IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF PHOSPHATES of LIME
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, F.C.S., of
54, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF PHOSPHATES of
LIME." A communication from abroad by Arthur Striedter, residing
at Paris, in the Republic of France.
"
Sealed the 22nd November 1872, and dated the 30th July 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Primerose
Howard Vaughan at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with his Petition, on the 30th July 1872.
I, EDWARD PRIMEROSE HOWARD VAUGHAN, F.C.S., of 54, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF
PHOSPHATES OF LIME," being a communication to me from abroad by
Arthur Striedter, residing at Paris, in the Republic of France, to be as
follows:-
The processes for making superphosphates at present in use consist
mostly in mixing ground phosphates (tri-basic phosphates of lime) with.
strong sulphuric acid at 100° Twaddel and upwards. The phosphoric

page_text: acid is thus set at liberty, and in decomposing the tri-basic phosphate of
lime sulphate of lime (gypsum) is formed. This phosphoric acid is now
combined with a smaller portion of lime, and is dissolvable in cold water.
The combination is now termed either soluble phosphoric acid or soluble
phosphate of lime (bi-phosphate of lime), but as a great many insoluble
substances (gypsum, silica, organic matters, oxydes of iron and alumina,
and even some insoluble tri-basic phosphate of lime) are yet present, the
per-centage of soluble phosphoric acid cannot be raised to more than
about 20 or 25 per cent. Moreover, the presence of the oxydes of iron
and alumina in the usual commercial superphosphates causes a retro-
grade chemical action, forming insoluble phosphates of iron and
phosphates of alumina.
The present Invention is designed to obviate these and other dis-
advantages, and to provide a nearly pure mono-basic phosphate of lime
free from all non-fertilising matters, raising the per-centage to any
desired degree.
The product being free from oxydes of iron and alumina no retrograde
chemical action can take place.
Sulphuric acid is used in this improved process as decomposing agent
as it has also hitherto been in use for manufacturing superphosphates;
but instead of employing, strong sulphuric acid, I use it diluted to
between 1-025 and 1.125 specific gravity. A much larger dissolving
surface is thus offered to the ground phosphate, and the operator is
enabled to extract the last particles of phosphoric acid. In this large
quantity of liquid all insoluble matters are allowed to settle. The liquor
charged with phosphoric acid is now drawn off. This I evaporate cither:
to a highly concentrated state to complete crystallisation, or the solution
is concentrated and any suitable drying material added, so as to produce
a manure of any desired strength.
As a concentrated liquor it can be mixed with all other fertilising
matters in any desired quantity, raising the per-centage of soluble phos-
phoric acid greatly above the ordinary commercial standard.
In the crystallised form it can be used directly as a manure or mixed
with any salts or other fertilisers the farmer may find desirable for his
soil.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 18th December 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
PRIMEROSE HOWARD VAUGHAN, F.C.S., of 54, Chancery Lanc, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our.
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, Her special
licence that I, the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Primerose
Howard Vaughan, 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 TREATMENT OF PHOSPHATES OF LIME," a commu-
nication from abroad by Arthur Striedter, residing at Paris, in the
Republic of France, upon the condition (amongst others) that- I, the
said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 performed,'
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 Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say: -
The processes for making superphosphates at present in use consist
mostly in mixing ground phosphates (tri-basic phosphates of lime) with
strong sulphuric acid 100° Twaddel and upwards. The phosphoric acid
is thus set at liberty, and in decomposing the tri-basic phosphate of lime

page_text: sulphate of lime (gypsum) is formed. This phosphoric acid is now com-
bined with a smaller portion of lime, and is dissolvable in cold water.
The combination is now termed either soluble phosphoric acid or soluble
phosphate of lime (bi-phosphate of lime), but as a great many insoluble
substances (gypsum, silica, organic matters, oxydes of iron and alumina, 5
and even some insoluble tri-basic phosphate of lime) are yet present, the
per-centage of soluble phosphoric acid cannot be raised to more than
about 20 or 25%. Moreover, the presence of the oxydes of iron and
alumina in the usual commercial superphosphates causes a retrograde
chemical action; forming insoluble phosphates of iron and phosphates of 1
alumina.
The present Invention is designed to obviate these and other dis-
advantages, and to provide a nearly pure mono-basic phosphate of lime
free from all non-fertilising matters, raising the per-centage to any
desired degree.
The product being free from oxydes of iron and alumina no retrograde
chemical action can take place.
Sulphuric acid is used in this improved process as decomposing agent,
as it has also hitherto been in use for manufacturing superphosphates;
but instead of employing strong sulphuric acid, I use it diluted to
between 1.025 and 1-125 specific gravity. A much larger dissolving
surface is thus offered to the ground phosphate, and the operator is
enabled to extract the last particles of phosphoric acid. In this large
quantity of liquid all insoluble matters are allowed to settle. The liquor
charged with phosphoric acid is now drawn off. This I evaporate either
to a highly concentrated state to complete crystallisation, or the solution
is concentrated and any suitable drying material added, so as to produce
a manure of any desired strength.
As a concentrated liquor it can be mixed with all other fertilising
matters in any desired quantity, raising the per-centage of soluble phos-
phoric acid greatly above the ordinary commercial standard.
In the crystallised form it can be used directly as a manure or mixed
with any salts or other fertilisers the farmer may find desirable for his
soil..
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said improve-
ments, and the manner of carrying them into effect, I would observe

page_text: that I specially abstain from the description of any sort of apparatus or
form of vessel to be used in the execution of this Invention, as these
may be varied according to the quantities of materials used or to be
produced; but what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is,
the utilisation of any phosphates, however low their quality, by means of
sulphuric acid, in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set
that I specially abstain from the description of any sort of apparatus or
form of vessel to be used in the execution of this Invention, as these
may be varied according to the quantities of materials used or to be
produced; but what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is,
the utilisation of any phosphates, however low their quality, by means of
sulphuric acid, in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan,
have hereto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
´ and seventy-two.
E. P. H. VAUGHAN. (L.S.)