AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF PURIFYING WATER AND ADAPTING IT FOR BREWING AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Maxwell Dixon B.Sc of Glasgow in the
County of Lanark for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF
PURIFYING WATER AND ADAPTING IT FOR BREWING AND OTHER PURPOSES,
AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Maxwell Dixon at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th April 1883.
EDWARD MAXWELL DIXON, B.Sc. of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
IMPROVED PROCESS OF PURIFYING WATER AND ADAPTING IT FOR BREWING AND
OTHER PURPOSES, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR,"
"AN
The object of this Invention is to purify water and to adapt it for brewing and
distilling and for other purposes.
The process whereby the water is purified consists essentially of the following
stages which may be carried on separately, or in one continuous or combined series
of operations. (1) A somewhat larger quantity of lime than it is capable of
dissolving is added to the water, and air is injected preferably by means of a steam
jet which also serves to heat the water to or nearly to the boiling point. (2) The
water is filtered. (3) Acids are or may be added to the water, and carbonic acid
gas is injected by a steam jet or by other means. (4) The water is again
filtered.
In carrying out the Invention the apparatus employed comprises (1) a tank, or
two or more tanks or vessels which may be used alternately for the first stage of
the process, (2) a corresponding number of filters for the second stage, (3) a tank or
tanks placed by preference at a lower level to receive the filtered water treated in
the upper tank or tanks, and (4) a filter or number of filters through which the
water is finally passed.
The water to be treated is run into the upper tank or tanks, is therein mixed
with pure slaked lime, and subjected to the oxidising action of air which is forced
into the water by means of an injector or similar apparatus. The steam used in
the injecting apparatus is condensed by and heats the water in the tank to about

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the boiling point, and the air escapes by an opening or openings in the cover of the
tank. The results obtained in this stage of the process are, or may be, the expulsion
of ammonia, the decomposition and precipitation of organic matters, and the precipi-
tation of carbonate of lime, sulphate of lime, magnesia, oxide of iron, and earthy
matters, besides the conversion of alkaline carbonates into caustic alkalies.
After allowing sufficient time for the bulk of the undissolved lime and other
sedimentary matters finding their way to the bottom of the tank, the water is
drawn off by a pipe, provided with a cock or valve, and led into and through a
close filter of ordinary construction which is interposed between the upper and the
lower tank. The drawing-off pipe is fitted in the side of the tank a few inches
above the bottom in which a cock is fitted to remove the sediment either before or
after the clear water is drawn off.
In the lower tank the water is subjected to the action of carbonic acid gas which
is forced into it by means of an injector or similar apparatus, for the purpose of
precipitating the lime in solution, as carbonate. The water is also heated and
maintained at or near the boiling point by the steam which is used to inject the
carbonic acid, the condensation of the steam also serving to make up the loss of
water which takes place in removing the sediment from the first tank.
Previous to injecting the carbonic acid gas into the, lower tank, the caustic
alkalies dissolved in the water may be converted into the corresponding chlorides
by the addition of a measured quantity of hydrochloric acid to the water.
Sulphate and other salts of lime may also be produced by the direct addition of
measured quantities of sulphuric and other acids to act on the caustic lime dissolved
in the water.
4.
The excess of caustic lime then remaining is finally removed by the injection of
carbonic acid gas as before described, the amount of carbonate of lime still left in
each gallon of water being about fifteen grains.
Other saline matters may be subsequently added to the water to meet special
requirements, and the water is finally drawn-off and led through a filter. The
sediment which is removed from the lower tank consists of very pure carbonate
of lime which may be collected as a useful bye product of the process
The carbonic acid necessary for the precipitation of the lime in the lower tank is
taken from a large holder or chamber which may be supplied by the fermentations
taking place in the fermenting tuns of breweries or distilleries, or by the action of
hydrochloric acid upon carbonate of lime, or by other well known means.
The air and carbonic acid gas required for the process, are passed through
.chambers in which they are filtered from dust and germs before being injected
into the respective tanks, these chambers being connected to the injecting apparatus
by pipes.
The generator which supplies the steam to the injecting apparatus is by preference
fed with water which has been purified by the process herein described, and to
which a small proportion of hydrochloric acid has been added to convert the caustic
lime into chloride of calcium.
Water that bas passed through the entire process is purified from ammonia,
organic matters, excess of carbonate and sulphate of lime, magnesia, oxide of iron,
earthy matters and alkaline carbonates; while it is hardened to any degree that
may be required by the carbonate and sulphate or other salts of lime, and it may
be subsequently modified as desired by the addition of soluble saline matters

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Maxwell Dixon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th October 1883.
EDWARD MAXWELL DIXON, B.Sc. of Glasgow in the county of Lanark, “AN
IMPROVED PROCESS OF PURIFYING WATER AND ADAPTING IT FOR BREWING AND
OTHER PURPOSES, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
"
The object of this Invention is to purify water and to adapt it for brewing and
distilling and for other purposes.
The process whereby the water is purified consists essentially of the following
stages, which may be carried on separately, or in one continuous or combined
series of operations. (1) A somewhat larger quantity of lime than the water is
capable of dissolving is added to it, and air is injected preferably by means of a
steam jet which also serves to heat the water to or nearly to the boiling point.
(2) The water is filtered. (3) Acids are or may be added to the water, and
carbonic acid gas is injected by a steam jet or by other means. (4) The water is
again filtered.
In carrying out the Invention, the apparatus employed comprises (1) a tank, or
two or more tanks or vessels, which may be used alternately for the first stage of
the process, (2) a filter or number of filters for the second stage, (3) a tank or
tanks placed by preference at a lower level to receive the filtered water treated in
the upper tank or tanks, and (4) a filter or number of filters through which the
water is finally passed.
The water to be treated is run into the upper tank or tanks, is therein mixed
with pure slaked lime, and subjected to the oxidising action of air which is forced
into the water by means of an injector or similar apparatus. The steam used in
the injecting apparatus is condensed by and heats the water in the tank to about
the boiling point, and the air escapes by an opening or openings in the cover of
the tank.
The results obtained in this stage of the process are or may be the expulsion of
ammonia, the decomposition and precipitation of organic matters, and the precipi-
tation of carbonate of lime, sulphate of lime, magnesia, oxide of iron, and earthy
matters, besides the conversion of alkaline carbonates into caustic alkalies.
After allowing sufficient time for the bulk of the undissolved lime and other
sedimentary matters to find their way to the bottom of the tank, the water is drawn
off by a pipe, provided with a cock or valve, and led into and through a close filter
of ordinary construction, which is interposed between the upper and the lower
tank. The drawing-off pipe is fitted in the side of the tank, a few inches above
the bottom, in which a cock is fitted to remove the sediment either before or after
the clear water is drawn off.
In the lower tank the water is subjected to the action of carbonic acid gas,
which is forced into it by means of an injector or similar apparatus, for the purpose
of precipitating the lime in solution, as carbonate. The water is also heated and
maintained at or near the boiling point by the steam which is used to inject the
carbonic acid, the condensation of the steam also serving to make up the loss of
water which takes place in removing the sediment from the first tank.
Previous to injecting the carbonic acid gas into the lower tank, the caustic
alkalies dissolved in the water may be converted into the corresponding chlorides
by the addition of a measured quantity of hydrochloric acid to the water.
Sulphate and other salts of lime may also be produced by the direct addition of
measured quantities of sulphuric and other acids to act on the caustic lime

page_text: dissolved in the water. The hydrochloric or sulphuric acid may be added to the
water either in the first tank after the partial purification by lime, or when the
water is transferred to the lower tank, but before the injection of the carbonic
acid.
:
The excess of caustic lime then remaining is finally removed by the injection
of carbonic acid gas as before described, the amount of carbonate of lime still left
in each gallon of water varying from about 2 to 20 grains. While the carbonic
acid is injected the temperature of the water is maintained at the boiling point if
it is wished to obtain the minimum amount of carbonate of lime, and more or less
below that point, according as a greater or smaller quantity of carbonate of lime
is required.
Saline or other matters may be subsequently added to the water to meet special
requirements, and the water is finally drawn off and passed through a filter. The
sediment which is removed from the lower tank consists of very pure carbonate of
lime which may be collected as a useful bye product of the process.
The carbonic acid necessary for the precipitation of the lime in the lower tank
is taken from a large holder or chamber which may be supplied by the fermentations
taking place in the fermenting tuns of breweries or distilleries, or by the action
of hydrochloric acid upon carbonate of lime, or by other well known means.
The air and carbonic acid gas required for the process, are passed through
chambers in which they are filtered from dust and germs before being injected
into the respective tanks, these chambers being connected to the injecting apparatus
by pipes.
The generator which supplies the steam to the injecting apparatus is by
preference fed with water which has been purified by the process herein described,
or in the first stage of the process, and to which a sufficiency of hydrochloric acid
has been added to convert the caustic lime into chloride of calcium.
Water that has passed through the entire process is purified from ammonia,
organic matter, excess of carbonate and sulphate of lime, magnesia, oxide of iron,
earthy matters, and alkaline carbonates; while it is hardened to any degree
that may be required by the carbonate and sulphate or other salts of lime,
and it may be subsequently modified as desired by the addition of other soluble
matters.
..
On a small scale, the process may be carried out in a single tank or vessel, in
which the water is first treated by the addition of slaked lime, and injecting air as
described, and after the removal of the sedimentary matter, is further treated by
injecting carbonic acid, hydrochloric or sulphuric acid being previously added if
required, and the water being finally drawn off through a filter. In this case the
pipes conveying the air and the carbonic acid to the apparatus may both be
connected to one injector, and be provided with cocks so that the air alone, or the
carbonic acid alone may be admitted to the injection pipe through which the air or
carbonic acid enters the water.
A convenient arrangement of apparatus for use in carrying out the improved
process, is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1. is a
sectional elevation, and Figure 2 is a plan. This apparatus comprises two large
covered tanks A, each provided with a charging door a for the admission of the
slaked lime, and an opening b for the escape of the air, which is injected into the
water in the tank. This opening b may also be used for the admission of the
water when a separate inlet pipe is not provided The tank is also fitted with a
sludge cock or valve c for removing sedimentary matters from the bottom of the
tank, and a pipe provided with a cock d to draw off the partially purified water
which is led from the tank A either through a filter B or direct to a lower tank A¹,
in which the water is treated by the injection into it. of carbonic acid. The lower
tank A is similar to the upper tank A, excepting that no charging door is provided,
and to it is connected a filter B! which may be of any ordinary form. Into each
of the tanks A, A¹, there is fitted a rose pipe e dipping down to within a short
distance of the bottom, and to the upper end of each pipe is fitted an injector for

page_text: similar apparatus. The injectors f are supplied with steam from a steam pipe g
which is led from a steam boiler or generator. The air which is injected into the
tank A is led to the injector by a branch pipe h, and a branch pipe i leads the
carbonic acid to the injector fitted in connection with the tank A. The upper
tanks A are so connected to the lower tank A¹ that they may be alternately used
and discharged into the lower tank.
When the air and carbonic acid are forced into the water by other means than
by the use of steam, the water may be heated by means of a steam coil within
each tank, or by a steam jacket, or by a furnace or hot flue over which the tanks
may be placed.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not claim the
separate use of air or of carbonic acid or of lime, nor the use of carbonic acid and
lime combined as means of purifying water, but what I do claim is,-
First. The improved process of purifying water, which consists in adding slaked
lime to the water and injecting air, then separating the sediment, and subsequently
injecting carbonic acid into the water, substantially as herein described, and for the
purposes set forth.
Second. The improved process herein described of purifying water and adapting
it to brewing and other purposes by first dissolving in it slaked lime and injecting
air while a high temperature is maintained, then adding hydrochloric acid or
sulphuric acid or other suitable re-agent as may be required, and subsequently
injecting carbonic acid and filtering or decanting, all substantially as herein seb
forth.
Third. The process of purifying or partially purifying water by adding to it
slaked lime and injecting air while maintaining a high temperature of the water,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The arrangement, substantially as herein described and illustrated, of
apparatus adapted for use in purifying and treating water:
In Witness Whereof, I the said Edward Maxwell Dixon, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty second day of October, in the year of our Lord
Onethousand eighthundred and Eighty three.
Witness
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E.
Fel. Inst. Patent Agents
Glasgow.
EM. DIXON D.Sc. (L.B.)