A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE ECONOMICAL PRO- DUCTION OF A POROUS CARBON FOR FILTERING, REFINING, DECOLOURIZING AND DEODORIZING LIQUIDS
Year: 1885

page_text: I GEORGE HENRY ELLIS, of The Heathfield Patent Carbon Works, near Newton
Abbot, in the County of Devon, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE ECONOMICAL PRO-
DUCTION OF A POROUS CARBON FOR FILTERING, REFINING, DECOLOURIZING AND
DEODORIZING LIQUIDS," 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 further improvements I have made in the production of
porous carbon, since the date of my two former Patents N° 14,770 dated the
8th Novembar 1884, and N° 908 dated the 22nd January 1885, the present
improvements having particular reference to a more economical mode of pro-
duction.
In carrying out my invention I select a particular kind of clay which exists in
natural formation above the Lignite beds of Bovey Tracey, Devonshire; and, owing
to the physical and chemical peculiarities of these deposits, when treated according
to my invention, they produce a highly valuable, firm and porous carbonaceous
substance or medium for filtering, refining, decolourizing and deodorizing liquids,
either by precipitation or filtration. This particular clay. usually exists near the
surface and extends to a considerable depth until it reaches the Lignite beds.
Similar clays occur below the Lignite beds, but for the sake of economical working
I prefer to use the upper deposits which can be "won" or "worked "" open face,'
in the same way as an ordinary clay pit, whence it is cheaply brought to the Mill
and there thoroughly broken up or pulverized in a similar manner to that adopted
in preparing clay for brick making by the semi-dry process. In cases where the
clay is too highly charged with moisture for this preliminary operation it is set out
to dry under sheds, either by natural evaporation or waste and radiated heat from
the carbonizing ovens or retorta,
"
During the process of pulverizing I incorporate with the clay the following
ingredients: (1) from 10 to 15 per cent of Lignite or Lignite-clay the proportion
being determined by the carbonaceous quality of such Lignite or Lignite-clay;
(2) from 15 to 25 per cent of an aluminous, schist or clay which is found at
Haytor," and in other places adjacent to the Bovey Tracey Lignite beds,—the

page_text: object of this addition being to increase the structural firmness and porosity
finished product; and (3), from 1 to 2 per cent of coal tar or pitch: this latter
ingredient may in some cases be added after pulverization of the others, and par-
ticularly the pressed bricks or blocks (hereafter referred to), may be dipped in the
tar or a solution of pitch to absorb the required quantity.
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The pulverized materials are delivered from the Disintegrator or Mill by & suit-
able automatic arrangement and carried, without any handling, by a "Jacob's-
ladder" direct to the hopper of a pressing machine, and by the process known as
semi-dry" are there formed or pressed into bricks, blocks or slabs which are taken
upon trollies or barrows to a suitable place, preferably and usually to covered sheds
surrounding the carbonizing-ovens or retorts where the moisture quickly evaporates,
and are allowed to remain until they, the said bricks, blocks, or slabs give off a
woody sound when struck together, an indication that they are ready for the retorts
or ovens. The bricks, blocks, or slabs are then set or placed in the carbonizing-
ovens or retorts at a temperature which is readily and economically produced by
fires made of refuse coke or breeze from Gas-works, with the addition of a small
quantity of slack or small coal
The bricks, blocks, or slabs are allowed to remain in the carbonizing-ovens or
retorts, at a red heat, for about two hours, and are then drawn out and tipped into
tanks or bins and there covered in until sufficiently cooled. When cooled the
carbon bricks, blocks, or slabs thus manufactured are reduced by a disintegrator or
other means into granulated particles and dust; after which the mass is automati-
cally carried through sifting machinery where the granulated portions are separated
into different grades and the dust freed therefrom, the whole falling into bags of
respective classes ready for being sent away for use,
By the process herein described, and which I distinguish as the "semi-dry carbon
block process" it will be obvious that I effect a considerable economy in producing
my porous carbon, as by it I entirely dispense with the necessity of reducing the
materials into a plastic or semi-fluid condition, thereby saving the great expense of
drying the same and also the use of steam together with the cost of soda or other
alkali
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my sai
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that wha
I claim is
The herein before described process for the economical production of a porou
han for filtering, refining, decolourizing, and deodorizing purposes.
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