MANUFACTURE OF NEW SUBSTANCES OR COMPOUNDS RESEMBLING BONE OR IVORY BLACK OR ANIMAL CHARCOAL, AND DESIGNED FOR USE AS A SUBSTITUTE THEREFOR."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
"
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
THE MANUFACTURE OF NEW SUBSTANCES OR COMPOUNDS RESEMBLING
BONE OR IVORY BLACK OR ANIMAL CHARCOAL, AND DESIGNED FOR USE AS
A SUBSTITUTE THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by the Th. Pilter
Company, of Paris, France.
Scaled the 15th September 1877, and dated the 10th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th July 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
"THE MANUFACTURE OF NEW SUBSTANCES OR
Southampton Buildings, London.
COMPOUNDS RESEMBLING BONE OR IVORY BLACK OR ANIMAL CHARCOAL, AND
DESIGNED FOR USE AS A SUBSTITUTE THEREFOR." [A communication from abroad
by the Th. Pilter Company, of Paris, France.]
The products to whose manufacture this Invention applies are characterized by
their absolute identity with the charcoal produced by the calcination of bones.
This identity consists not only in the chemical composition and in the physical
properties of the products manufactured, but also extends to the immediate
principles, the transformation of which produces what is called animal charcoal.
The mineral and organic substances whose mixture constitutes the primary
materials of these absorbent and decoloring charcoals are absolutely analogous in
all points to those which compose the substance of bones. This Invention therefore
provides a veritable artificial composition of bone.
The physical and chemical properties, as well as the elementary composition and
the intensity of the bleaching power of the several charcoals, varying with the
nature of the substances which have produced them, it is of the highest importance
to produce a charcoal identical in everything with that which furnishes the organic
part of bone. These conditions have been realized by substituting for the osseine a
substance of animal origin with which it is isomeric, in fact the osseine submitted
to the action of boiling water is dissolved therein, passing into the state of gelatine,
77

page_text: These two immediate principles of which the properties differ entirely are identical
as to their chemical composition.
By boiling, the osseine gives exactly its weight of gelatine; this last substance is
therefore only the product of a molecular transformation of the first, with which it
is isomeric. This fact has a great importance; in fact, from the point of view of the
artificial reconstitution of the bone charcoal, it leaves the latitude of substituting
for the osseine considered as the source of the charcoal, a principle which is identical
with it whether it is gelatine itself or any other substance susceptible of being trans-
formed into gelatine under the influence of different actions. Now certain tissues
of the animal organism, particularly the dermic and epidermic tissues, of which the
skin is almost essentially formed, possess the property of being transformed into
gelatine under the action of boiling water. This property extends to tanned skins,
that is to say, to leather of all kinds when it has been previously modified by this
process. It is on this principle that is based this new manufacture (as regards the
identity of the charcoal obtained thereby with that which furnishes the organic
substance of bone), and it is leather become isomeric with osseine after the different
transformations to which I subject it, which takes its place as the source of the
charcoal.
I employ indiscriminately the waste of new leather of any kind whatever, as well
as the fleshings of hides to be.obtained at the tanneries.
Among the substances of which bone is composed two only are important with
regard to the absorbent properties of the charcoals for the free alkalies and their
salts these are the phosphates of lime and magnesia, 3 equivalents of the base for
one equivalent of acid.
The experiments which have been made establish the following facts, namely:-
1st: That the phosphate of magnesia heated under pressure with lime water gives
rise to a phenomenon of substitution; the lime combines with the phosphoric acid
in order to form tricalcic phosphate, whilst the insoluble magnesia is set at liberty.
This phenomenon shews the superiority of the substance made according to this
Invention over the revivified charcoal as far as regards its absorbent property for
lime.
2nd. That under the influence of heat and of pressure the insoluble bibasic
phosphate of lime fixes an equivalent of lime in order to pass into the state of
tribasic phosphate. There is therefore no comparison to establish between the
bibasic phosphate which absorbs more than 20 per cent. of its weight of lime, and
the tribasic phosphate, of which the action is very probably only mechanical.
3rd. That the basic phosphate of magnesia fixes the free ammonia, and the volatile
ammoniacal salts carbonate sulphydrate of ammonia.
These observations, of which the importance cannot be estimated, lead to the
conclusions,―
1st. That by substituting in this charcoal the bicalcic phosphate for the tricalcic
phosphate its absorbent properties for free lime will be augmented.
2nd. That it is expedient to augment the proportion of magnesian phosphate
with the view of rendering more considerable the absorbent properties for the
calcareous salts and the volatile ammoniacal salts.
The manufacture of artificial animal charcoal according to this Invention
comprises:
--
1st. The preparation of the leather intended to take the place of the osseine and
to furnish the carbon,
2nd. The mixture of the organic mineral substances and the composition of the
said artificial animal charcoal.
3rd. The calcination.
First. With regard to the preparation of the leather intended to take the place of
the osseine and to furnish the carbon. The refuse or waste new leather after a
treatment which has for its object the separation of the foreign matters with which
it may be mixed, is placed in a digester in communication with a generator able to
furnish steam of 6 atmospheres pressure. A small quantity of water is added, in

page_text: After
which has been previously dissolved a proportion of caustic soda, varying from 1
to 5 per cent. of the weight of the substance treated, according to the nature of the
leather being operated upon. Then the steam is injected. There is first a very
strong condensation, which notably increases the proportion of the liquid, but soon
the equilibrium of temperature being established between the steam, the substance
to be treated, and the apparatus, the condensation becomes nearly nullified.
a time, which varies from 1 to 2 hours, according to the strength of the leather and
its more or less complete tanning, the substance which is to be found there under
the form of semi-liquid magnesia is submitted to a turbinage, which separates from
it a liquid charged with tannate of soda mixed with a small quantity of gelatine.
The product remaining in the turbine constitutes a true glutinous substance, capable
of giving by boiling a very considerable quantity of gelatine. For eliminating the
foreign substances which might still be mixed therewith, the matter coming from
this working may be submitted to a real sifting by forcing it by the action of a
hydraulic press to traverse a strong sheet of gauze with close or fine meshes.
having undergone this last operation the modified leather is in a suitable condition
for further treatment. I then proceed to the incorporation of the mineral substances
to which it serves as a binding medium.
After
With regard to the mixture of the organic and mineral substances and compo-
sition of my artificial animal charcoal, the magma of modified leather being pre-
pared, there only remains to effect the mixture with the phosphates of lime and of
magnesia in the proportions determined in order to constitute the body, which
takes the place of bone in the manufacture of this new charcoal.
For this purpose
I take a fixed quantity of magma of damp leather; it is dried in a small stove
heated to about 110°, and the water which is volatilised is estimated by the loss of
weight. By subtraction the quantity of dry organic material which the magma
contains may be determined. Considering from this fact that the bones deprived
of grease contain in the dry state about 33 per cent. of organic matters, a quantity
With the same
of magma is taken as representing 33 kilogrammes of dry matter.
is incorporated 50 kilogrammes of bibasic phosphate of line and 17 kilogrammes
of phosphate of magnesia, these two products being perfectly dry; this incorpora-
tion is effected by means of a kneader or agitator worked by a steam engine. In a
very short time a solid mass is obtained, in which the mineral substances are as
intimately mixed as possible with the organic substance. This mass is then sub-
mitted to the action of a very powerful hydraulic press for separating the different
layers of the product by means of sheets of gauze or absorbent felt. If care is taken
to allow the substance time to settle, and only gradually to arrive at the maximum
of pressure, very hard cakes are finally obtained, of which the texture has abso-
lutely the appearance of bone. On issuing from the presses the said cakes are
carried into a stove where their dessication is effected to about 110°. When they
have ceased to lose weight they are in a convenient state, and it only remains to
submit them to calcination in order to obtain the charcoal.
use.
The calcination is effected by the methods and by means of furnaces at present in
The management of the fire during the calcination is of very great importance.>
It is indispensable that the heating should be effected gradually and very gently at
the commencement to prevent the crumbling of the cakes to pieces. By observing
these conditions a charcoal is obtained absolutely identical as to its physical pro-
perties with bone charcoal, and capable of re-vivification like the latter. The calci-
nation being finished, the charcoal is crushed and granulated in the same manner as
bone charcoal.
As regards the treatment of sweet juices the action of the charcoal is multiple; it
acts as a decoloring medium, as an absorbent for the free lime, for the salts of lime,.
and for certain ammoniacal salts, whence it results that the composition of the
charcoal would have to be further modified, according to the nature of the sweet
juices to be treated. In fact, for the operation of refining, of which the principle
object is the decoloration of the raw sugars containing relatively small quantities of
calcareous salts, charcoals may be produced which will decolor very slightly, that is

page_text: to say, they will be very rich in carbon. This result is obtained by increasing in
the mixture the relative proportion of organic substance, that is to say, of magma of
leather while that of the phosphates is reduced.
If, on the contrary, it regards the treatment of sweet juices of clarification, or
those containing considerable quantities of free lime and calcareous salts which it is
necessary to fix, the relative proportion of carbon is diminished, while that of the
phosphates is augmented. The compositions may thus be varied "ad infinitum,"
according to their uses.
The applications of which this artificial charcoal is susceptible are not limited to
the treatment of sweet juices of all kinds; they extend,-
1st. To the clarification and purification of water intended for feeding purposes.
2nd. To the clarification, the purification, and the disinfection of waters from
sewers and from factories, of waters from cesspools, and other analogous water.
As far as regards dung water the application is extremely important with regard
to public health and the utilization of human excrement, considering that it permits
the utilization of the property which the neutral phosphate of magnesia possesses of
fixing free ammonia and the volatile ammoniacal salts (carbonate and sulphydrate)
in the state of insoluble ammoniaco-magnesian phosphate; also the absorbent pro-
perties of animal charcoal for the gases, and the decoloring properties for liquids.
For these purposes a charcoal is made containing only animal carbon and neutral
phosphate of magnesia, by means of which dung water is clarified, decolored, and
disinfected completely by a simple filtration by fixing the volatile ammoniacal salts
held in solution, that is to say, the fertilizing elements, useful in agriculture. After
filtration upon this charcoal the dung waters may be discharged without incon-
venience either into the sewers or into any watercourse whatever. As to the
charcoal it constitutes, after the operation, a manure of superior quality, very rich
in ammoniacal azote, in phosphoric acid, and in magnesia.
In order to facilitate the operations and to render more complete the action of
this improved charcoal by multiplying the surfaces of contact, the same may be
moulded in pieces of any desired form, such as hollow cylinders. These cylinders
are traversed throughout their substance by the liquids to be treated, which are
driven by pressure. The points of contact are thus infinitely multiplied, and the
action rendered more rapid and more complete, not a drop of liquid, however small,
being able to escape the action of the charcoal.
The chief advantages resulting from the use of this improved artificial animal
charcoal are as follows, namely
1st. Economy in its employment.
2nd. Its capability of being varied in composition according to the uses for which
it is intended.
3rd. Augmentation of decoloring power:
4th. Augmentation of the power of absorption of free lime and its salts.
5th. Fixing of free ammonia and of volatile ammoniacal salts.
6th. The capability of supplying manufactures with charcoal regularly moulded
according to certain forms which render its action very rapid and more complete.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th January 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "THE MANUFACTURE OF NEW SUBSTANCES OR
COMPOUNDS RESEMBLING BONE OR IVORY BLACK OR ANIMAL CHARCOAL, AND
DESIGNED FOR USE AS A SUBSTITUTE THEREFOR." A communication from abroad
by the Th. Pilter Company, of Paris, France.
The products to whose manufacture this Invention applies are characterized by their
absolute identity with the charcoal produced by the calcination of bones. This
identity consists not only in the chemical composition and in the physical properties
of the products manufactured, but also extends to the immediate principles, the
transformation of which produces what is called animal charcoal.
The mineral and organic substances whose mixture constitutes the primary
material of these absorbent and bleaching charcoals are absolutely analogous in all
points to those which compose the substance of bones. This Invention therefore
provides a veritable artificial composition of bone.
The physical and chemical properties, as well as the elementary composition, and
the intensity of the decoloring or bleaching power of the several charcoals, vary
with the nature of the substances which have produced them; it is therefore of the
highest importance to produce a charcoal identical in everything with that which
furnishes the organic part of bone. These conditions have been realised by substi-
tuting for the osseine a substance of animal origin with which it is isomeric; in
fact, the osseine submitted to the action of boiling water is dissolved therein, passing
into the state of gelatine. These two immediate principles, of which the properties
differ entirely, are identical as to their chemical composition.
By boiling, the osseine gives exactly its weight of gelatine; this last substance is
therefore only the product of a molecular transformation of the first, with which it
is isomeric. This fact has a great importance; from the point of view of the artificial
reconstitution of bone] charcoal it leaves the latitude of substituting for the osseine,
considered as the source of the charcoal, a principle which is identical with it,
whether it is gelatine itself or any other substance susceptible of being transformed
into gelatine under the influence of different actions. Now certain tissues of the
animal organisın, particularly the dermic and epidermic tissues, of which the skin is
almost essentially formed, possess the property of being transformed into gelatine
under the action of boiling water. This property extends to tanned skins, that is to
say, to leather of all kinds when it has been previously modified by this process. It
is on this principle that is based the manufacture, according to this Invention (as
regards the identity of the charcoal obtained with that which furnishes the organic
substance of bone), and it is leather become isomeric with osseine after different
transformations which takes its place as the source of the charcoal.
I employ indiscriminately the waste of new leather of any kind whatever as well
as the fleshings of hides to be obtained at tanneries.
Among the substances of which bone is composed two only are important with
regard to the absorbent properties of the charcoals for the free alkalies and their salts;
these are the phosphates of lime and magnesia, three equivalents of the base for one
equivalent of acid.
The experiments which have been made establish the following facts, namely:-
1st. That phosphate of magnesia heated under pressure with lime water gives
rise to a phenomenon of substitution; the lime combines with the phosphoric acid
in order to form tricalcic phosphate, whilst the insoluble magnesia is set at liberty.
This phenomenon shews the superiority of the substance made according to this
Invention over the revivified charcoal as far as regards its absorbent property for
lime.
2nd. That under the influence of heat and of pressure the insoluble bibasię

page_text: -
phosphate of lime fixes an equivalent of lime in order to pass into the state of
tribasic phosphate. There is therefore no comparison to establish between the
bibasic phosphate, which absorbs more than 20 per cent. of its weight of lime, and
the tribasic phosphate, of which the action is very probably only mechanical.
3rd. That the basic phosphate of magnesia fixes the free ammonia, and the volatile
ammoniacal salts carbonated hydro-suphuret of ammonia.
These observations, of which the importance cannot be estimated, lead to the
conclusions,-
1st. That by substituting in this charcoal the bicalcic phosphate for the tricalcic
phosphate its absorbent properties for free lime will be augmented.
2nd. That it is expedient to augment the proportion of magnesian phosphate,
with the view of rendering more considerable the absorbent properties for the
calcareous salts and the volatile ammoniacal salts.
The manufacture of artificial animal charcoal, according to this Invention, com-
prises,―
1st. The preparation of the leather intended to take the place of the osseine and
to furnish the carbon.
2nd. The mixture of the organic mineral substances, and the composition of the
said artificial animal charcoal.
3rd. The calcination.
With regard to the preparation of the leather intended to take the place of the
osseine and to furnish the charcoal, the refuse or waste new leather, after a treatment
which has for its object the separation of the foreign matters with which it may be
mixed, is placed in a digester in communication with a generator able to furnish
steam of six atmospheres pressure. A small quantity of water is added, in which
has been previously dissolved a proportion of caustic soda, varying from 1 to 5 per
cent. of the weight of the substance treated, according to the nature of the leather
being operated upon; then steam is injected. There is first a very strong conden-
sation, which notably increases the proportion of the liquid, but soon the equilibrium
of temperature being established between the steam, the substance to be treated,
and the apparatus, the condensation becomes nearly nullified. After a time, which
varies from 1 to 2 hours, according to the strength of the leather and its more or
less complete tanning, the substance which is to be found there under the form of
semi-liquid magna, is submitted to a turbine, which separates from it a liquid
charged with tannate of soda mixed with a small quantity of gelatine. The product
remaining in the turbine constitutes a true glutinous substance capable of giving by
boiling a very considerable quantity of gelatine. For eliminating the foreign sub-
stances which might still be mixed therewith the matter coming from this working
may be submitted to a real sifting. by forcing it by the action of a hydraulic press
to traverse a strong sheet of gauze with close or fine meshes. After having under-
gone this last operation the modified leather is in a suitable condition for further
treatment. I then proceed to the incorporation of the mineral substances to which
it serves as a binding medium).
With regard to the mixture of the organic and mineral substances and composi-
tion of my artificial animal charcoal, the magma of modified leather being prepared,
there only remains to effect the mixture with the phosphates of lime and magnesia
in the proportions determined, in order to constitute the body which takes the place
of bone in the manufacture of this new charcoal. For this purpose I take a fixed
quantity of magma of damp leather; it is dried in a small stove heated to about
110 degrees, and the water which is volatilized is estimated by the loss of weight.
By subtraction the quantity of dry organic material which the magma contains
may be determined. Considering from this fact that the bones deprived of grease
contain in the dry state about 33 per cent. of organic matters, a quantity of magma
is taken as representing 33 kilogrammes of dry matter. With the same is incor-
porated 50 kilogrammes of bibasic phosphate of lime and 17 kilogrammes of
phosphate of magnesia, these two products being perfectly dry; this incorporation
is effected by means of a kneader or agitator worked by a steam engine. "In a very

page_text: short time a solid mass is obtained, in which the mineral substances are as intimately
mixed as possible with the organic substance. This mass is then submitted to the
action of a very powerful hydraulic press for separating the different layers of the
product by means of sheets of gauze or absorbent felt. If care is taken to allow the
substance time to settle, and only gradually to arrive at the maximum of pressure,
very hard cakes are finally obtained, of which the texture has absolutely the appear-
ance of bone. On issuing from the presses the said cakes are carried into a stove,
where their desiccation is effected to about 110 degrees. When they have ceased to
lose weight they are in a convenient state, and it only remains to submit them to
calcination in order to obtain the charcoal.
The calcination is effected by the methods and by the means of furnaces at present
in use. The management of the fire during the calcination is of very great importance;
it is indispensable to heat gradually and very gently at the commencement to
prevent the crumbling of the cakes to pieces. By observing these conditions a
charcoal is obtained absolutely identical as to its physical properties with bone
charcoal, and capable of revivification like the latter. The calcination being finished
the charcoal is crushed and granulated in the same manner as bone charcoal.
As regards the treatment of sweet juices, the action of the charcoal is multiple; it
acts as a decoloring medium, as an absorbent for free lime, for salts of lime, and for
certain ammoniacal salts, whence it results that the composition of the charcoal
would have to be further modified according to the nature of the sweet juices to be
treated. In fact, for the operation of refining, of which the principal object is the
decoloration of the raw sugars containing relatively small quantities of calcareous
salts, charcoals may be produced which will decolor very slightly, that is to say, they,
will be very rich in charcoal. This result is obtained by increasing in the mixture
the relative proportion of organic substance, that is to say, of magma of leather,
while that of the phosphates is reduced.
On the contrary, in the treatment of sweet juices containing considerable quantities
of free lime and calcareous salts which it is necessary to fix, the relative proportion
of charcoal is diminished, while that of the phosphates is augmented. The compo-*
sitions may thus be varied "ad infinitum," according to their uses.
The applications of which this artificial charcoal is susceptible are not limited to
the treatment of sweet juices; they extend,
1st. To the clarification and purification of water intended for alimentary
purposes.
2nd. To the clarification, the purification, and the disinfection of water from
sewers and from factories, of waters from cesspools, and other analogous water.
As far as regards foul or dung water, the application is extremely important with
regard to public health, and the utilization of human excrement, considering that it
permits the utilization of the property which the neutral phosphate of magnesia
possesses of fixing free ammonia and the volatile ammoniacal salts (carbonate and
sulphydrate) in the state of insoluble aminoniac-magnesian phosphate; also the
absorbent properties of animal charcoal for gases and the decoloring properties for
liquids. For these purposes a charcoal is made containing only animal carbon and
neutral phosphate of magnesia, by means of which dung water is clarified, decolored,
and disinfected completely by a simple filtration, by fixing the volatile ammoniacal
salts held in solution, that is to say, the fertilizing elements useful in agriculture.
After filtration upon this charcoal the dung waters may be discharged without
inconvenience either into the sewers, or into any watercourse whatever. As to the
charcoal, it constitutes after the operation a manure of superior quality, very rich
in ammoniacal azote, in phosphoric acid, and in magnesia.
In order to facilitate the operations, and to render more complete the action of
this improved charcoal by multiplying the surfaces of contact, the same may be
moulded in pieces of any desired form, such as hollow cylinders. These cylinders
are traversed throughout their substance by the liquids to be treated, which are
driven by pressure. The points of contact are thus infinitely multiplied, and the

page_text: action rendered more rapid and complete, not a drop of liquid, however small, being
able to escape the action of the charcoal.
The chief advantages resulting from the use of this improved artificial animal
charcoal are as follows, namely:-
1st. Economy in its employment.
2nd. Its capability of being varied in composition according to the uses for which
it is intended.
3rd. Augmentation of decoloring power.
4th. Augmentation of the power of absorption of free lime and its salts.
5th. Fixing free ammonia and volatile ammoniacal salts.
6th. The capability of supplying manufactures with charcoal regularly moulded,
according to certain forms which render its action very rapid and more complete.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim the above-described process for the production of artificial animal
charcoal, which is essentially based upon the following features, namely :-
1st. Application of the waste of leather or analogous substances, disintegrated
under pressure by means of caustic soda, for furnishing charcoal similar to that
produced from the osseine of bones.
2nd. The addition to the magma thus produced of the bibasic phosphate of lime
in varying proportions, and for the purpose of affixing chemically an equivalent of
lime.
3rd. The addition of neutral phosphate of magnesia for the purpose of fixing by
double decomposition the salts of line and the volatile ammoniacal salts.
4th. The calcination and the granulation of the phosphated charcoal thus
obtained.
5th. The moulding of such charcoal, according to the forms appropriate to the
uses for which it is designed, and the agglomeration of the fine charcoal for the
purpose of reconstituting charcoal in grains or by moulding.
6th. The capability of application of this artificial charcoal to the purification of
sweet juices, and to the treatment of foul water from sewers and factories.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
XIZM DADT
XX7M
ROB LAKE. (L.S.)