IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES AND PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF WASTE PRODUCTS IN ORDER TO EXTRACT GREASE THEREFROM, AND IN THE UTILIZATION OF THE RESIDUAL PRODUCTS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William John Brower and Alfred
Binns at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th July 1883.
WILLIAM JOHN BREWER, Civil Engineer, and ALFRED BINNS, Grease refiner,
both of 23 Rood Lane, in the City of London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES
AND PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF WASTE PRODUCTS IN ORDER TO EXTRACT
GREASE THEREFROM, AND IN THE UTILIZATION OF THE RESIDUAL PRODUCTS,"
Our invention is designed to effect by a novel process and appliances the
extraction of marketablo grease or oil from waste products containing grease,-
such as curriers shavings known as "moisings," greasy waste, and similar waste
products; and the refining or preparing of the extracted grease or oil and the
residual products for marketable purposes.
"
To carry out our improved process, we place the said waste material, when it is
moisings," in a steaming vat, fitted with a movable_perforated floor or floors
raised sono distance above the bottom of the vat. Under, around, or between
these perforated floors is fitted a coil or coils of perforated steam piping, from which
a supply of high pressure steam escapes into the body of the material in the vat.
The "moisings" or other greasy cuttings or scraps of leather are removed from the
steaming vat, and subjected to great pressure in any convenient press, or by rollers.
The grease is thus extracted and collected in vats, casks, or other suitable vessels,
and is then washed and boiled by the injection of steam. The grease so obtained
is then treated in either of the following alternative manners according to the
purpose to which it is to be applied.
First. If required for soap, we mix about 2% of sulphuric acid, 2° of nitric
acid, and 2% of oxalic acid, with the grease whilst boiling, and allow it to
gradually cool. From the time of adding the acids, and whilst cooling, we
continuously agitate by means of a stirrer of known form, or in the form of a
'dolly" or series of dollies dipping into the vats; the dolly or dollies being rotated
by a band or bands, (driven from convenient power) turning a pulley or pulleys
formed on or fitted to the vertical spindle of the dolly. We then mix therewith a
hot solution of bi-carbonate of soda until the acid re-action of the mixture is
removed. This preparation is now suitable for use in soap manufacture.
Second. If required for lubrication, the grease, as prepared above, is bleached,
conveniently by a current of chlorino gas being passed through it, by means of the
following appliance. The gas is admitted to the mixture in the vat through one
or more tubes, of suitable material, such as glass, of sufficient length to reach to
the bottom of the vat. The end is closed by a cap or valve, which can be opened

page_text: by the attendant, so that the tube is inserted into the grease closed, and afterwards
opened to allow the issue of the chlorine gas. The tube or pipe supplying the gas
is also provided with a tap or cock to regulate the supply, which is continued as
long as may be deemed desirable.
Returning to the residue of the "moisings" after extraction of the grense :-
We may mix therewith a sufficient quantity of glutinous material (heating if
necessary) to bind the same firmly together; when the mass is rolled into sheets,
moulded, or otherwise treated.
Again, we may mix saw-dust, mineral oil, tar, and binding material therewith,
to form a mass which may be moulded into suitable "briquettes" to be used
as fuel.
Again, we may treat the residue so as to produce an artificial leather of strong
fibrous texture. To effect this we take the residue, when dry, and tear it into fine
shreds. These shreds, which form a fibrous mass, are then mixed with suitable
glutinous binding material, and with pulverized leather (conveniently the siftings
from the tearing process). These are now heated in a steaming vat with stirring
appliances (of usual construction or as herein before specified), treated with vapour
of sulphuric acid, and, when thoroughly incorporated, the mass is rolled or pressed
into sheets.
The requisite tearing of the residue we effect conveniently by means of a special
device. This device consists of two concentric cylinders of different diameters.
The outer periphery of the inner cylinder (which need only be a skeleton or frame
or may be a simple spindle) and the inner periphery of the outer cylinder are
respectively fitted with tearing knives (which may be sharpened back and front)
with their points returned in the direction of rotation, which is contrary. The
contrary rotation is effected at any speed desirable by suitable driving connections.
The residue is placed in this tearing device through a convenient opening, and
when taken out (after being subjected-to-its-operation) will be found to be torn
into the fibrous mass necessary for our before specified process.
Again, we may combine the said residue with certain substances, and subject it
to certain processes, to produce manure. To effect this, we first pulverize the
residue. It is then, in a dry condition, placed in a retort together with bones or
other suitable substances, such as offal, previously dried and pulverized. Heat is
now applied to drive out all moisture, and the mass is treated by a disinfectant or
antiseptic. The whole is then dried and is packed into sacks or other receptacles.
We may further add to the foregoing mixture any suitable ash, which may have
been previously soaked in urine and dried, and we may alternatively add thereto
(or substitute for the ash) dried and pulverized hop dregs, or spent tin bark.
When the greasy material is "cotton waste," or other similar fibrous substance,
we first steam it as in the case of the "moisings," but with a slight addition of
dilute sulphuric acid. The steamed material is then pressed or rolled, to effect
the extraction of a large proportion of the grease contained in it, the oil being
further refined in any convenient way.
The cotton waste or other fibrous material is further cleansed and purified for
sale by wringing and by washing in an agitator, provided with stirring or tearing
arms, by treatment with soda, and by finally drying. This cleansing and washing
of the waste may be effected with great economy by placing the waste or other
material in interchangeable wire cages, by which the material may be removed in
bulk from vat to vat by a suitable lifting mechanism.