A Compound of Animal Substances and Earths containing Phosphate of Iron or Alumina for Fertilizing Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Compound of Animal Substances and Earths containing Phosphate
of Iron or Alumina for Fertilizing Purposes.
I, NATHANIEL BARRETT POWTER, of the city, county, and state of New York, U.S.A.
Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention consists in a dry granular fertilizer, compounded, without the use of
artificial heat, by a mixture of mineral acid and wet animal matters in a given
proportion, with phosphatic rock, guano or earth, containing aluminia or iron, such
as is found in the Cayman Islands, Navassa, Redonda, Connetable, St. Martins, Alta
Vela, and the Swan Islands, and others in the West Indias. Similar rocks are found
in Estramadura in Spain, and in some parts of Germany, and other places.
In forming my improved composition for fertilizers, the phosphatic material is
powdered by any suitable means and mixed in suitable proportions with the desired
quantity of acid and with the wet animal matter, such as undried meat, skin, blood,
hair or leather dissolved in acid, animal filth, refuse, or any liquids carrying the
same, such as the water from the washing of slaughter houses, from fat rendering tanks,
tanneries, and other sources. Tank water such as is derived from rendering tanks,
furnishes an example of one of the most offensive waste products of this class, and I
will illustrate the formation of my fertilizing composition in its application to such
liquid, and to the phosphate rock or guano from the Cayman Islands of the West
Indias.
I take 750 lbs. of tank water, with a specific gravity of twelve and a half degrees
baume and containing 72 per cent. of water, or an equivalent amount of solid matter
in other forms, and mix therewith 500 lbs. of 60 degree sulphuric acid and 1000 lbs.
of the Grand Cayman phosphate rock or guano.
I have found by experience that when the substances are mixed in substantially
these proportions, the composition will first form into a wet paste, then rapidly
change into a stiff compound and, without artificial heat, will, even when piled in a
large heap, dry and granulate into a suitable condition to handle or barrel, or
transport in bulk as a merchantable fertilizer; and contains from 10 to 15
of phosphoric acid, and 2 to 3 per cent. of ammonia.
per cent.
The exact proportion of acid and wet animal matter in the composition, may be
slightly varied, with the class of rock that is used, as the amount of such substances
mixed with the rock depends upon the constitution of the latter, and the percentage
of phosphate of alumina or phosphate of iron contained therein, and the kind of mineral
acid used.
It is well known that undried meat, wet skin, blood, and such substances contain a
proportion of water varying from 40 to 75 per cent.; so that the proportion of such
substances that could be substituted for the tank water, in forming my fertilizing
composition, could be readily determined by any one practicing the operation; the
function of such wet animal matter being merely to furnish the requisite percentage of
nitrogen or animonia in the fertilizer, which percentage may vary from 2 to 7 per cent.,
in fertilizing compounds of different grades. By my invention I am enabled to utilize
the nitrogen or ammonia in such waste animal products without the expense of
artificially drying it, and am also enabled to furnish the desired element of nitrogen
or ammonia to the class of phosphate rocks referred to herein.
I hereby disclaim the mere treatment of phosphate rock with mineral acids, as that
is already well known, and I also disclaim any of the compositions or processes in
which phosphate rock destitute of aluminates has been mixed with animal substances
to form a fertilizer. Heretofore, the manufacture of fertilizers from the class of

page_text: rock that I have herein described, and which contains alumina or iron, has been
exceedingly limited, because it has been found difficult and almost impossible to
produce a dry fertilizer from such rocks without the use of artificial heat. In case
the operation of the ingredients named does not produce a perfectly dry powder, I
add about 50 lbs. of lime thereto in any convenient form. The lime by its reaction
with the sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid and alumina, produces sulphate of lime, or
phosphate and aluminate of lime which absorbs a great amount of water, in
crystalizing, and effects the desired result.
It is obvious that a slight departure may be made from the exact weights that I
have given for the several ingredients of my composition, without materially affecting
the value or utility of the resulting composition; but my experience and practice
have taught me that the above named proportions are valuable, and what I desired
to secure is a composition containing such ingredients in substantially the proportions
named.
It is scarcely necessary to say that if a weaker acid were used, as 50 degrees
Baume, a little larger amount would be required, or a less amount, if stronger acid
as 66 degrees Baume were used; but any chemist would be capable of making'
the necessary allowance in such case, the amount of acid that was used being in any
case a chemical equivalent of 500 lbs. of 60 degree sulphuric acid as specified
herein.
What I claim is.
1st. The composition for producing a dry fertilizer, consisting in phosphatic rock
or earth containing alumina or iron, mineral acid, and animal matter combined with
20 to 70 per cent. of water, the whole compounded and combined substantially in the
proportions set forth.
2nd. The composition for producing a dry fertilizer, consisting in phosphatic rock
or earth containing alumina or iron, mineral acid, and animal matter combined with
1st. The composition for producing a dry fertilizer, consisting in phosphatic rock
or earth containing alumina or iron, mineral acid, and animal matter combined with
20 to 70 per cent. of water, the whole compounded and combined substantially in the
proportions set forth.
2nd. The composition for producing a dry fertilizer, consisting in phosphatic rock
or earth containing alumina or iron, mineral acid, and animal matter combined with
20 to 70 per cent. of water and lime, the whole compounded and combined substantially
in the proportions set forth.
NATHANIEL BARRETT POWTER.
Per Henry Jaques Miller,
Agent.