IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE AND IMPURE WATERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Robinson and John Charles Melliss, both of West-
minster Chambers, Victoria Street, in the County of Middlesex, Engineers, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE AND IMPURE
WATERS."
Sealed the 5th April 1878, and dated the 1st January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Robinson and John
Charles Melliss at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st
January 1878.
HENRY ROBINSON and JOHN CHARLES MELLISS, both of Westminster Chambers,
Victoria Street, in the County of Middlesex, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OF SEWAGE AND IMPURE WATERS."
In the course of our experiments on sewage we have made the observation that
the efficiency of sulphate of alumina is greatly increased by the presence of some
proto-sulphate of iron which apparently produces results altogether out of pro-
portion to its chemical equivalent, and our Invention consists in the use of a mixture
of sulphate of alumina and proto-sulphate of iron, for acting upon sewage or impure
water so as to cleanse the same, and at the same time, when practicable and con-
venient, produce manure.
The proportion of sulphate of iron (reckoned anhydrous Fe OS O,) to sulphate
of alumina (also reckoned anhydrous A l, O,, 3 S O₂) which we have found advan-
tageous, is about 1 to 4 by weight. We do not restrict ourselves to this proportion,
nor do we restrict ourselves to the use of the purest chemicals, but take sometimes
the crudest and cheapest materials to be met with or obtained in any way.
In carrying out our Invention we take the sewage as it is delivered to us, and
mix it with the sulphate of alumina and proto-sulphate of iron in proportions.
varying according to the composition of the liquid to be purified. To the mixture,
I Drinn A11

page_text: agitated by hand, or by machinery, if necessary, a certain quantity of milk of lime
may be added.
It is preferred to add the sulphate of alumina and proto-sulphate of iron first to
the liquid to be purified, but either one or the other may be added first. The
mixture then flows, or is pumped into settling tanks, in which the impurities sepa-
rate, and are deposited or retained whilst the liquid passes off in a purified con-
dition.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Robinson and John Charles Melliss in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th June 1878.
HENRY ROBINSON and JOHN CHARLES MELLISS, both of Westminster Chambers,
Victoria Street, in the County of Middlesex, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OF SEWAGE AND IMPURE WATERS."
In the course of our experiments on sewage we have made the observation that
the efficiency of sulphates of alumina is greatly increased by the presence of some
proto-sulphate of iron, which apparently produces results altogether out of pro-
portion to its chemical equivalent, and our Invention consists in the use of a mixture
of sulphate of alumina and of proto-sulphate of iron for acting upon sewage or
upon impure water in order to purify and cleanse the same, and at the same time,
when practicable and convenient, produce a manure.
The proportion of sulphate of iron (reckoned anhydrous Fe OS O,) to sulphate
of alumina (also reckoned anhydrous A l, O,, 3 S O,) which we have found advan-
tageous, is about from one part by weight of proto-sulphate of iron to about four parts
by weight of sulphate of alumina. We do not restrict ourselves to this proportion
nor do we restrict ourselves to the use of the purest chemicals, but take sometimes
the crudest and cheapest materials to be met with or obtained in any way.
In carrying out our Invention we take the sewage as it is delivered to us, and
mix it with the sulphate of alumina and proto-sulphate of iron in proportions
varying according to the composition of the liquid to be purified. To the mixture
agitated by hand, or by machinery, if necessary, a certain quantity of milk of lime
may be added.
It is preferred to add the sulphate of alumina and proto-sulphate of iron first to
the liquid to be purified, but either one or the other may be added; and then, if
necessary, the milk of lime in such quantity as to decompose any residual sulphates
of iron, or sulphates of alumina may be added. The mixture may then be allowed
to flow, or may be pumped into settling tanks, in which the impurities separate, and
are deposited or retained whilst the liquid passes off in a purified condition.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, we would
observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and original, and therefore

page_text: claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the combined employment of sulphate of alumina and of sulphate of
iron, in order to effect the purification of sewage or of impure water, substantially
in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Henry Robinson and John Charles Melliss,
have to this our Specification set our hands and seals, the Twentieth day of
June, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
HENRY
ROBINSON.
(L.S.)
JOHN CHARLES MELLISS. (L.S.)