IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION OF WATER WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER SANATORY PURPOSES
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLEIE
I FRANCIS ROUBILLIAC CONDER of Guildford in the County of Surrey Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PURIFICATION OF WATER WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER SANATORY PURPOSES 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 more particularly to the purification of water and has
for its object to supply a cheap facile and highly efficient means for effecting the
speedy and complete purification of water which 18 likely to, or has already
become contaminated by sewage or otherwise
This I effect by mixing with the contaminated water, or with the water previous
to contamination a solution of sulphate of iron of a proportionate quantity and
strength to destroy all germs or minute organisms and to decompose all organic
matter contained therein and this by preference (although not of necessity) I do
as soon after the solution 18 made, and as near to the source of contamination as
practicable
I prefer to use a solution of sulphate of iron although undissolved sulphate of
iron may be employed-I do not however include in this definition natural
chalybeate waters, or the dissolution of iron by mechanical means, or by simple
contact with water It is important that the sulphate of iron used should be
employed in such proportion as to effect the required decomposition without being
in excess And I have found that an admixture in the proportion of one part of
pure undiluted sewage (that is to say of natural excreta) with one part of water
holding in solution about one grain of sulphate of iron for every one hundred
grains of water, has produced the most satisfactory results
It is possible to carry out my improved process by simply throwing a
proportionate quantity of sulphate of iron into the vessels, water closets, drains,
sewers tanks and other receptacles and places containing or intended to contain
sewage, or into the drains, culverts, channels, river courses or other places, through
or into which it may flow, or into any admixture of sewage with the sea or other
water-It will however in practice be found preferable to use a solution of
sulphate of iron, to be applied as near as possible to the source of contamination,

page_text: as accurately proportioned as possible to the degree of contamination, and as soon
after being dissolved as practicable
This may be done in the case of sewers or rivers by providing tanks or other
suitable vessels in which a proper quantity of sulphate of iron shall be from time
to time placed, a stream of water being allowed to flow through the same at a
speed determined by the quantity of iron that it is required to dissolve, and to
apply to the water to be disinfected-The water when so charged with sulphate of
iron is conducted by suitable pipes or conduits from such tanks or vessels into the
water which it is intended to punify care being taken to expose it as little as
possible to the action of the atmosphere from the time when it becomes charged
with the sulphate of iron until it is brought into the water to be purified in order
to prevent oxydation before it has done its work
My improved process is also equally applicable for the purposes of filtration and
for the preservation of meat and other provisions For the purpose of filtration
whether on a large or a small scale, I mix with the water to be filtered a proportion
of water containing an amount of sulphate of iron in solution that shall be as
nearly as possible in exact proportion to the amount of organic matter contained
in the water to be filtered-I thus avoid such an excess of iron as may prove
prejudicial to health which it has hitherto been found difficult to obviate, when
water 18 left for an indefinite time in contact either with spongy iron, magnetic
oxide of iron or the like-As far as my experience goes the proportion most
beneficial for ordinary use does not materially differ from that of one grain of
sulphate of iron to one gallon of water to be filtered But I wish it to be
understood that I do not limit myself to the exact proportions which must depend
on the condition of the water which it is proposed to purify
For the purpose of preserving meat or other provisions I wash or blow over the
surface thereof in the form of spray a solution of sulphate of iron prepared as
before described so as to cover such surfaces with a thin coating or film of such
solution By this means I destroy bacterial life and retard if not entirely prevent
the commencement of putrefaction
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1 The employment of sulphate of iron preferably in the form of a solution for
the purification of water substantially as hereinbefore specified
2 The employment of a solution of sulphate of iron substantially in the manner
herein before specified for the purposes of filtration
3 The employment of a solution of sulphate of iron substantially in the manner
hereinbefore specified for the preservation of meat and other provisions
COOT LOT a fanm CA TOMAT
ELT & Co,
33, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, London,
Agents for the Applicant