Improvements in the Treatment of Sewage Sludge..
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Sewage Sludge..
I, WALTER ERNEST ADENEY, Curator, Royal University, Dublin, of 20 Crosth-
waite Park, East, Kingstown, Co. Dublin, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
In my Specification No. 18983 in the year 1890 I have described a process for
the treatment of sewage and like waste liquors.
The liquor, is in the first place allowed to deposit in a tank and then the
comparatively clear liquor is purified by the use of manganate or permanganate of
soda or potash in such manner that the manganese is recovered in the form of
oxyhydrate. The sludge which the crude sewage deposits although easily dried
in fine weather, is during unfavorable weather liable to fermentation and it then
becomes offensive. Now I have found that this may be prevented by the addition
to it of a small proportion of the precipitated oxyhydrate. I have discovered that
certain micro-organisms, naturally existing in fresh sewage matters have the power
of reducing the insoluble oxyhydrate of manganese, when moist and freshly
precipitated, to manganous hydrate, which under favorable conditions absorbs
oxygen from the air almost as rapidly as it is formed, with the result that the
oxyhydrate is reformed. Thus the oxyhydrate of manganese, in the moist and
freshly precipitated state, acts as a carrier of oxygen to the micro-organisms and
may be made, by proper attention, to afford a continuous supply of oxygen to them
throughout the mass of the sludge, a condition essential for the prevention of the
formation of putrefaction products, and therefore of the formation of offensive odours
during the process of drying the sludge.
Dated this 25th dor of Tune 1801
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Sewage Sludge.
I, WALTER ERNEST ADENEY, Curator, Royal University, Dublin, late of
20 Crosthwaite Park East, Kingstown, Co. Dublin, and now of No. 1 Eaton Place
Monkstown Co. Dublin 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:-
In my Specification No. 18983 in the year 1890 I have described a process for
the treatment of sewage and like waste liquors.
The liquor is in the first place allowed to deposit in a tank and then the
comparatively clear liquor is purified by the use of manganate or permanganate
of soda or potash in such manner that the manganese is recovered in the form of
oxyhydrate. The sludge which the crude sewage deposits although easily dried
in fine weather, is during unfavourable weather liable to fermentation and it then
becomes offensive: Now I have found that this may be prevented by the addition
to it of a small proportion say eight per cent. of the precipitated oxydydrate. 1
have discovered that certain micro-organisms, naturally existing in fresh sewage
matters have the power of reducing the insoluble oxyhydrate of manganese, when
moist and freshly precipitated, to manganous hydrate, which under favourable
conditions, namely when freely exposed to the air, absorbs oxygen from the air
almost as rapidly as it is formed, with the result that the oxyhydrate is reformed.
Thus the oxyhydrate of manganese, in the moist and freshly precipitated state, acts
Price 8d.1

page_text: as a carrier of oxygen to the micro-organisms and if the mixed sludge and
oxyhydrate be spread out in thin layers in drying sheds and be worked up from
time to time in order to expose fresh surfaces freely to the air, the oxyhydrate
will afford a continuous supply of oxygen to the micro-organisms throughout the
mass of the sludge, a condition essential for the prevention of the formation of
putrefaction products, and therefore of the formation of offensive odours during the
process of drying the sludge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
The treatment of sewage sludge by adding to it oxyhydrate of manganese
substantially as described. ·