Improved Process and Means for the Sanitary Disposal of Human Excrement and the Production therefrom of Gas and Bye Products Serving for Manure and other purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 15th Jan., 1898
COMPLETE DIECIFICATION.
Improved Process and Means for the Sanitary Disposal of Human
Excrement and the Production therefrom of Gas and Bye Products
Serving for Manure and other purposes.
We, JOHANN GOTTHELF DORNIG, of Coswig, Chemical Manufacturer, FERDINAND
HERMAN RACHLITZ, of Trachau, near Dresden, Gentleman, and THEODOR ZEUNERT,
also of Trachau, near Dresden, Merchant, all in Saxony, 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 disposal of human excrement and a treatment
thereof in such a way as to prevent annoyance in the adjacent neighbourhood and
at the same time to produce a gas which may be utilised for illuminating, heating,
and motor driving purposes, and thereby also bye products suitable for use in the
manufacture of gunpowder or powder for pyrotechnic and other purpose and as
manure.
For the above purposes the excrement is passed into retorts or like containers
which after being hermetically closed are heated underneath by a fire whereby gas
is generated.
The retorts are provided with an outlet pipe in the usual manner by which the
generated gas
is conducted through washing and purifying apparatus to a gasometer
from which it may be withdrawn for lighting or heating purposes.
In factories, laundries, and also ships, where there are firing or furnace installa-
tions, the retorts, in order to dispense with a special fire and save the expense con-
sequent thereon, may be placed near the boiler, to be heated underneath from the
furnace of the same, or may may be built in a flue through which very hot smoke
and gases of combustion pass. Also where water power is obtainable and electricity
can be cheaply generated or at electric installations, the excrement may be heated
by means of electric wires led into the retorts.
The coke like residue in the retorts may be reduced to fine grains or powder
to serve in the manufacture of gunpowder or for pyrotechnic and other purposes.
It is however advantageous to retain a portion of said residue in the retorts and
mix it with fresh excrement, destined for sanitary disposal and for the production
of gas, so that the moisture of the fresh material may be absorbed and the next
following burning and gas producing process accelerated.
In the process also, the water used for washing and purifying the gas and also
that used at the gasometer has communicated to it the property of manure highly
suitable for farms and gardens.
The gas thus produced has the odour of arsenic. It contains phosphorous,
carbon, hydrogen, iron, sulphur and alcohol, is not injurious to health in burning
and experiments have shown that it gives a very good heating and illuminating
Hame.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The process of disposing, so as to prevent annoyance in the adjacent
neighbourhood, of human excrement by heating, desiccating, carbonising, or
calcining the same in closed retainers and thereby the application of the same to
the production of gas, substantially as described.
2. In the process referred to, the production of a coke like residue adapted for
use, in a granulated, pulverised or other suitable state, in the manufacture of gun-
powder and powder for pyrotechnic and other purposes, substantially as described.
3. In the process referred to the production of a liquid manure, substantially
as described.
4. In the process referred to, the arrangement of hermetically closed retorts or
like containers in furnace and heating installations in the manner that a special
fire solely for the retorts is dispensed with, substantially as described.
5. In the process referred to, the heating of the excrement in retorts or like
containers by means of electricity, substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of November 1897
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.