess of moisture by organic matter.
2. The process of rendering the above, or other, manure, faintly alkaline by
means of a particular salt, namely carbonate of potash.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1896.
THOS. JAMIESON.