Improvements in the Means and Method of Treating Soap Suds.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means and Method of Treating Soap Suds.
We, SAMUEL TURNER and JOHN TURNER, trading as John Turner, of Calder
Dale Grease Works, Sowerby Bridge, in the County of York, Grease and Soap
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of our invention in treating soap suds is to obtain a larger per-
centage of grease than has hitherto been the case, whilst a less quantity of
sulphuric or other acid is used. The primary object of our invention, however,
is to purify the refuse water which is greatly desired by the River Pollution
Commissioners and others.
According to the present method of treating soap suds, it is customary to employ
two vessels or cisterns, arranged adjoining each other. The first vessel is filled
or partially filled with refuse soap suds, after which a necessary quantity of sul-
phuric, hydrochloric, or other suitable acid is added thereto, the mixture being
stirred and agitated by any suitable form of agitator operated by hand power or
mechanical means. After the sulphuric, hydrochloric, or other acid, is added
to the mixture the solid matter rises to the top and sometimes descends to the
bottom. The mixture is then allowed to rest a day or two after which the con-
tents are run off, the liquid being conveyed to an adjoining river or other con-
venient place; and being of a milky colour and containing part solid matter
pollutes the river to disadvantage. The solid remaining is then removed and
filtered.
We may if we choose treat the milky matter according to our invention herein-
after described.
Whilst the first cistern just described is being treated, the second vessel is also
filled with soap suds and treated in the same manner os already described with
reference to the first vessel.
Although we have hitherto referred to two vessels the apparatus is sometimes
furnished in duplicate.
According to our invention we adopt a similar method of procedure as that
already described, but we employ additional means also, which lessen the quantity
of sulphuric, hydrochloric, or other acid employed, whilst the liquid is free from
solid matter. We therefore obtain a greater quantity of grease than formerly.
According to our method the first vessel is filled with soap suds and we add
a precipitate of common mud, slush, clay, or other suitable substance or material.
The soap suds are then stirred by an agitator, as heretofore, for a suitable length
of time. Sulphuric hydrochloric, or other acid is now added and the mixture
stirred again for a suitable period, until it arrives at a proper consistency and
condition, when it is allowed to rest a day or two. In this case the clear liquid
runs off the top to an adjoining stream and the solids are removed and filtered
as before described.
We may here add that the initial stirring may be dispensed with, but we prefer
the mixture to receive two stirrings. The mud may flow into the vessel in con-

page_text: junction with the soap suds or may be added subsequently-but preferably before
the acid.
By means of our invention the liquid run off is clean and free from solids.
The process is simple but of great advantage, especially in the purification of
the liquid run off.
Where stirring cannot be conveniently employed, the mixture in the cistern.
may be agitated by one or more streams of air, or steam.
Dated this 21st day of November 1899.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Halifax, Agents for Applicants.
Improvements in the Means and Method of Treating Soap Suds.
We, SAMUEL TURNER, and JOHN TURNER, trading as John Turner, of Calder
Dale Grease Works, Sowerby Bridge, in the County of York, Grease and Soap
Manufacturers, 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 our invention in treating soap suds is to obtain a larger per-
centage of grease than has hitherto been the case, whilst a less quantity of
sulphuric or other acid is used. The primary object of our invention, however,
is to purify the refuse water, this purification being greatly desired by the River
Pollution Commissioners, County Authorities, and others.
According to the present method of treating soap suds, it is customary to employ
two or more vessels or cisterns, arranged adjoining each other. The first vessel
is filled, or partially filled, with refuse soap suds, and a certain quantity of
sulphuric, hydrochloric, or other suitable acid then added to curd or crack the
sud, the mixture being stirred or agitated and the presence of the vitriol causing
the solid matter to separate from the liquid and either rise to the top or descend
to the bottom of the tank, according to the respective densities of the two bodies.
After resting a day or two the liquid is run off into an adjoining river, stream, or
sewer, and the solids remaining in the vessel or tank subsequently removed,
filtered and treated in the usual way. While the first tank is being treated as
above, the second tank is also filled with soap suds and treated in like manner.
In the present method of treating soap suds, as above described, we find from
experience that the separation of the solids from the liquid by the action of
vitriol on the sud, is not effective in securing complete separation and the com-
paratively clear water run off, after separation has consequently a milky appear-
ance containing part solid matter which pollutes the river or other conduit to
disadvantage such pollution being now largely forbidden by public authorities
and constituting a growing difficulty to manufacturers or extractors, in regard
to the filtration or disposal of the water run off from the soap tanks to avoid
pollution of the river.
Our invention consists in adding to the soap suds a substance or material
which will affect the specific gravity or density of the whole of the solids in the sud
sufficiently to bring about complete separation of the solids from the liquid, the
addition of said substance or material lessening the quantity of vitriol required
in the sud and enabling us to extract a greater quantity of grease than formerly.
According to our invention we fill the tank or vessel with soap suds as ordinarily
and then add thereto a suitable quantity of common or river mud, sludge, road

page_text: scrapings, clay, or other similar suitable substance or material. We find that
mud taken from the river or from a dam or from the roadside or street gullies,
if not strongly charged with animal refuse, answers very well, and as it is
mostly easily obtainable and costs little to procure we usually prefer to employ
it, although we do not confine ourselves thereto as clay or other earthy bodies miglit
be used instead.
The quantity of mud added to the sud is determined by the judgment of the
person in charge who can easily guage the amount required in each case, any
excess above what is considered sufficient for the purpose not being material or
disadvantageous.
The mixture of soap suds and mud is now stirred for a suitable length of
time by any ordinary form of agitator operated mechanically or by hand, after
which sulphuric hydrochloric, or other usual acid is added, but in less quantity
than heretofore and the mixture again stirred or agitated for a suitable period
until it arrives at a proper consistency and condition. The initial stirring may
be dispensed with, but we prefer the mixture to receive two stirrings as stated.
The presence of a sufficient quantity of mud or the like in the soap suds increases
the specific gravity of the solids therein which are consequently precipitated and
leave the liquid or water at the top quite clear and free from all solid matter.
After the usual period of rest the clear water is run eff to an adjoining stream,
river or drain and the solids in the bottom of the tank afterwards removed,
filtered, and treated in the ordinary manner to extract the grease or fats more
grease being obtainable from the same quantity of suds than was heretofore the
case.
The mud could be fed or made to flow into the vessel or tank in conjunction
with the soap suds, or added subsequently, but is preferably added before the
acid.
As an alternative to the precipitation of the solid matter by adding mud or
the like, for the purpose above stated, we may, in lieu of mud, add a suitable
quantity of grease or soap to the soap suds which has an effect on the density
of the solids exactly contrary to that of mud, and therefore causes the solid
matter to float and the water which has now the heaviest density, to fall to
the bottom and to run off therefrom, after the required period of rest, quite
clear and free from any solid matter.
The process comprising our invention, although simple and inexpensive, is of
great advantage, especially in the purification of the liquid run off from soap
sud tanks and the avoidance of all danger of polluting rivers or streams, while
the less quantity of vitriol required in the treatment and the extra quantity of
grease recovered under our improved process or treatment effects a considerable
saving and gain to the extractor or manufacturer.
When the mixture in the tanks cannot conveniently be stirred by hand or
mechanical power it may be agitated by one or more streams of air or steam.
Although we have described our improved process as consisting in the addition
of mud or the like to the soap suds in the tank, it will be understood that we
could in place thereof add the mud or its equivalent to the milky coloured liquid
run off from the tank after the ordinary treatment of the sud with vitriol, this
however being an alternative process which we do not consider would be adopted
to any extent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
(1) The method substantially as herein described of treating soap suds in the
process of extraction with mud, sludge, clay or other similar or suitable sub-
stance or material added to the tank preferably before the acid or vitriol, of
which a less quantity than usual will suffice, for effecting complete separation
of all solid matter from the liquid.

page_text: (2) The use in the process of extracting grease from soap suds, of mud, sludge,
clay or other similar or suitable substance or material added to the sud to affect
the specific gravity of the solid matter therein sufficiently to bring about com-
plete separation of the solids from the liquid substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
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