IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to, Thomas Pickford, of Number 15, Mark Lane, in the
City of London, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Pickford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th December 1858.
I, THOMAS PICKFORD, of Number 15, Mark Lane, in the City of London,.
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PREPARATION AND MANUFACTURE OF MANURE," to be as follows:-
The nitrogenized Sombrero Island phosphate guano, an improved and new.
process for making a valuable manure, equal in all and superior in some
qualities to the Peruvian guano, by mixing in pans, tanks, or chests lined with
lead under steam pressure (or, without), the Sombrero Island phosphatic guano
and other mineral or bone phosphates, ground or whole, and mixed in diluted
sulphuric muriatic acid, or other acids, and also then obtaining nitrogen from
atmospherical air or other sources, for the formation of certain nitrogenized
substances and ammoniacal compounds, chalk, or magnesian limestone, &c.,
by causing the nitrogen to be absorbed by vegetable or mineral substances

page_text: under pressure, or by passing nitrogen, oxygen, or hydrogen in equivalent
proportions, or nearly so, through alkaline or acid solutions in close vessels
under pressure, and at any convenient temperature, the said oxygen or hydrogen
to be obtained by decomposing water or metals, or from gas obtained from
coals or peat, and subjecting the same to certain treatment to cause fermentation
in suitable vessels to obtain and prevent the escape of ammonia, or other
means, or by subjecting certain vegetable, animal, alkaline solutions of soda,
potash, and ammoniacal compounds to the action of certain compounds of
nitrogen resulting from the manufacture of sulphuric acid, and allowed to
escape as a waste product or nitrogen obtained from air deoxodized by passing
through coke, coal, charcoal, or other carbonaceous matter in combustion, also
with or without being boiled under steam pressure. Ground feldspar and small
sea shells (cockle shells are best) in equal proportions, with blood and water in
a raw liquid state, are dried by pressure or otherwise, then adding about half
hundredweight of soda ash or alkali, strength about forty to forty-eight, over or
under, to the blood, mixing the whole together, and in using with the before-
mentioned substances or compounds, fish, and marine and other animals, or
animal or vegetable matters, horse dung, urine being preferred, sea weeds, and
refuse from poulterers, containing blood, entrails, dung, feathers, skin, fur, &c.
of hares, rabbits, birds, &c. I. also boil them under steam pressure in the before-
mentioned tanks, &c., adding sometimes urine with diluted sulphuric or muriatic
acid or other acids, or treat the same with sulpharet of sodium, with a view of
fixing the organic matters, and the gases during boiling to pass through
chambers or chests filled with equal proportions of the Sombrero Island guano
ground and animal or vegetable charcoal, well mixed together and treated with
diluted sulphuric acid, thence through water and into the furnace, so that no
smell or nuisance is caused, the before-mentioned substances or compounds,
after being boiled eight hours, to be allowed to cool; I then for some crops
mix half to one and a half hundredweight of nitrate of soda, kelp, salt,
magnesia, or sulphate of magnesia, to about eighteen and half hundredweight,
sometimes using like quantities of bone or gas sulphates, sulphate of potash,
Suffolk coprolites, and muriatic acid, and gypsum, as driers, the whole to be
granulated in a mill for the purpose. I also sometimes mix certain portions
of ammonia refuse made in the refining or purifying gas, also the ammoniacal.
liquor from the gas works with the Sombrero guano after its being prepared as
before stated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Pickford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th June 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
PICKFORD, of Number 15, Mark Lane, in the City of London, Merchant, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Pickford, Iler special licence that I, the said Thomas Pickford, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Pickford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PREPARATION AND MANUFACTURE OF MANURE," (being partly communicated)
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Pickford, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Pickford, do. hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statenient (that is to say):-
:-
My improvements in the preparation and manufacture of manure consist of,
firstly, treating Sombrero island phosphate, guano, bone, earth or mineral
phosphates, with sulphuric, hydrochloric or nitric acid in the manner herein-
after described, by which means I obtain soluble salts with the whole of the
phosphoric acid present, or nearly so.
Secondly, in combining the said phosphoric salts with nitrogenized substances,
alkaline salts, and earthy bases, in such proportions as varied circumstances
may require.
And, in order that my Invention may be most fully understood and readily

page_text: carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me; and,
first, in respect to the Sombrero Island phosphate, guano, or any earthy or
mineral phosphate containing a considerable quantity of alumina or silicious
matter, it is found in practice that if the necessary quantity of sulphuric, hydro-
chloric, or nitric acid is used in the decomposition of the said phosphates, so
as to form soluble combinations with the whole of the phosphoric acid present,
or nearly so, the superphosphate of lime so formed assumes a soft plastic
consistence highly prejudicial to its practical application. Now, in order to
obviate this inconvenience, and at the same time render the whole of the
phosphoric acid present, or nearly so, available to agricultural purposes in the
form of a free friable powder, I proceed as follows:-
I expose the Sombrero Island phosphate guano, either in its natural state
or reduced to powder, to a red heat in a reverberatory furnace, retort, or any
apparatus of suitable construction, to expel all free moisture, together with the
water in chemical combination, either wholly or in part; after which I treat
the calcined mass with an equivalent quantity of sulphuric, hydrochloric, or
nitric acid of any suitable density to form soluble salts, with the whole of the
phosphoric acid present, or nearly so, the proportion of acid used depending
upon
the composition of the phosphates operated upon. By this means the
mineral phosphates in general are rendered more susceptible to the action of
acids and alkaline compounds. But if the composition of the phosphatic
compounds operated upon are such as not to be rendered more soluble or
susceptible to the action of acids after calcination, I then proceed as
follows: I introduce the Sombrero Island phosphate guano, or any suitable
phosphatic compound reduced to powder, into what I shall call the decom-
posing apparatus, the said apparatus to be provided with the means of regu-
lating the temperature during the decomposition of the said phosphatic
compounds by sulphuric, hydrochloric, or nitric acid, to any degree requisite to
facilitate the operation, and also to expel any excess of moisture from the
superphosphate of lime so formed, so as to obtain it in merchantable condition,
the said apparatus to be heated by steam under pressure, hot air, or by the
direct application of fire to drying hearths, reverberatory furnaces, or suitable
tanks or pans, and if any free phosphoric acid exists in the superphosphate of
Jime manufactured, I neutralize it by means of soda, potash, hydrate or
carbonate of magnesia, forming soluble phosphatic compounds with the
respective base used, and which constitutes an indispensable ingredient in the
mature developement of all cereal grains. But under certain circumstances
I find it most advantageous to use hydrochloric acid in the manufacture of
superphosphate of lime, and occasionally only as an auxiliary agent in the

page_text: operation; but in either case it is generally necessary to use an excess of acid,
to render the largest possible quantity of phosphoric acid present in the
phosphates operated upon, available as an immediate and valuable component
element in the mannre. Under these circumstances I prefer decomposing the
phosphates with hydrochloric acid in close decomposers provided with heating
apparatus, as previously explained, and connected with condensers in which I
recover the excess of acid used, which is expelled during the process of drying
the superphosphate of lime. The said apparatus is equally well adapted
when I use hydrochloric acid as an auxiliary agent in the manufacture of
superphosphate of lime; for in that case I first treat the Sombrero Island
phosphate guano, or other phosphates, with hydrochloric acid, forming biphos-
phate of lime and chloride of calcium; after which I decompose the chloride
of calcium by means of sulphuric acid, forming biphosphate and sulphate of
lime; and the muriatic acid gas liberated in the operation is recovered in the
aforesaid condensers, and available in repeated operations. The construction
of the said muriatic acid gas condensers being well understood, but I prefer
the ordinary condenser used to condense the muriatic acid gas, generated in
the manufacture of sulphate of soda from chloride of sodium in the manu-
facture of alkali.
The second part of my Invention consists in obtaining nitrogenized substances
and ammoniacal compounds from atmospheric air, animal and vegetable
substances.
In order to render the first source available to the manufacture of nitro-
genised compounds, I transinit a current of atmospherical air through a
stratum of incandescent coke, coal, or charcoal, in a close furnace or retort.
The oxygen of the air enters into combination with the carbon of the fuel, and
passes off in the form of carbonic acid (or in part as carbonic oxide) to the
extent of about twenty-five per cent. of the volume of air so treated; the
remaining seventy-five per cent. being nearly pure nitrogen. I separate the
carbonic acid from the nitrogen, if necessary, by passing the mixed gases through
a solution of caustic alkali. The nitrogen thus obtained, with an equivalent of
hydrogen to form ammoniacal gas, I pass through an acid solution under
pressure in close vessels by mechanical means; the hydrogen I obtain from
decaying vegetable matter, or by decomposing steam by heated metals, or by
the action of dilute acid solutions on metals, or by decomposing water by
electricity, obtaining useful products from the metals operated upon; or I
submit nitrogen obtained as above, or by the combustion of organic substances,
to the action of hydrated alkaline earths, usually called soda lime; the action
of hydrated alkalies on nitrogenous compounds at high temperatures being well

page_text: understood, and by means of which the whole of the nitrogen is converted into
animonia, and at once available to the purposes of agriculture. I also expose
solutions of carbonated or caustic soda or potash, or sulphuret of sodium and
potassium to the action of certain compounds of nitrogen resulting from the
manufacture of sulphuric acid, and allowed to escape as a waste product. In
order to carry this part of my Invention into effect, I cause a stream of alkaline
solution to be discharged at proper intervals through the top of the coke or other
condenser, attached to the exit pipe of sulphuric acid chambers; the said solution
to pass through pipes properly luted, so as to cut off any external atmospherical
communication with the interior of the said condenser, which is packed with
coke or other suitable material. The solution of alkaline salts thus introduced
is diffused over the entire area of the condenser, and percolates through the
packing in its descent through the condenser, exposing and diffusing the
solution of alkaline salts over an extensive surface to the action of the residual
gases as they ascend the condenser, the said solution to be returned through
the condenser until sufficiently saturated with the nitrogenous compounds
which I find greatly facilitated by the presence of ozonised oxygen.
I also obtain nitrogenous compounds by submitting certain organic substances
to the corrosive action of alkaline sulpburets or hydrochloric acid. The said
organic substances comprises blood diluted with urine, or dried blood and flesh,
also dried fish, flesh, fish and marine plants; also refuse from poulterers,
entrails, feathers, skin, fur of hares, rabbits, &c. But I occasionally prefer
operating upon the above substances in conjunction with alkalies and alkaline
earths, together with urine and animal litter obtained from barracks, livery
stables, and dairies, or any convenient source; and for this purpose I liave a
series of close chambers (very similar in construction to those used in the
manufacture of chloride of lime, wherein the lime is deposited upon shelves
or benches to absorb the chlorine gas); the said chambers may be composed
of any suitable material, but I prefer using the Yorkshire flagstones of any con-
venient size, according to the dimension of the chambers employed, the said
dimensions necessarily depending upon the extent of operations carried on;
but I find fifteen feet wide x six feet high x twenty feet long a convenient
size, and the number may be regulated as circumstances may require; the
whole to be connected by pipes to admit a continuous current of gaseous matter
to circulate through the entire series, but so arranged that any one of the said
chambers may be disconnected at pleasure for the purpose of discharging and
reloading, &c.
The floors of these chambers are provided with the necessary
receptacles to retain urine, blood, and other putrescent fluids. Upon the
series of shelves or benches situated above those liquid receptacles, I deposit a

page_text: mixture of Sombrero Island phosphate, guano, feldspar, and sulphate of lime
and magnesia, obtained from the domolite or magnesian limestone and hydrated
alkaline earths, all in fine powder, and mixed with vegetable and animal
matter in a state of decay. Through those chambers I cause the residual
gaseous matters resulting from the manufacture of sulphuric acid, or from the
combustion of nitrogenous substances, as previously explained, to pass; and
the temperature regulated to the point most conducive to effect the disintegra-
tion of the substances employed.
I should state that bones and mineral phosphates having been for a long
time treated with different acids, that these improvements therefore depend on
the various processes herein described, and the mode of manufacturing
nitrogenous substances, and obtaining nitrogen in a suitable form to be used
in manure, from the various sources mentioned, but particularly from the
atmosphere, or drawn in pipes from the drains or common sewers the different
gases; but I do not confine myself to the quantities herein described.
Having ascertained and described my Invention, and the manner in which
the said Invention is to be performed, I hereby claim that as of my Invention,-
Firstly, the application of heat to expel any excess of moisture from the
Sombrero Island phosphate, guano, or any mineral phosphates before or after
treating the said phosphatic compounds with sulphuric, hydrochloric, or nitric
acid, so as to obtain the superphosphate of lime in the state of a dry friable powder.
Secondly, obtaining nitrogenous compounds, and treating the said nitro-
genous matter from any of the sources enumerated with the said phosphatic
and alkaline substances specified, and thereby making the nitrogenized Sombrero
Island phosphate, or phosphatic or ammoniated guano manure.
Thirdly, heating or boiling the Sombrero Island phosphate guano, whole or
ground, under steam pressure, in tanks or chests lined with lead, either before
or after it is treated with any kind of acid.
Fourthly, boiling either with steam or open fire in furnace, or otherwise,
the Sombrero phosphate or other phosphates in earthen pans, or iron pans
lined with lead, or otherwise, and boiling it in diluted sulphuric acid, as much
as can be conveniently worked in it; and during boiling I add a small
quantity of diluted muriatic acid; and then to every cwt. of phosphate add
from fourteen to twenty-eight pounds ground feldspar, and occasionally adding
the same quantity of ground calcined bones, keeping the whole stirred and
boiling for half an hour to one hour, then empty it out, mix the nitrogenized
substances with it, or I prefer letting it lay for from one to three weeks or
longer, so as to get quite mellow and easy to work, then mix the nitrogenized
substances with it in proportions as required.

page_text: Fifthly, I claim the mixing with the Sombrero Island phosphate guano (before
or after being treated as above stated) horse or other urine; also fish and dried
blood, or flesh and waste from the curriers, also scutch, the refuse from glue
manufacturers, also waste leather cuttings, or old leather after being boiled in
diluted acids or dissolved so as to become a powder, and in a proper state to
mix with the Sombrero phosphate after being treated as above; then after the
required proportions are properly mixed and sufficiently dry, I grind it the
required fineness in a mill for the purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Pickford, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
F. TRUEFITT,
20, Devereux Court, Temple.
THOMAS PICK FORD. (L.S.)