Year: 1888

page_text: I, GEORGE WILLIAM BREMNER, of Leadenhall Bings, City of London, Manu-
facturing Chemist do hereby declare the natus of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the preparation of mineral substances and their combination
with chemical ingredients, or gases therefrom and fixed air for precipitating and disin-
fecting sewage matter, whereby active chemical changes are set up in the sewage
conducive to the general purification which otherwise would lie latent.
I describe my invention under two headings -
First. Relating to the mineral and chemical substances used in the preparation of
the defecants and how I prefer to prepare the same.
Secondly. Their application and the mechanical means used in the combined treat-
ment and the way I prefer to carry the same into effect.
I have discovered amongst the debris of Mount Vesuvius substances composed of
Potassium alumina and iron formed by igneous action, these become, when subjected
to the chemical treatment as described below, powerful defecants and purifiers of
sewage and that the chemical bodies and their solutions increase the value of the denser
portions of the sowage or sludge as a manure by charging the same with potassium.
The debris referred to are known by their native names of Piombina and Terra Gallia.
solutions of the
I also find that these associate with Phosphates of Alumina
same, solutions of Lithomarge Bauxite, natural and other sulphates of Alumina and
other aluminous Ferruginous substances such as Raddle etc.
and
or
In my Letters Patent of November 11th 1885 No. 13761 I describe the mode for
preparing solutions from Phosphates of Alumina and I now find that I can vary some-
what with advantage that method in the preparation of the compound prepared under
this specification.
Having described the substances I use, I shall now explain the mode of preparation
of the mineral substances and the way their solutions are obtained, their subsequent
treatment and annlication.

page_text: In the preparation of these substances for solution, the Phosphate of Alumina and
Piombina must be submitted to a process of calcination, per preference in a reverbera-
tory or rotatory furnace of iron and the two products for this purpose may be mixed
as follows by 70 per cent. of Phosphate of Alumina with 30 per cent. of Piombina
more or less of either, or each one may be furnaced separately and admixed after-
wards in quantities as described.
Having prepared the minerals as described, I admix with them in a dry form in
suitable proportions the Terra Gallia and Lithomarge also natural and other sulphates
of alumina and aluminous oxides of iron or sulphates of iron.
For every 100 parts material 60 parts, more or less may consist of the prepared
and
or
Phosphate of Alumina and Piombina, 30 parts of Lithoniarge Terra Gallia with
a proportionate part of crude sulphate of iron or iron oxides manganese natural
sulphates of alumina or other ferruginous aluminous substances.
The dry products are thoroughly admixed by turning them over with a spade or
any mechanical mixer and I add Sulphuric or Hydrochloric acid in sufficient
quantity to form a sludgy paste. The strength of the acid I prefer to use is
about 1800° specific gravity. After the admixture I allow the product to remain in
its pasty state for Twenty one days at least, by which time digestion will have taken
place and the combination required is formed but it may be accelerated by heat in
which case I should use a jacketed cylinder or pan fitted with an agitator with a
larger amount of acid of lower standard in order to have the product under control in
a more soluble form.
The minerals or any portion of them may be digested with other acids such
as nitric or muriatic acid or other admixtures of acids and then admixed with the
whole.
Having thus described the preparation of the acid compound used it will only be
necessary to state that alkaline solutions can be formed by saturating the minerals with
dissolved potassium or sodium, their sulphates or chlorides or they can be obtained as
described in my Letters Patent No. 13761 November 11th 1885 and such can be
advantageously used in sewage treatment when the sewage presents an acid tendency
or in conjunction with the acid products above described.
The products thus prepared would be in a solvent or thick liquid form or they may
be evaporated to dryness for a greater convenience of transport and again liquified
by and with the chemical products described in their preparation.
Secondly. I shall now describe the joint mechanical and chemical means I take.
to increase the defecating properties and general activity throughout the body of
the sewage and thereby increase the Oxidial and absorbent property of the general
purification.
This part of my invention relates to the application of fixed air combined or
not with Oxygen or other gases and in combination with substances used and
described.
I have further discovered that by the application of fixed air or oxygen gas or
other chemical gases or a combination of them that may be applied or formed in the
most convenient way in consort or in connection with the fixed air and forced into the
base or bottom of sewage tanks or other convenient place at or near the base, has a
material effect when combined with the chemical treatment on sewage purification
and that the component parts of the sewage by the chemical changes that rapidly
ensue by the action of the fixed air combined with the chemical treatment aid and
assist in the general purification and materially economise the amount of the chemicals
required to be used.
Dated this 19th day of April 1888

page_text: Improved Means for and Method of Precipitating and Disinfecting
Sewage Matter.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM BREMNER, of Leadenhall Buildings, City of London, Manu-
facturing Chemist, 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 :-
This invention relates to the treatment and purification of sewage by aerating it
by and with the oxygenic means of air under pressure which can be used hot, or
cold, or at a normal temperature and which can be combined with other gases, or not,
it also relates to the preparation and combination of mineral substances admixed
with chemical compounds, or ingredients, which form, by the preparation as hereinafter
described, defecants of a highly purifying character the same by their fertilizing
properties increasing the value of the sludge of the sewage for manurial purposes.
The air, or oxygen under pressure may be combined with pure Oxygen gas, Nitrous
gases, gases generated by the action of acids on Manganese compounds, or Carbonic
acid gas, Muriatic acid gas, or chlorine gas, or gaseous Oxides, or admixtures of any
of them, or other gases generated by chemical admixtures.
The minerals employed as defecating, oxidizing, and purifying mediums, are
substances found amongst the Volcanic debris of Mount Vesuvius and are known by their
native names of Piombina and Terra Gallia, and they or their solutions combine, well
with the solutions of Phosphate of Alumina and other ferruginous substances, such as
Lithomarge. In the preparation of these substances the Phosphate of Alumina and
Piombina must be submitted to calcination in a reverbatory furnace and for this
purpose they can be admixed in proportions more or less of equal quantity with
one sixth part of Chloride, or Sulphate of Potassium, as a larger amount of soluble
matter is obtained by this means, and when withdrawn from the furnace they are
admixed with Terra Gallia in a dry powdered form, in the proportion, more or less, of
equal quantity and the admixture may be combined with preparations of Manganese
in small quantity and with other ferruginous aluminous substances, such as Lithomarge,
the whole of combined products are then submitted to complete saturation, in proportions
more or less of equal quantity, with Hydrochloric, or Sulphuric, or Nitric, or Muriatic
acid as will form a combination of thick sludgy appearance, which must then be left
to work and chemically form within itself the defecant required. I prefer to use
Hydrochloric acid, as by that means I obtain Per- and Proto Chloride of Iron,
Chloric solutions of Phosphate of Alumina and Chlorides of Potash. If Sulphuric.
acid is used, I get Per- and Proto-Sulphate and Peroxide of Iron and Sulphuric
solutions of Phosphate of Alumina and alumina and Potash and corresponding
proportions by or with the other acids. If other acids as described are employed,
the preparation may be of use for some sewage treatment, as sewage element varies
according to the character of the different works in the district; but as a general
rule the Chlorides and Sulphates are preferable.
The strength of the acid or acids used may be of full strength in the first instance

page_text: and as saturation and absorption takes place, the admixed ingredients must be turned
over moistened with water or steam, hot water being preferable. Although I describe
the preferential admixture I use in order to carry out the full programme of this, my
invention, the complete purification of sewage element, so far as it can be done and at
the same time, adding value to the deposit, I wish it to be clearly understood, that the
great factor and prime mover in the purification, is the oxygenic aeration, as by the
use of the full volume of Oxygen supplied the raw sewage is atomized, forming
Nitrous or nitric gaseous Oxides conducive to the general purification by oxidizing the
putrescent matter present in the sewage element.
Phosphate of Alumina as prepared by my Letters Patent of November 11th 1885
No. 13761 or herein as described, Terra Gallia by itself prepared as herein described
are by themselves one and all defecants that will work advantageously with the
Oxygenic processes as herein described in the early part of this, my Specification.
Alkaline extracts, or solutions of the various substances as described are obtained.
by the use of Caustic-Potash, or Soda, or preparations of them and may be usefully
employed in sewage treatment in conjunction with the general treatment and
purification when sewage element is found to be of an acid tendency.
This part of my invention relates to the general treatment and application and the
way I prefer to carry out this my. invention by the oxygenic means of compressed
and
air gases or vapours arising from the general method employed.
or
Air pumps according to the size of the sewage tank or vessel are fixed in any
convenient position and worked by steam or other applicable power air chargers
are distributed in or near the base of the sewage tanks and fixed to the air or gas
chambers of the pumps, or the gases are emitted by air compressers.
The action of aeration is to be commenced as soon as the air chargers are covered
with the sewage as it flows from the sewage pumps or drains. The defecant used is
to be allowed to drip into or flow into the sewage as it passes from the sewage pump
or drain, so that intermixture takes place as the sewage flows on into the tank the
joint action is, for preference, to be carried on simultaneously and the quantity of the
defecant regulated by the stato of putrescence of the sewage and from time to time
spent soap maker's lyes or black ash, or milk of lime may be added to assist in
forming a coagulum, but only in such quantity as the nature of the sewage requires
and may be admixed with Magnesia to assist in the general absorption of putrescence.
The aeration must be continued until all smell has disappeared from the element.
The process is more economical in its purpose if the tanks used are closed at the
top with ventilating shafts in order to prevent the too ready escape of the rarified
gas engendered by the treatment, and time is saved by this course. When all smell
has disappeared from the sewage, the compressed air may be stopped and the sewage
will then quickly settle and clarify by the action of the precipitating mediums employed
and no secondary decomposition in the effluent will ensue.
The denser portion or sludge can then be freed from moisture by compression in
the ordinary presses or appliances as used and the cake formed broken up and well
dusted with the defecants prepared in a dry form to prevent the loss of the ammoniacal
properties and any moisture that exists, is by this means absorbed, and the product
can then be ground and broken up perfectly ready for transmission for fertilising
purposes. The product is charged by the treatment herein described with fertilising
matter in addition to its own natural manurial property and the commercial value as
a fertiliser enhanced in value.
My invention therefore consists essentially;
1. The application of the oxygenic aeration in volume by compressed air as a
means to destroy the sulphuretted Hydrogen and to prevent further generation of
the same by atomizing the sewage and creating a distinct purifying influence in the
sewage by the admixture of the gases.
That the putrescent matter is coagulated and made insoluble by the joint
action of the gases as described, and the compound defecant liquor used in the
treatment.

page_text: 3. That the coagulation of the organic substances by the means employed frees
the watery element of the sewage from all putrescent matter and the precipitating
mediums absorbs and clarifies the effluent of the various organic bodies that are held
in coagulation and suspension.
4. That the chemical process as a whole, or in part has a direct purifying influence
on sewage matter.
5. The preservation of the ammoniacal properties of the sludge by the use of
the defecants prepared in a dry form by their absorption of the moisture and free
ammonia.
6. The increased value given to the sewage deposit for manurial purposes by the
defecants used.
In conclusion, I would remark, the following are the chemical and mineral
ingredients which I employ as part of my system for treating sewage, atmosphere
under compression being the principle agent for my purpose ;-
Phosphate of Alumina solutions obtained by Hydrochloric Acid, or Sulphuric, or
Nitric Acid.
Piombina
ditto.
Terra Gallia ditto.
Manganese preparations of Potash or Soda.
Bleaching powder.
Black Ash.
Chlorides or Sulphates of Alumina (Per and Proto).
Chlorides or Sulphates of Potash.
Sulphates of Soda.
-
Chlorides of Iron and Sulphates of Iron and their Per & Proto Chlorides and
Sulphates.
Lithomarge.
Nitric Acid preparations of any of the above minerals or their equivalents.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. Treating sewage matter by a powerful current of atmospheric air either alone,
or mixed with gases, whereby the sewage is atomized and sulphuretted Hydrogen
destroyed, Nitrous or Nitric gases formed for causing a rapid purification and
precipitation of the solids and flocculent matter contained in such sewage as
described.
.
2. As a means of deodorizing, or disinfecting sewage, the employment of the
chemically treated minerals hereinbefore mentioned, after, or in conjunction with the
aerated method referred to in the first Claim and as described.
The 3rd day of January 1889.