IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING IMPURE WATER OR LIQUID TO PURIFY THE SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE TREATING OF SEWAGE TO OBTAIN CERTAIN PRODUCTS THEREFROM.
Year: 1878

page_text: :
LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING
IMPURE WATER OR LIQUID TO PURIFY THE SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE TREATING OF SEWAGE TO OBTAIN CERTAIN
PRODUCTS THEREFROM.' A communication from abroad by Dr. Ferdinand
Théodor Moritz Droncke, of Bockenheim, near Francfort-on-the Main, in the
Kingdom of Prussia.
"
.
Sealed the 26th November 1878, and dated the 8th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th July 1878.
"
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in the County of Mid-
dlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING IMPURE WATER OR LIQUID TO PURIFY THE
SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE TREATING OF
SEWAGE TO OBTAIN CERTAIN PRODUCTS THEREFROM." A communication from
abroad by Dr. Ferdinand Théodor Moritz Droncke, of Bockenheim, near Francfort-
on-the-Main, in the Kingdom of Prussia.
This Invention has for its object improvements in treating impure water or
liquid to purify the same, which improvements are especially applicable to the
treating of sewage to obtain certain products therefrom.
In purifying the contents of sewers, manure, ammonia, and sulphur contained in
the sewage may be recovered.
3.
'
In purifying impure liquid or sewage my foreign correspondent proceeds as
follows:-According to the chemical composition of the liquid to be purified (which
must be ascertained by analysis) he adds to it phosphoric acid in the form of phos-
phate of lime in a dissolved state to decompose the urea and the ammonia. He
further adds a solution of composition of protoxide of iron, peroxide of iron, of
alumina, and of magnesia, and finally adds lime water, until the whole mixture has
a slightly alkaline re-action..

page_text: The water filtered from this precipitate if mixed with a solution of caustic
baryta must not exhibit a flocculent or flaky precipitate. If a flocculent or flaky.
precipitate is observable, more of the solution of the iron, the alumina, and magnesia
composition must be added, and afterwards sufficient lime water must be added to
produce alkaline re-action. The mixing is performed in closed vessels by means of
agitators or pumps.
The gases developed are freed from their contained sulphuretted hydrogen and
sulphuret of ammonia by passing such gases through slaked lime (hydrate of lime)
or "Laming's" mass, and they are freed from their contained ammonia by washing
with water or diluted acid.
The sulphur as well as the ammoniacal salt may be regained by well-known
processes; the non-condensed gases are led under the grate of a furnace. The
entire mixture of the liquid with its precipitate is then pressed through a filter
press. The water running from the filter press is afterwards filtered through a
column of sand or gravel, more or less fine. During this filtration a current of
cold or heated air is forced by pump or injector through the filter column in the
opposite direction to the water, thus all organic matter dissolved in the water
becomes perfectly oxydised.
Finally the water is driven through a filter bed formed of spongy iron (finely
divided iron) and coarse dolomite or lime spar.
The pranontions wood for the disinfecting Anid max adventemoonaly ho
The water filtered from this precipitate if mixed with a solution of caustic
baryta must not exhibit a flocculent or flaky precipitate. If a flocculent or flaky.
precipitate is observable, more of the solution of the iron, the alumina, and magnesia
composition must be added, and afterwards sufficient lime water must be added to
produce alkaline re-action. The mixing is performed in closed vessels by means of
agitators or pumps.
The gases developed are freed from their contained sulphuretted hydrogen and
sulphuret of ammonia by passing such gases through slaked lime (hydrate of lime)
or "Laming's" mass, and they are freed from their contained ammonia by washing
with water or diluted acid.
The sulphur as well as the ammoniacal salt may be regained by well-known
processes; the non-condensed gases are led under the grate of a furnace. The
entire mixture of the liquid with its precipitate is then pressed through a filter
press. The water running from the filter press is afterwards filtered through a
column of sand or gravel, more or less fine. During this filtration a current of
cold or heated air is forced by pump or injector through the filter column in the
opposite direction to the water, thus all organic matter dissolved in the water
becomes perfectly oxydised.
Finally the water is driven through a filter bed formed of spongy iron (finely
divided iron) and coarse dolomite or lime spar.
The proportions used for the disinfecting fluid may advantageously be,
2 atoms of magnesia.
2
alumina.
"
"
1
"
"
1
"
"
protoxide of iron.
peroxide of iron.
But. I do not confine myself to these proportions.
For the disinfection the sulphates of magnesia, of alumina, and of iron, may be
used as well as the corresponding chlorides, but the sulphates are deemed more
suitable for the purpose, as the water purified will only contain sulphate of lime
(gypsum) not readily soluble, whereas in employing the chlorides the easily
dissolved chlorine, in the form of chlorine of calcium, will be contained in the water
purified.
The solid matters retained in the chambers of the filter press will afford a
manure of some value, and will contain the whole of the nitrogen and phosphoric
acid from the liquid that has been purified.
I desire to have it understood that I am well aware that several of the materials
herein proposed to be used are already employed for purifying water, such as the
"Süvern" mass, chloride of magnesium with lime, or, according to Dumas, raw
sulphate of alumina, or, according to Clark, simple lime water; but the manner in
which it is herein proposed to employ these materials, and the employment of the
phosphoric acid, is so far as I know perfectly new; the phosphoric acid is necessary
to decompose the urea and the salt of aminonia. Again it is, I believe, new to
employ first the phosphoric acid and the salts of iron of alumina and magnesia and
afterwards the lime water. In this respect the improved process herein described
is advantageous, as the creation of the precipitate in the liquid itself will essentially
increase the effect of the disinfecting fluid, and will accelerate the purification of the
water. Again there is a new feature in this process in directing a stream of cold
or heated air through the sand filter, as also through the iron filter in an opposite
direction to the water to be filtered. By these means the dissolved organic matters
are perfectly oxidised, so that none of the intervening organic composition will
remain dissolved in the water, which might otherwise eventually be productive of
injurious effects upon human beings.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Lloyd Wise in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
January 1879.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in the County of Mid-.
dlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING IMPURE WATER OR LIQUID TO PURIFY THE
SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE TREATING OF
SEWAGE TO OBTAIN CERTAIN PRODUCTS THEREFROM." (A communication from
abroad by Dr. Ferdinand Théodor Moritz Droncke, of Bockenheim, near Francfort-
on-the-Main, in the Kingdom of Prussia.)
This Invention has for object improvements in treating impure water or liquid
to purify the same, which improvements are also applicable to the treating of
sewage to obtain certain products therefrom.
In purifying the contents of sewers, manure, ammonia, and sulphur contained in
the sewage may be recovered.
According to this Invention the purifying of impure liquid or sewage is effected
as follows: According to the chemical composition of the liquid to be purified
(which must be ascertained by analysis) there is added to it phosphoric acid in the
form of phosphate of lime in a dissolved state to decompose all the urea and all the
ammonia. Next there are added successively solutions of protoxide of iron, of
peroxide of iron, of alumina, and of magnesia, and finally lime water is added until
the whole mixture has a slightly alkaline re-action.
The proportions used for the disinfecting fluid may advantageously be,-
2 atoms of magnesia.
2 atoms of alumina.
1 atom of protoxide of iron.
1 atom of peroxide of iron.
But I do not confine myself to these exact proportions.
For the disinfection the sulphates of magnesia, of alumina, and of iron, may be
used as well as the corresponding chlorides, but the sulphates are deemed more
suitable for the purpose, as the water purified will only contain sulphate of lime
(gypsum) not readily soluble, whereas if the chlorides be employed the easily
dissolved clorine, in the form of chloride of calcium, will remain in the water
purified.
.
The water filtered from the precipitate, if mixed with a solution of caustic baryta,
must not exhibit a flocculent or flaky precipitate. If a flocculent or flaky preci-
pitate is observable, more of the solutions of the iron, the alumina, and the magnesia
must be added, and afterwards sufficient lime water must be added to produce
alkaline re-action. The mixing is performed in closed vessels by means of agitators
or pumps.
The gases developed are freed from their contained sulphuretted hydrogen and
sulphuret of ammonia by passing such gases through slaked lime (hydrate of lime)
or "Laming's" mass, and they are freed from their contained ammonia by washing
with water or diluted acid.
The sulphur as well as the ammoniacal salt may be regained by well-known
processes; the non-condensed gases are led under the grate of a furnace. The entire
mixture of the liquid with its precipitate is then pressed through a filter press.
The solid matters retained in the chambers of the filter press will afford a
manure of some value, and will contain the whole of the nitrogen and phosphoric
acid from the liquid that has been purified.
The sewage or other water having been what I will call partially purified, by which
I mean deprived by precipitation of organic matters in suspension, and to some
extent also of impurities it held in solution, still contains certain gases, such as
ammonia, sulphuretted hydrogen, et cætera (absorbed), and organic matters (in
Bolution).
For the complete removal of the former and the complete mineralization of the

page_text: latter (their conversion into carbonic acid and nitric acid) the partially purified
water is subjected to the influence of air, and according to the degree of pre-
purification (that is), in proportion to the quantity of corrupting matter already
mentioned as still remaining in the partially purified water. Cold or warmed air
is used with simultaneous employment of more or less pressure. The apparatus for 5
- this purpose may be arranged for single operations or for continuous operations.
L
Apparatus for single operations is illustrated in Fig. 1 of the Drawings, where A
is a horizontal cylindrical wrought-iron vessel with a shaft D passing through it;
this shaft is armed with hollow wings or arms, and receives rotary motion in any
'suitable manner. The vessel is filled with the water to be purified up to about 1
three quarters of its diameter. A. water gauge and gauge cocks serve to determine
this; air is then forced into the vessel by means of the finely perforated pipe X, X,
fixed in the lower part of the vessel. A steam gauge on the dome of the vessel
shews the pressure therein. After a lapse of time, during which air has been blown
into the vessel, an assay of water is taken from the same and filtered with hyper- 1
manganesiate of potassa. When chamäleon ceases to be discoloured, that is to say,
when the oxydation of the impurities contained in the water is sufficiently com-
pleted, the agitator is thrown out of gear, the valve in the dome is opened, the
escaping gases are freed from ammonia and sulphuretted hydrogen by means of
suitable apparatus, and the purified water is let off. The forcing in of air, agitating 2
all the while, must be continued until the oxydation of the impure parts has been
sufficiently attained, and an assay of the water appears adequately oxydized.
Apparatus for continuous operation is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the Drawings.
A vertical cylindrical vessel of cast or wrought iron or other suitable material is
internally filled with a number of perforated plates p or with coarse gravel, or coke, 2
or with bricks.
A manometer is fixed to the upper end for indicating the pressure, also a pipe R.
for the escaping gases; to the lower end is fastened a delivery pipe v, with valve.
There are also a water gauge and gauge cocks.
The water to be purified is admitted through a finely perforated serpentine 3
pipe R¹ at the upper end of the vessel, and the air is forced into the lower end of
the saine (in an opposite direction to the water admitted) simultaneously through
a finely perforated serpentine pipe S. By frequently examining, the water running
off, the proportion of the water flowing on, and the air admitted. is fixed until the
water is oxydized to the required degree.
3
The production of ammonia and illuminating gas and the regaining of the
chemicals from precipitated foeces is effected as follows:-After precipitation of the
foeces in the sewage water with the aid of phosphoric acid, magnesia, alumina, the
salts of iron, and slaked lime, the proportions of water and organic matter contained
in the collected and still moist precipitate are ascertained; the precipitate is then 4
boiled with ten times its weight (in the dry state) of water, and with a portion of
burnt lime equal in weight to the organic matters in said precipitate. The boiling
is effected in a closed vessel with a mechanical agitator, steam of two to three
atmospheres pressure being admitted. This process of boiling may be effected
either in a horizontal boiler, such as berein-before described with reference to Fig. 1, 4
steam being admitted instead of air, or in a vertical apparatus, such as is shown in
Fig. 3 of the Drawings.
In this apparatus the shaft is arranged to rise and fall. In boiling, small
quantities of ammonia escape, which are condensed in suitable apparatus; after one
or two hours boiling the organic matter will mostly be dissolved, an assay taken 5
from the boiler shewing the result and enabling the time of boiling to be
.determined.
The alkaline solution of the organic matter is separated from the metallic oxydes,
gypsum, and phosphate of lime by means of filter presses.
The solution obtained is evaporated and gasified in retorts, the ammonia is 5
condensed, and the gas is employed for heating purposes.
The residue in the retorts is again made use of as lime for purifying.

page_text: The substances remaining in the filter presses are treated with sulphuric acid,
which dissolves phosphoric acid, alumina, magnesia, and iron; the solution obtained
again serves for purifying the water, the remaining gypsum is used for manure.
I desire to have it understood that I am well aware that several of the materials
herein-before proposed to be used are already employed for purifying water, such as
the "Süvern" mass, chloride of magnesium with lime, or, according to Dumas, raw
sulphate of alumina, or, according to Clark, simple lime water, but the manner in
which it is herein proposed to employ these materials in the succession as described
and the employment of phosphoric acid is, so far as I know, new; the phosphoric
acid is necessary in order to decompose the urea and the salt of ammonia; again, it
is, I believe, new to employ first the phosphoric acid and the salts of iron of
alumina and magnesia, and afterwards the lime water.
In this respect, according to my foreign correspondent, the improved process
herein described is advantageous as the creation of the precipitate in the liquid
itself will essentially increase the effect of the disinfecting fluid, and will accelerate
the purification of the water. Again, there is a new feature in this process in
directing a stream of cold or heated air through the partially purified water for the
purpose described. By these means the dissolved organic matters are perfectly
oxydised, so that none of the intervening organic composition will remain dissolved
in the water, which might otherwise eventually be productive of injurious effects
upon human beings.
Having thus described the said Invention as communicated to me as aforesaid, I
claim as new, and as being secured to me under the Letters Patent herein-before in
part recited,-
1. Treating impure water or sewage by mixture with phosphoric acid in the form
of dissolved phosphate of lime, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. Treating impure water or sewage by mixing with phosphoric acid, and subse-
quent addition of a solution of compositions of protoxide of iron, of peroxide of
iron, of alumina, and of magnesia, and finally lime water, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
3. Decomposing, substantially as and for the purpose specified, the gases
developed in the above-described process of mixing and regaining condensable
gases.
4. The process of treating the liquid (after removal of solid matters by filtration,
as described) with a stream of passing cold or heated air, in the manner
substantially as herein-before described with reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
5. The complete process, substantially as herein-before described, of treating
impure water, or liquid or sewage, purifying the same, and obtaining products
therefrom.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
W. LLOYD WISE. (L.S.)