IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATING OF LEATHER SCRAP, OLD LEATHER, SUCH AS SHOES AND OTHER ARTICLES, HORN, FEATHERS, AND SUCH SUBSTANCES, TO FIT THEM FOR MANURE."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Lissagaray, of 27, Oakley Crescent, Manor Street,
Chelsea, Chemist, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATING OF
LEATHER SCRAP, OLD LEATHER, SUCH AS SHOES AND OTHER ARTICLES,
HORN, FEATHERS, AND SUCH SUBSTANCES, TO FIT THEM FOR MANURE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henri Lissagaray at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th July 1880.
HENRI LISSAGARAY, of 27, Oakley Crescent, Manor Street, Chelsea, Chemist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATING OF LEATHER SCRAP, OLD LEATHER, SUCH AS
SHOES AND OTHER ARTICLES, HORN, FEATHERS, AND SUCH SUBSTANCES, TO FIT
THEM FOR MANURE,"
This Invention relates to the conversion of the articles mentioned into a soluble
forin for use as manure.
I first treat them with a solution of an alkali, such as carbonate of soda, potash,
or ammonia, of about 1% to 5% of the substance treated.
The alkaline solution may be obtained by mixing the articles named with 10
parts of quick lime to 90 parts of the substances themselves, and sufficient water to
slack the lime.
In these conditions ammonia is evolved, water is then added, the mixture brought
to the boil for half an hour, then filtered, and this solution may itself be used as
the liquid to act on the articles named.
The articles named are placed in the alkaline solution, are now brought to a
temperature of 70° to 100° c. for from ½ of an hour to an hour, and when the
leather is sufficiently penetrated with the solution, the surplus liquid is drawn off
and the material is submitted to a much higher temperature till the material itself
is at 120° to 140° c.
This temperature must be reached as quickly as possible. It may be acquired
by using the following vessel, but may be accomplished in other suitable
apparatus.
I construct a double jacketted vessel, the interior of which, open to the air or
closed with a cover,
holds both the material and the solution, or the material when
In the double jacket to
the solution is poured off by tilting, taps, or other means.

page_text: this apparatus flows in the inner one, steam, in the outer one, hot air or gas; the
latter therefore superheats the steam, the steam giving up its heat to the inner-
most vessel and so heating the contents; but the steam is never brought in contact
with the materials. I use the vessel open for the boiling, and after the material
has lost its superfluous liquid I close the vessel with the cover, in which is placed
a safety valve.
When the material is in process of drying, hot gases deprived of oxygen are
forced into it at the lower part of the material, and in the course of an hour or so
the material is ready.
When the operation is well conducted and the temperature correctly applied, the
leather, under the action of the basic liquid, which is never instantaneously
evaporated, swells up and becomes cellular, like bread in fermentation.
The material is then cooled, broken down, sifted, the particles of iron extracted
by a magnetic apparatus, the cellulose matter from rags, linen, or cotton linings of
the shoes or other sources being retained on the sieves, the powder of the leather
escaping through the meshes.
As the process depends, firstly, upon the treating with heat, leather, horn, etcetera,
by solutions which are saturated with the same nitrogenous matter, and secondly,
by rapidly bringing this matter to a high temperature before the total evaporation
can take place, I do not restrict myself to an alkaline solution, other liquids in
these conditions supplying its place.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henri Lissagaray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th January
1881.
HENRI LISSAGARAY, of 27, Oakley Crescent, Manor Street, Chelsea, Chemist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATING OF LEATHER SCRAP, OLD LEATHER, SUCH AS
SHOES AND OTHER ARTICLES, HORN, FEATHERS, AND SUCH SUBSTANCES, TO FIT
THEM FOR MANURE."
The treatment comprises two series of operations.
The above described matters to be treated are first subjected to an alkaline
caustic solution, either potash, or soda, or ammonia, the solution holding from 3
to 5 per cent. of caustic alkali of the matters to be treated. These matters are
placed with the solution in an open boiler capable of being closed, a close boiler
with a large man hole or cover capable of being fastened up would be a suitable
vessel.
The matters are in this vessel to be boiled for about an hour at a temperature
of 100° centigrade, then the liquor is run off by a tap and the second operation
takes place. The inatter remaining is now rapidly brought up to a temperature
of 115° C. to 130° C., according to the nature of the materials. If the before men-
tioned vessel is retained it must be furnished with a steam jacket and placed in a
suitable furnace or hearth round which hot gases circulate. In the jacket circulates
steam, heated also by the hot gases. The cover being previously placed on the
man hole, a pipe also leads from the interior of the vessel to the hot gas chamber,
and after the liquid is drawn off this pipe is opened, so that there is a communi-
cation opened between the hot gas chamber and the interior of the vessel. The
gases are made to enter by any of the usual means of forcing them into the vessel,
or the outlet pipe also fitted to the vessel may draw the air away and cause the
circulation to go on by an aspirator, fan, pump, or other suitable means.
This dessication will be complete under ordinary circumstances in an hour. It
is important that the hot gases shall not be such or in such condition as to
induce inflamation; if there is danger of this a little steam can be mingled
with it.
When the operation has been carefully attended to, the leather swells up and
becomes cellular, like bread, and after being cooled it is friable and easily
pulverised.
The pulverization can be accomplished in any suitable apparatus, then sifted by
any of the usual methods, and the old iron nails, etcetera, extracted, if desired, by a
magnetic apparatus.
As new leather will absolve more of the solution than is necessary a certain
quantity of the leather scrap may be sprinkled by a certain definite quantity of
the liquid before it is placed in the vessel.
Horn, feathers, and such substances are treated partially in the same way. As
no claim
made to the apparatus, any suitable machinery may be employed to
carry out the process.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,―
The treating of leather scrap, old leather, such as shoes and other articles, horn,
feathers, and such substances, to fit them for manure in the manner substantially

page_text: as described, viz., by subjecting them firstly to an alkaline solution at a temperature
of 100° C. and then to a dessicating process of beat up to 130° C., substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Lissagaray, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight bundred and eighty one.
HENRI LISSAGARAY. (L.S.)