Improvements relating to the Treatment of Peat.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Treatment of Peat.
1 EDOUARD RISCHGITZ, of Cambridge Lodge Studios, Linden Gardens,
Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex Artist Painter do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the treatment of peat and consists in an improved mode
or method of preserving peat from deterioration when extracted from the bog, and
in some instances in adding to peat carbon from the atmosphere to improve its
properties as a fuel.
According to one process comprising one part of my invention I treat the peat
with a petrifying solution which neutralizes the action of the acid contained in the
peat and further so protects the peat as to prevent the absorption thereby of
atmospheric air. The formation and exhalation of carbonic acid gas which takes
place when the peat is not so protected is thereby prevented.
Another process or treatment to prevent deterioration comprising another part
of my invention consists in neutralizing the action of the acid chiefly acetic, in
the peat by adding thereto soda, potash, sulphate of iron or other suitable alkali.
I thereby eliminate one great cause of the absorption of oxygen from the
atmosphere and to that extent prevent the formation and exhalation of carbonic
acid gas.
I do not however find that this method is so effectual or so permanent
as the first named method and I do not therefore prefer it.
In carrying my invention into practice according to the first named method I
treat the peat in the condition in which it is taken from the bog with lime water
which combines with the silicon and alumina of the peat and produces the desired
protective petrification. If, however, the peat is poor in mineral constituents I
add to the lime water a small quantity of a suitable silicate, for instance silicate of
potash; and sometimes in addition permanganate of potash or I may use the
permanganate without the silicate to accelerate the setting of the coating solution.
Besides the petrifying action, the hydrated calcium tends to absorb carbonic acid
from the atmosphere and hence the peat is not only by my process preserved from
deterioration but is greatly improved.
For the treatment of black or decayed peat it is sufficient to thoroughly mix the
chemicals and the peat which may be done in an ordinary pug mill. The peat after
treatment is allowed to dry on the ground.
For ligneous peat it is necessary to thoroughly grind the peat before mixing the
chemicals therewith. After well grinding and mixing, the liquid may be pumped
or otherwise conveyed to the drying ground.
I find it advantageous to divide the drying ground into channels by means of
boards placed on edge and suitably held together, and after the peat has been
allowed to drain in these channels for two or three hours or more according to
circumstances the said boards are removed to allow of the remaining water flowing
more freely away. The rows of solidified peat may then be cut up into blocks by
suitable knives.
The proportions of lime water, silicate of potash, or other of the aforesaid
chemicals used are increased or diminished according to the quality and condition
of the peat.
Peat treated according to my invention does not require to be compressed by
machinery as has heretofore been practised.
ני.
TD 017
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Treatment of Peat.
EDOUARD RISCHGITZ Cambridge Lodge, 42 Linden Gardens, London, W. 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:-
-
In order to retain the carbon and get rid of the acetic acid after the peat has
been cut and macerated and prevent formation of carbonic acid gas in quantities
thus reducing the carbon and lessening the value of the fuel, cause a semi-
petrefaction to take place.
For this purpose I make use of the hydrate of lime in solution, free of carbonate,
clear and filtered.
The properties of hydrate of lime are well-known. In using it first as an alkali,
Ineutralise the action of the acetic acid. Another of its properties is to combine
with the minerals contained in the vegetable matter and form a slight petrefaction
sufficient to prevent the reabsorption of the dampness of the atmosphere when the
fuel is once dried.
I prefer to use the solution in the proportion of not exceeding 1 part of lime to
730 parts of water. If the proportion of lime be more than this it will contain some
carbonate which I specially wish to avoid as the blocks are then apt to split when
dried, and crumble in the fire, and do not flame as readily.
If the peat is fibrous or ligneous it is necessary to thoroughly grind it in a
disintegrator in order to bring the solution into rapid contact with the interior of
the fibre, and thus expel the acetic acid. The proportion of the lime, I vary
according to the quality of the peat, and in some cases add a light solution of
common potash or soda especially if the fuel becomes too brittle in drying. The
proportion of potash or soda for that solution is approximately one ounce in five
gallons of water.
For the purpose of having a continuous supply of the solution I erect suitable
tanks covered and protected from the air, so that the carbonic acid of the air is not
absorbed by the solution, and thus form carbonate of lime, which as I have before
mentioned I wish to avoid; these tanks have suitable filters and are erected near
the mixing mills or disintegrators, so that the solution may be supplied to the mill
before it has time to absorb the carbonic acid of the air. This precaution is
important as I make use of the hydrated lime first as an alkali, and for that purpose
it must be free from carbonate.
The quantity of solution to be mixed with the peat in the manner above
described is half a pint for two pounds of fresh peat, and when using the potash or
soda solution one eighth of a pint for the same quantity of peat.
When the peat is well mixed with the solution, I let it flow in the form of a
muddy liquid into a channel or channels to carry it to the drying ground. On the
drying ground, I use moveable boards, about one foot wide, but wider if necessary,
standing on their edges, and suitably held together to hold the muddy liquid in the
channels, and after the peat has been allowed to drain for some time more or less
according to circumstances the said boards are removed to allow the remaining
water to flow more freely away. The rows of solidified peat fuel are then cut into
blocks, and left on the ground or piled up to dry. Peat treated according to my
invention does not require to be compressed by machinery into bricks, but is
sufficiently hardened by the semi-petrefaction which takes place.
When thoroughly dried the fuel gives a bright and large flame and ignites
readily.
The blocks do not crumble in the fire and give a bright and compact coke similar
to coal.

page_text: Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
Firstly. The mixing of macerated peat with a clear and filtered solution of
hydrate of lime free from carbonate of lime as described.
Secondly. The use of closed vessels with filters in connection therewith to
protect the solution from the action of the carbonic acid of the air before it is
brought in contact with the macerated peat.
Thirdly. Neutralising the acetic acid in the peat by the alkaline action of the
solution of hydrate of lime, free from carbonate of lime.
Fourthly. Causing the solution after doing duty in eleminating the acetic acid
to absorb the carbonic acid of the air, and to become a carbonate, thus binding the
whole together by semi-petrefaction.
The 13th April 1802
EDOUARD RISCHGITZ,
Cambridge Lodge, 42, Linden Gardens, Bayswater, W.