IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF AMMONIACAL AND PHOSPHATE COMPOUNDS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MANURES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Young Darracott Scott, of Ealing, in the County
of Middlesex, Major-General, C.B., for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF AMMONIACAL AND PHOSPHATE COMPOUNDS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF MANURES."
Sealed the 11th July 1876, and dated the 26th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Young Darracott Scott
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th January 1876.
HENRY YOUNG DARRACOTT SCOTT, of Ealing, in the County of Middlesex,
Major-General, C.B. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF AMMONIACAL AND
PHOSPHATE COMPOUNDS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MANURES."
The object of this Invention is the preparation of concentrated manures from
foecal matters and nitrogen compounds and insoluble phosphates in an economical
and inoffensive manner for the manufacture of manures.
The processes I adopt in attaining these ends consist,―
First. In rendering (in the manner herein-after explained) the solids of focal and
nitrogen offensive compounds (such as rotten eggs) harmless, and bringing these
solids into a condition in which their tenacious retention of water is overcome, and
a clarified liquid can be expressed from them.
Second. In the employment of the acid liquids resulting from the manufacture
of superphosphates for fixing the ammoniacal gases which are expelled by the beat
and chemicals employed in the first process.
Third. In applying further methods for the recovery of the ammonia which
may still remain in the clarified liquid which results from the first process.
In carrying out my Invention I take solid and liquid fecal matters as collected
in pails and other receptacles, and I introduce them into a boiler fitted as a still,
together with as much lime or dolomitic lime as will be converted into carbonate
of lime by the carbonic acid present with or set free from the. fecal matters, and I
boil these substances together until the solids are completely disintegrated. The
result of this treatment is that the alkaline earth and the beat together destroy
the noxious smell of the foeces and also all germs of disease, and the carbonate of
lime becoming intimately mixed with the disintegrated solids renders them much
less retentive of water. In order to overcome still further this property of

page_text: retaining water which the solids possess I also mix with the contents of the still,
after the carbonate of lime has formed superphosate of lime which has been
neutralized with magnesia, or in lieu thereof I sometimes add ground bones or
spent animal charcoal or ashes, or any other substance, whether inert or fertilizing,
which will contribute towards making the fecal solids more open in texture. The
special advantage of the above-named neutralized phosphate is that it fixes a
certain portion of the ammonia of the urine as ammoniacal phosphate of
magnesia.
In cases in which I require that the ammoniacal gas distilled from the focal
matters by the boiling process shall be carbonate of ammonia instead of ammonia
I omit the addition to them of the alkaline earth; and for the purpose of rendering
the solids of a more open consistency I employ the said superphosphate neutralized
with magnesia only, or the said superphosphate in conjunction with precipitated
phosphate of lime, ashes, charcoal, or sulphate of lime obtained as herein-after
described.
The ammoniacal gas which is expelled from the focal matters in the boiling
process is passed into a receiver, where it can be fixed by a mineral acid in the
usual manner, but I prefer to employ for this purpose an acid liquid prepared in
the following manner-I take a mineral or other phosphate, such as bones or
precipitated phosphates of lime, iron, or alumina, and I add thereto sufficient acid
to bring their phosphoric acid into solution, and I employ the compound thus
obtained in fixing the ammoniacal gas distilled from the urine. Supposing,
however, phosphorite and hydrochloric acid to be the substances employed 1
digest the phosphorite in the latter and add to the solution of calcium phosphate
and chloride, thus obtaining sufficient, sulphuric acid to precipitate the lime
present. If carbonate of ammonia is the product of the distillation I employ this
compound to fix the ammonia of part of the carbonate of ammonia as ammoniac
phosphate and chloride, and part (by double decomposition of the carbonate of
ammonia and sulphate of lime) as sulphate of ammonia. Two or more receivers
are employed to prevent loss of ammonia in the conversion of the sulphate of lime
and carbonate of ammonia into carbonate of lime and sulphate of ammonia.
If ammonia is distilled over (as is the case when sufficient lime to fix the
carbonic acid of the urine is added to the fecal matters) I prefer to separate the
liquid acids from the sulphate of lime, and I use the latter substance with the
solid forces, as before mentioned, and the liquid acids to fix the ammonia distilled
into the receiver.
When the boiling process has been carried to the extent necessary to disintegrate
the solids completely, and the larger portion of ammonia or carbonate of ammonia
has been expelled and fixed as above described the contents of the still are passed
through a Needham and Kite or other press, or the superfluous liquid is removed
by decantation and filtering, and a clarified liquid is obtained containing more or
less ammonia. If the liquid still retains sufficient ammonia to repay the cost of
further treatment it is subjected to a process or processes such as those secured to
ne by Letters Patent, dated 15th February, 1873, and 9th October, 1874, or the
clarified liquid may be subjected to a further distillation in a coffee-pot still.
If little or no solid matter is present with the ammoniacal liquid, as is the case
with gas liquor and the urine from urinals, that part of the Invention alone applies
which consists in the use of acid liquids and salts of superphosphates for fixing
the ammonia distilled from such compounds. If, on the other hand, the proportion
of solids is so large as to render boiling difficult I commence by removing the
larger lumps of solid matter by a rough sort of straining apparatus which may
consist of two wooden or iron vessels of hopper shape which have one side formed
by a perforated screen, the meshes of the lower vessel being the smaller. By this
means a large portion of the solid matters can be removed. Rags and other
extraneous rubbish of this class are retained by a grating, which allows the focal
solids to pass.
Charcoal or lime, or both line and charcoal, are thrown into the
upper vessel with the solids, in sufficient proportion to deodorize them, and the

page_text: solids are then made to descend through a trap into a pug or other mixing mill in
which they are thoroughly incorporated with these deodorants.
The resulting products of the above operations are dried, and in the case of salts
of ammonia, are crystallized, and these ingredients are then all ground together to
produce a general manure, or they may be dealt with separately, or be mixed in
the proportion to give manures suitable for different crops. If lime has been
employed, however, in deodorizing the solids in the manner last described it must
be neutralized with phosphoric or sulphuric acid before being mixed with the
ammoniacal salts.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Young Darracott Scott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th July 1876.
HENRY YOUNG DARRACOTT SCOTT, of Ealing, in the County of Middlesex,.
Major-General, C.B. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF AMMONIACAL AND
PHOSPHATE COMPOUNDS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MANURES."
The object of this Invention is the preparation of concentrated manures from.
foecal matters, and nitrogen compounds, and insoluble phosphates in an economical.
and inoffensive manner for the manufacture of manures.
The processes I adopt in attaining these ends consist,—
First. In rendering (in the manner herein-after explained) the solids of focal
matters and other watery offensive compounds containing nitrogen (such as rotten
eggs) harinless, and bringing these solids into a condition in which their tenacious
retention of water is overcome, and a clarified liquid can be expressed from them.
Second. In the employment of mineral acids or the acid liquids resulting from
the manufacture of superphosphates for fixing the ammoniacal gases which are
expelled by the heat and chemicals employed in the first process.
Third. In applying further methods for the recovery of the ammonia which may
still remain in the clarified liquid which results from the first process.
Before describing my Invention I wish it to be understood that I make no claim.
for the use of lime in the treatment of fecal matters, nor for the distillation of urine.
or gas liquor with lime. I am aware that lime is commonly used towards the end
of the distillation of gas liquor to decompose salts of ammonia not sufficiently
volatile to be removed by boiling, and that it has been proposed to remove the
carbonic acid from decomposed urine by lime previous to distillation. Nor again.
do I make any claim for fixing the ammonia distilled from ammoniacal liquids by
means of an acid, nor for making use of phosphate of magnesia for fixing ammonia.
The novelty of my process consists in applying these chemicals and combining
and adjusting these processes so that,
First. The process of distillation need be continued only so long as the ammonia
passes off rapidly, and then be replaced by an agent which will remove the
remainder of the ammonia, or the greater part of it, without unremunerative
boiling.
Second. The chemicals used shall deodorize the focal matters and at the same
time destroy their glutinous nature and facilitate the separation of the liquids from
the solids.
And, Third. The chemicals shall add to rather than detract from the value of
these solids.
In carrying out my Invention I take solid and liquid focal matters as collected in
pails and other receptacles, and I introduce them into a boiler fitted as a still together
with as much lime or dolomitic lime as will supply lime for conversion into carbonate
of lime by the carbonic acid present with or set free from the focal matters, and I
boil these substances together until the solids are completely disintegrated. The
result of this treatment is that the alkaline earth and the heat together destroy the,

page_text: noxious smell of the forces and also all germs of discase, and the carbonate of lime
becoming intimately mixed with the disintegrated solids renders them much less
retentive of water. In order to overcome still further the property of retaining
water which the solids possess I also when the lime used is not dolomitic lime mix
with the contents of the still after the carbonate of lime has formed and a certain
proportion of the ammonia has been expelled superphosphate of lime (or phosphoric
acid) which has been neutralized with magnesia, or in lieu thereof I add thereto
the equivalents of phosphoric acid and magnesia to form this compound, and this I
prefer. I sometimes when I desire to economize phosphoric acid add also ground
bones, or spent animal charcoal, or ashes, or any other substance, whether inert or
fertilizing, which will contribute towards making the fecal solids more open in
texture. The special advantage of the above named phosphate of magnesia is
that it fixes a certain portion of the ammonia of the urine in the form of ammoniacal
phosphate of magnesia, and adds to the manurial value of the compound by adding
phosphoric acid to it.
In cases in which I require that the ammoniacal gas distilled from the fecal
matters by the boiling process shall be carbonate of ammonia instead of ammonia
I omit the addition to them of the alkaline earth, and for the purpose of rendering
the solids of a more open consistency I employ the said superphosphate or phosphoric
acid neutralized with magnesia only, or the said superphosphate in conjunction with
precipitated phosphate of lime, ashes, churcoal, or sulphate of lime, obtained as
herein-after described.
The ammoniacal gas which is expelled from the fecal matters in the boiling
process is passed into a receiver where it can be fixed by a mineral acid in the
usual manner, but I sometimes employ for this purpose an acid liquid prepared in
the following manner :-I take a mineral or other phosphate, such as bones, or
precipitated phosphates of lime, iron, or alumina, and I add thereto sufficient acid
to bring their phosphoric acid into solution, and I employ the compound thus
obtained in fixing the ammonical gas distilled from the urine. Supposing however
phosphorite and hydrochloric acid to be the substances employed I digest the
phosphorite in the latter and add to the solution of calcium phosphate and chloride
thus obtained suflicient sulphuric acid to precipitate the lime present. If carbonate
of ammonia is the product of the distillation I employ this compound to fix the
ammonia of part of the carbonate of ammonia as ammonic phosphate and chloride,
and part (by double decomposition of the carbonate of ammonia and sulphate of
lime) as sulphate of ammonia. Two or more receivers are employed to prevent loss
of ammonia in the conversion of the sulphate of lime and carbonate of ammonia
into carbonate of lime and sulphate of ammonia.
If ammonia is distilled over (as is the case when sufficient lime to fix the carbonic
acid of the urine is added to the focal matters) I prefer to separate the liquid acids
from the sulphate of lime, and I use the latter substance with the solid forces before
mentioned, and the liquid acids to fix the ammonia distilled into the receiver.
When the boiling process has been carried to the extent necessary to disintegrate
the solids completely, and the larger portion of ammonia has been expelled and
fixed as above described, the contents of the still after treatment with phosphoric
acid and magnesia, as above mentioned, are passed through a Needham and Kite or
other press, and the superfluous liquid having been thus removed or removed by
decantation and filtering a clarified liquid is obtained containing more or less
ammonia. If the liquid still retains sufficient ammonia to repay the cost of
further treatment, it may be subjected to a process or processes, such as those
secured to me by Letters Patent, dated Fifteenth February, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-three, and Ninth October, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-four, or the clarified liquid may be subjected to a further distillation in a
coffee-pot still.
If dolomitic lime is employed in the still instead of lime, the magnesia required for
the formation of the phosphate of magnesia is already present in the liquid when the
distillation takes place, and as soon as the distillation has been carried to the

page_text: required point I add phosphoric acid or superphosphate of lime to the contents of
the still until these have lost their alkalinity and become almost neutral to test
paper.
Most of the ammonia remaining in the liquid is fixed by this treatment,
and the liquids can be readily separated from the solids as before described.
In lieu of using dolomitic lime or lime in the still, I may when the price of
magnesia is moderate use magnesia only. The advantage of doing so is that when
the contents of the still are neutralized by the phosphoric acid or soluble phosphate
more phosphate of magnesia will be produced..
The point at which the distillation should be stopped and the phosphoric acid or
soluble phosphate of lime be introduced depends on several considerations, such as
the strength of the ammonical liquid, the proportion of the salts of ammonia which
it may be considered desirable to produce (as securing a more certain market than
can be looked for from complex manures), and the relative proportions of solids and
liquids in the matters operated upon, but speaking generally, and assuming that the
liquid contains six hundred grains of ammonia per gallon, and that dolomitic lime is
to be used in the still, I boil the "pail stuff" or mixed focal matters into two
thousand grains of dolomitic lime per gallon, and I distil over from three-quarters
to seven-eights of the ammonia, including that which is set free from the solids.
The
The phosphoric acid or soluble phosphate is added, as has been before stated in
quantity to neutralize the mixture, and is well stirred with it previous to the
separation of the solids and liquids. Phosphate of magnesia being somewhat
soluble I finally remove what has been left in the liquid by the addition of about
one hundred and twenty grains per gallon more or less of lime thereto.
precipitate is collected and is used as manure. If the proportion of solids is so
large as to render boiling difficult, I commence by removing the larger lumps of
solid matter by a rough sort of straining apparatus, which may consist of two
wooden or iron vessels of hopper shape, which have one side formed by a perforated
screen, the meshes of the lower vessel being the smaller. By this means a large
portion of the solid matters can be removed. Rags and other extraneous rubbish
of this class are retained by a grating which allows the focal solids to pass.
Charcoal or lime, or both lime and charcoal are thrown into the upper vessel with
the solids in sufficient proportion to deodorize then, and the solids are then made
to descend through a trap into a plug or other mixing mill, in which they are
thoroughly incorporated with the deodorants.
The resulting products of the above operations are dried, and in the case of salts.
of ammonia are crystallized, and these ingredients are then all ground together to
produce a general manure; or they may be dealt with separately or be mixed in
the proportion to give manures suitable for different crops. If lime has been
employed however in deodorizing the solids in the manner last described, it must be
neutralized with phosphoric or sulphuric acid before being mixed with the
ammonicial salts.
In dealing with gas liquor of ordinary strength by my process I find the
following to be a convenient mode of procedure:-In order to remove the ammonia
therefrom I will suppose it to contain one thousand two hundred grains of ammonia
per gallon. I first reduce the strength of the liquor to six hundred grains of
ammonia per gallon by simple distillation, and I then proceed as described when
speaking of the liquids of pail stuff, that is, I add lime or dolomitic lime sufficient
to form the carbonic acid into carbonate of lime (or into carbonate of magnesia if
using magnesia only), and add the phosphoric acid or soluble phosphate when from
eighty to one hundred and fifty grains of ammonia remain in solution.
The treatment of urine from urinals is similar to that of the liquids from " pail
stuff" which consists chiefly of urine.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in the
Treatment of Ammoniacal and Phosphate Compounds for the Manufacture of
Manures," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to
be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim, the

page_text: mode or modes above set forth of treating mixed focal matters and other
ammonicial and nitrogenous compounds for the manufacture of manures.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Young Darracott Scott, have here-
unto set my hand and seal the Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.