IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ANIMAL CHARCOAL & THE BETTER TREATMENT OF THE BI PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF BONES AND OTHER ORGANIC MATTER
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Grey Macfarlan at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th February 1882.
JOHN GREY MACFARLAN of Richmond in the County of Surrey IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ANIMAL CHARCOAL & THE
BETTER TREATMENT OF THE BI PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE
DISTILLATION OF BONES AND OTHER ORGANIC MATTER
The supplemental use of two peculiarly formed Acid Scrubbers which receive the
uncondensed gases from the ordinary Boiler shaped & other Condensers now in
use & fixing all the Ammonia
The application of Steam jets to the said scrubbers at certain points rendering
continuous working, which is so liable otherwise to blockage.
The dilution of the Sulphuric Acid used to a certain specific gravity thus insuring
the highest results as to time & production of Salt
The substitution of steam evaporators for the pans now used.
The use of Cast Iron or fire clay retorts placed vertically or horizontally with a
drying chamber above & with or without an exhaust and by the use of Silicate of
of Soda for filling the pores of the fire clay retorts & for producing a glaze.
The substitution of Ivory Black as a lute wherever that (lute) is used or on
retorts or Canister lids and on the latter a water seal joint or vulcanite tubing
instead.
The application of superheated steam at certain points of the apparatus & for
certain periods intermittently during the process of carbonisation
Also a Direct mode of working by passing the distillate immediately from the
retorts thro' covered acid baths or Saturators containing S. Acid of Specific
1-380 & 1-6. and boiling the same if requisite by the aid of another or the same
source of heat & with a calcium oxide furnace-the resultant fluid will consist of a
Solution of Sulphate of Ammonia or a dry salt, with a supernatant oily layer
which is run off into a settling tank.
These oily matters are then passed thro' a red hot iron or fire clay tube in
the brick work of the ovens or vessel or retort, the vapours thus produced are
made to traverse a large area of hot surface & the permanent or stable gas thus
produced is conveyed to the kiln or oven & there applied to the primary drying
& also the carbonisation of the Bones employed in the process-or the gas after

page_text: purification if required is conveyed to a Gas Holder for illuminating or other
purposes of heating boilers &.
Very little coal coke or other fuel will be required in the operation where the
oils are trented in the above manner.
There will be little or no smoke and no escaping noxious vapours, therefore no
Jarge & expensive shaft will be required-while the Ammoniacal products are
increased by passing superheated steam first thro' a retort containing shale & clay
or coke or other carbonaceons matter, at red heat, thus splitting up the Hydrogen
and oxygen, which then pass over as Carbonic oxide & Hydrogen to the retorts
charged with Bones quickly completing the Carbonisation.
By the above "direct method" the use of the Condenser & Still are dispensed
with as well as the evaporator & there is no mother liquor, while in the "indirect
method" first named I employ a condenser & washer or scrubber, also a continuous
fractional Calcic Still with Saturator and evaporator actuated by the gases
produced as above named from the destructive distillation of Bones & other
organic matter. .