AN IMPROVED ABSORBENT AND DEODORIZING POWDER
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Brandreth Gibbs, of Stoke Newington, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Brandreth Gibbs, of Stoke Newington, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
ABSORBENT AND DEODORIZING POWDER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Brandreth Gibbs at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th August 1880.
THOMAS BRANDRETH GIBBS, of Stoke Newington, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "AN IMPROVED ABSORBENT AND DEODORIZING POWDER."
My Invention consists of an improved powder for absorbing urine and the
moisture contained in excrement, and deodorizing the urine and excrement and
fixing the ammonia therein, and for deodorizing and absorbing the moisture in
other putrescent or putrescible and moist matters, the said powder being particularly
applicable for use in "dry closets."
The said powder consists of a mixture of sulphate of lime (either natural or
artificial, and preferably calcined) and soot, or pulverized peat charcoal, or other
charcoal, and in some cases carbolic powder. The proportions in which I prefer to
mix these ingredients are as follows:-
Sulphate of lime
-
Soot, or pulverized charcoal
Carbolic powder
-
300 parts by weight.
99 parts by weight.
1 part by weight.
I have found these proportions answer well in practice, but I do not limit myself
thereto, as the said proportions may be varied within certain bounds without
impairing the effect of the powder.
In cases where the matter to be treated contains much moisture I prefer to use
calcined sulphate of lime.
In some cases I prefer to add to the sulphate of lime a small quantity of
sulphuric acid.
By the use in dry closets of the powder hereinbefore described, the urine and the
moisture in the excrement are perfectly absorbed, and after standing for a time the
whole becomes converted into a friable, slightly damp, mass, which may readily be
dried by exposure to the atmosphere or by a moderate amount of artificial heat,
and is a powerful manure, resembling in its properties Peruvian guano, but with
the advantage that the ammonia is fixed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Brandreth Gibbs in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th February 1881.
THOMAS BRANDRETH GIBBS, of Stoke Newington, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "AN IMPROVED ABSORBENT AND DEODORIZING POWDER."
My Invention consists of an improved powder for absorbing urine and the
moisture contained in excrement, and deodorizing the urine and excrement, and
fixing the ammonia therein, and for deodorizing and absorbing the moisture
in other putrescent or putrescible and moist matters, the said powder being
particularly applicable for use in "dry closets."
The said powder consists of a mixture of sulphate of lime (either natural or
artificial, and preferably calcined) and soot, or pulverized peat charcoal, or other
charcoal, or both soot and charcoal, and in some cases carbolic powder or other
disinfecting powder. The proportions in which I prefer to mix these ingredients
are as follows:-
Sulphate of lime, 300 parts by weight; soot, or pulverized charcoal, or a mixture
of equal parts of soot and pulverized charcoal, 99 parts by weight; carbolic powder,
or other disinfecting powder, 1 part by weight.
I have found these proportions answer well in practice, but I do not limit myself
thereto, as the said proportions may be varied without impairing the effect of the
powder. For instance, the sulphate of lime and soot, or charcoal, may be used in
equal proportions.
In cases where the matters to be treated contain much moisture I prefer to use
calcined sulphate of lime. In cases where the matters to be treated have undergone
much decomposition and are in a highly, putrescent state, I prefer to add from one
to five parts by weight of sulphuric acid to each hundred parts by weight of
sulphate of lime.
By the use in dry closets of the powder herein before described, the urine, and
the moisture in the excrement, are almost entirely absorbed, and the mass, after
being exposed to the action of a moderately dry atmosphere for a few days becomes
dry and friable. Or the mass may be readily dried by a moderate amount of
artificial heat. The contents of dry closets thus treated constitute a powerful
manure, resembling in its properties Peruvian guano, but with the advantage
that the ammonia is fixed.
Having now described my Invention of "An Improved Absorbent and
Deodorizing Powder," I wish it to be understood that I claim as my said
Invention,―
A mixture or powder consisting of pulverized sulphate of lime, either natural or
artificial, and either calcined or uncalcined, and soot or pulverized peat charcoal, or
other charcoal, or both soot and charcoal, either with or without the addition of
carbolic powder, or other disinfecting powder.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Brandreth Gibbs, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
W. T. WHITEMAN.
THOS. B. GIBBS. (L.S.)