Improvements in the Treatment of Sewage.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 31st Jan., 1893-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Sewage.
I, JOSEPH PRICE, of 58 Lombard Street in the City of London, Accountant,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is the preparation of a compound or admixture of
certain chemical substances in certain proportions, as hereinafter described, for
rapidly precipitating all the solid matter in suspension and the greater part of the
matter in solution, in ordinary sewage in any quantities and wherever it may be
collected for treatment, and at the same time to disinfect and deodorise both the
effluent matter and the matter precipitated (commonly called "sludge ") rendering
the effluent water perfectly bright and fit for discharging into any river or stream,
and the sludge completely innocuous, not only allowing it to retain all the valuable
fertilizing properties contained therein, which nearly all the precipitants in use
either deteriorate or destroy, but adding considerably to its value and making it,
when pressed and dried a profitable commodity eminently suitable for agricultural
purposes.
I find from experience that the chemical substances, and the most suitable
proportions of the same, which I employ for the objects and purposes mentioned
above, are as follows:-
80
This mixture will keep good for any length of time and be ready for use
whenever required. It will effectually treat from 80,000 to 160,000 proportionate
parts of average sewage, or in other words from 1000 to 2000 times the bulk of the
mixture, or an average of 1 part in 60,000-1 part in 120,000 and 1 part in 9000 of
the ingredients respectively. The proportions of the ingredients may be varied and
the quantity of water in which they are mixed may be more or less than the
quantity stated, according to the character of the sewage under the varying
condition of wet or dry weather and its impregnation with extraneous matters, such
proportions can therefore only be determined by practice.
The three first named ingredients might of course be put into the sewage, either
separately or together, without first mixing them with water, but that plan would
not be so effective. I therefore prefer to mix them in water preparatory to using
them. The gypsum or the kaolin absorbs, without affecting, the active agents,
ensuring their regular distribution when added to the sewage, decomposing the
organic matters in solution and carrying down in the general precipitation all the
solid matters in suspension.
For the purposes of precipitation, I would propose the use of a series of ordinary
settling tanks constructed of stone, brick, iron, or other suitable material, so
arranged and appointed that whilst one portion was receiving the sewage and
precipitating agents, and the sludge settling down in another portion, the effluent
water could be run off and the sludge removed from the remaining portion, so as to
be ready to receive fresh supplies of sewage for treatment as before described.
The advantages of my invention are the following; perfect disinfection and
deodorization of the sewage rapid precipitation of all the solid matters in suspension
D07

page_text: and of a great part of those in solution, chemical action commencing immediately
the mixture is added to the sewage, causing it to flocculate freely and the solid
matters to fall rapidly in dense clouds to the bottom. The effluent water becoming
bright and harmless and fit to be run off in a few hours (under certain conditions in
less than an hour) the solid matters precipitated, retaining all their fertilising
properties, enabling them to be sold as manure, at a large profit on the cost of the
materials used and the labour employed.
My system of precipitation, in conjunction with the use of my improved press
Patents, No. 8491 of 1888 and No. 6861 of 1889, for compressing sewage sludge,
will effectually and economically deal with the whole sewage of towns or cities,
whether they contain respectively thousands or millions of inhabitants.
Dated this 31st day of March 1892.
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S.W., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Sewage.
I, JOSEPH PRICE, of 58 Lombard Street, in the City of London, Accountant,
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 :-
The object of my invention is the preparation of a compound or admixture of
certain chemical substances, in certain proportions, as hereinafter described; for
rapidly precipitating all the solid matter in suspension and the greater part of the
matter in solution in ordinary sewage, in any quantities and wherever it may be
collected for treatment, and at the same time to disinfect and deodorise both the
effluent water and the matter precipitated (commonly called "sludge ") rendering
the effluent water perfectly bright and fit for discharging into any river or stream,
and the sludge completely innocuous, not only allowing it to retain all the valuable
fertilizing properties contained therein, which nearly all the precipitants in use
either deteriorate or destroy, but adding considerably to its value and making it
when pressed and dried a profitable commodity, eminently suitable for agricultural
purposes.
I find from experience that the chemical substances, and the most suitable
proportions of the same, which I employ for the objects and purposes mentioned
above, are as follows:
This mixture will keep good for any length of time and be ready for use when-
ever required. It will effectually treat from 80,000 to 160,000 proportionate parts
of average sewage, or in' other words from 1000 to 2000 times the bulk of the
mixture, or an average of 1 part in 60,000-1 part in 120,000 and 1 part in 9,000
of the ingredients respectively. The proportions of the ingredients may be raised
and the quantity of water in which they are mixed may be more or less than the
quantity stated, according to the character of the sewage under the varying
condition of wet or dry weather and its impregnation with extraneous matters, such
proportions can therefore only be determined by practice.
The three first named ingredients might of course be put into the sewage, either

page_text: separately, or together, without first mixing them with water, but that plan would
not be so effective. I therefore prefer to mix them in water preparatory to using
them. The gypsum or the kaolin absorbs, without affecting, the active agents,
ensuring their regular distribution when added to the sewage, decomposing the
organic matters in solution and carrying down in the general precipitation all the
solid matters in suspension.
For the purposes of precipitation, I would propose the use of a series of ordinary
settling tanks constructed of stone, brick, iron or other suitable material, so
arranged and appointed that whilst one portion was receiving the sewage and
precipitating agents, and the sludge settling down in another portion, the effluent
water could be run off and the sludge removed from the remaining portion, so as to
be ready to receive fresh supplies of sewage for treatment, as before described.
The advantages of my invention are the following; perfect disinfection and
deodorization of the sewage, rapid precipitation of all the solid matters in suspension
and of a great part of those in solution, chemical action commencing immediately
the mixture is added to the sewage, causing it to flocculate freely and the solid
matters to fall rapidly in dense clouds to the bottom. The effluent water becoming
bright and harmless and fit to be run off in a few hours (under certain conditions in
less than an hour) the solid matters precipitated retaining all their fertilising
properties, enabling them to be sold as manure at a large profit on the cost of the
materials used and labour employed.
My system of precipitation, in conjunction with the use of my improved press
Patents, No. 8491 of 1888 and No. 6861 of 1889 for compressing sewage sludge,
will effectually and economically deal with the whole sewage of towns or cities
whether they contain respectively thousands or millions of inhabitants.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim, is :-
1. The combination with sewage, of a mixture of permanganate of potassium
sulphuric acid and sulphate of calcium (gypsum) in water, for precipitating the
sludge and disinfecting and deodorising both the precipitate and the effluent water,
substantially as described.
2. The combination with sewage, of a mixture of permanganate of potassium,
sulphuric acid and silicate of aluminium (kaolin) in water, for precipitating the
sludge and disinfecting and deodorising both the precipitate and the effluent water,
substantially as described.
3. The combination with sewage, of a mixture of permanganate of potassium,
sulphuric acid, sulphate of calcium (gypsum) and silicate of aluminium (kaolin) in
water, for precipitating the sludge and disinfecting and deodorising both the
precipitate and the effluent water, substantially as described.
4. The process for precipitating sewage sludge, disinfecting and deodorizing the
precipitate and the effluent water, and obtaining a fertilising compound, consisting
in the treatment of the sewage with a mixture of permanganate of potassium,
sulphuric acid and sulphate of calcium (gypsum) or silicate of aluminium (kaolin)
or both, in water, substantially as described.
5. As a new article of manufacture, the fertilising compound prepared from
sewage in the manner, substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of January 1893
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S.W., Agent for the Applicant.