IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL FERTILIZERS AND IN METHODS OF MANU- FACTURING THE SAME
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Richards Young Junior of Norfolk in the State
of Virginia in the United States of America for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL FERTILIZERS AND IN METHODS OF MANU-
FACTURING THE SAME
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Richards Young,
Junior, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th May
1883.
JOHN RICHARDS YOUNG, Junior, of Norfolk, in the State of Virginia in the
United States of America, "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL FERTILIZERS AND
IN METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME "
The primary object of this invention is to render night-soil free from offensive
odour and other objectionable features by the use of such articles only as add to its
value whilst retaining all its own valuable fertilizing properties.
The compounds constituting the improved artificial fertilizers consist of night-
soil, mixed with either dry fish scrap, bone phosphate of lime, or phosphatic guano
the whole being treated with sulphuric acid after such mixing.
In compounding the night-soil with fish scrap about the following proportions
have been found to give good results vizt.
1000 pounds weight of night-soil, 400 pounds of dry-fish-scrap and 175 pounds
of sulphuric acid.
These materials are thoroughly mixed and when the chemical action is complete,
evaporated to dryness by exposure to the atmosphere or otherwise, without
injurious heat, and the compound is then ground to powder.
When bone phosphate of lime is used as an ingredient the preferred proportions
of the compound are; 1000 pounds of night-soil, 400 pounds of bone phosphate of
lime, and 200 pounds of sulphuric acid.
The bone phosphate of lime may be used in any of its commercial forms, as
raw, calcined, or carbonized bone, dry fish-scrap tankage, or other phosphatic
materials, the proportions being varied according to strength of material used and
amount of phosphoric acid desired.

page_text: When employing phosphatic guano in the place of fish-scrap, or bone phosphate
of lime, it is desirable to take about 100 gallons of night-soil, 400 pounds of
phosphatic guano and 200 pounds of sulphuric acid.
The materials are placed in a tank, or other suitable vessel, and thoroughly
mixed together either by hand or by the aid of machinery. When the resulting
chemical action is complete the compound is evaporated to dryness by exposure to
the atmosphere on drying beds, or by aid of suitable drying machinery, and after
being pulverized it is ready for use.
As the natural phosphatic guano deposits, vary in the per cent. of phosphate of
lime and the availability of its phosphoric acid, the proportions of ingredients in
the compound may be varied to suit the strength of material used and amount
of phosphoric acid desired.
After the compounds are thoroughly decomposed, evaporated to dryness, and
pulverized, they are ready for bagging.
The fertilizers manufactured in accordance with this Invention possess the
important advantages of depriving night-soil of its offensive odour, with other
objectionable properties, and of rendering it fine and dry so that it can be sown
by machinery or from the hand without offense to the person; these results being
accomplished by the addition of only such articles as add to its value as a fertilizer,
while retaining all its own valuable qualities.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Richards Young, Junior, in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 27th November 1883.
JOHN RICHARDS YOUNG, Junior, of Norfolk, in the State of Virginia, in the
United States of America, IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL FERTILIZERS AND IN
METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
The primary object of my said invention is to render night-soil free from
offensive odour and other objectionable features by the use of such articles only
as add to its value while retaining all its own valuable fertilizing properties
The compounds constituting the improved artificial fertilizers consist of night-
soil, mixed with either dry fish scrap, bone phosphate of lime, or phosphatic guano
the whole being treated with sulphuric acid after such mixing.
In compounding the night-soil with fish scrap, about the following proportions
have been found in practice to give good results, vist
One thousand pounds weight of night-soil
Four hundred pounds of dry fish-scrap.
One hundred and seventy-five pounds of sulphuric acid
These materials are thoroughly mixed together, and, when the chemical action
is complete, evaporated to dryness by exposure to the atmosphere or otherwise,
without the employment of injurious heat, and the compound is then ground to
powder.
Dry Fish-scrap, of about 10 ten per cent moisture, contains the equivalent of
about 10 ten per cent. of ammonia and 8 eight per cent. phosphoric acid. The
chemical action resulting from the compounding with night-soil of dry-fish scrap
and sulphuric acid, in about the proportions named, may be thus explained:
The bone phosphate of lime contained in the fish being acted on by the sulphuric
acid gives up its lime, thereby rendering its phosphoric acid soluble or available
for plant food. Sulphate of lime is formed which aids in the setting and drying
of the mixture.
In the decomposition of the night-soil by the sulphuric acid, its free ammonia
is converted into sulphate of ammonia. The compound is changed into a super-
phosphate through chemical action, during which sulphurous acid gas is liberated
which acts as a powerful deodorizer and disinfectant
The dry fish-scrap aids materially in reducing the moisture of the compound.
When bone phosphate of lime is used as an ingredient the preferred proportions
of the compound are about One thousand pounds of night-soil, four hundred
pounds of bone phosphate of lime and two hundred pounds of sulphuric acid.
The bone phosphate of lime may be used in any of its commercial forms, as
raw, calcined, or carbonized bone, dry fish-scrap, tankage, or other phosphatic
materials, the proportions being varied according to strength of material used and
amount of phosphoric acid desired.
Phosphate of lime contains about 54 fifty-four per cent. lime and 46 forty-six
per cent. phosphoric acid, Treated with sulphuric acid, the lime unites with the
said acid, forming sulphate of lime and leaving the phosphoric acid available as
plant food
The chemical action and changes resulting from the compounding with night-
soil of bone-phosphate of lime and sulphuric acid, in about the proportions named,
may be thus explained
First; the ammonia of the night-soil is converted into a sulphate, thereby fixing
It and preventing loss by volatilization.

page_text: Second; the phosphate of lime, being acted on by the sulphuric acid, super
phosphate and sulphate of lime are formed, thereby rendering the phosphoric acid
soluble and available as plant food. The sulphate of lime aids effectually in
reducing the moisture of, and setting the compound.
Third; the heat generated by the resulting chemical action in presence of
organic matter causes a deoxidation of a portion of the sulphuric acid, liberating
sulphurous acid gas, or sulphur dioxide, which acts as a powerful deodorizer and
disinfectant.
The use of the strongest (66 "Baume") sulphuric acid is desirable in causing the
liberation of the sulphur dioxide.
The compound resulting from the combination and chemical action described is
an ammoniated super phosphate, containing the combined valuable properties of
night-soil, and bone phosphate of lime in the most available condition for plant
food. Dry fish-scrap (the solid matter of the fish after the oil and water have been
expelled by heat and pressure) of about 10 ten per cent. moisture contains, besides
from 18 eighteen per cent. to 20 twenty per cent. bone phosphate, the equivalent
of 10 ten per cent ammonia. Should it be desired to increase the per centage of
ammonia in the compound, dry fish-scrap, in whole or in part, may be used as the
source of bone phosphate supply.
When employing phosphatic guano in the place of fish-scrap, or bone phosphate
of lime, it is desirable to take about One hundred gallons of night soil (as it comes
from the privy four hundred pounds of phosphatic guano and two hundred pounds
of sulphuric acid.
These materials are placed in a tank, or other suitable vessel, and thoroughly
mixed together, either by hand or by the aid of machinery. When the resulting
chemical action is complete the compound is evaporated to dryness by exposure to
the atmosphere on drying beds, or by aid of suitable drying machinery and after
being pulverized it is ready for use.
Phosphatic guanos are those which contain a large percentage of phosphoric
acid, combined with lime, forming phosphate of lime; when such are treated with
sulphuric acid, chemical decomposition ensues, resulting in the formation of soluble
super-phosphate and sulphate of lime. Phosphatic guanos contain also, carbonate
of lime, the decomposition of which by sulphuric acid gives sulphate of lime, with
the liberation of carbonic acid gas (carbon dioxide)
The chemical action and changes resulting from the compounding with night-soil
of phosphatic guano, and sulphuric acid may be thus explained:
First; the ammonia of the night-soil is converted into a sulphate, thereby fixing.
it and preventing loss by volatilization.
Second. the phosphate of lime being acted on by the sulphuric acid, super
phosphate and sulphate of lime are formed; the phosphoric acid is thereby rendered
soluble, or available as plant food.
Third. the carbonate of lime being decomposed by the sulphuric acid, additional
sulphate of lime is formed, the liberated carbonic acid gas escaping throughout the
mass, makes it light and porous.
Fourth. sulphate of lime, especially in the nascent state, has strong affinity for
water; the large percentage of it formed in the compound aids effectually in
reducing the moisture and setting the mass.
Fifth. the heat generated by the resulting chemical action in presence of organic'
matter, causes a deoxidation of a portion of the sulphuric acid, liberating sulphurous
acid gas (sulphur dioxide) which acts as a powerful deodorizer and disinfectant ;
the strongest (66° Baumè) acid is important.
As the natural phosphatic guano deposits, vary in the percentage of phosphate
of lime and the availability of its phosphoric acid, the proportions of ingredients.
in the compound may be varied to suit the strength of material used and amount of
phosphoric acid desired.
The compound resulting from the combination of ingredients named, and.
chemical action described, is an ammoniated super phosphate, containing the

page_text: combined valuable properties of night-soil and phosphatic guano in the most
available condition for plant food.
The compound thus avails and utilizes the valuable fertilizing materials named,
to wit; night soil and phosphatic guano, in much more effective condition than
heretofore obtained by compounding them separately with sulphuric acid.
After the compounds are thoroughly decomposed, evaporated to dryness, and
pulverized, they are ready for bagging.
The fertilizers manufactured in accordance with my said Invention possess the
important advantages of depriving night-soil of its offensive odour and other
objectionable properties and of rendering it fine and dry so that it can be sown
by machinery or from the hand without offense to the person; these results being
accomplished by the addition of only such articles as add to the value of night
soil as a fertilizer, while retaining all its own valuable qualities.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the system mode or manner in or under which it is or may be used
or carried out in practice I would observe in conclusion that in compounding the
improved artificial fertilizers I do not confine myself to the proportions of the
various ingredients hereinbefore given as although I have found such proportions
to give good results other proportions may be used without departing from the
main or essential features of the Invention. What then I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is.
First. The artificial fertilizing composition, consisting of night-soil and either
fish scrap, bone phosphate of lime or phosphatic guano and sulphuric acid
substantially as herein before set forth.
Second. The process or mode of making artificial fertilizing compounds
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Third. The process substantially as herein described, for the production of super-
phosphate and sulphate of lime
Fourth. The process of deodorizing and disinfecting night-soil by the use of
sulphur dioxide produced in and by the chemical process herein before described.
In Witness Whereof I the said John Richards Young, Junior have hereunto
set my hand and seal this twenty-second day of November in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
JOHN RICHARDS YOUNG JUNIOR (L.S.)
CIM T