IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by
Lawrence Henry Ernest Clair Anthony, Chemist, of Faubourg des Minimes,
Toulouse (Haute Garonne), in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th November
1877.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
" IMPROVE-
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent.
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES." A
communication from abroad by Lawrence Henry Ernest Clair Anthony, Chemist,
of Faubourg des Minimes, Toulouse, Haute Garonne, in the Republic of France.
The gas is obtained by distilling either in the retorts generally used for the dis-
tillation of pit coal and wood, or in other distilling apparatus, bones, fecal matters
and other animal matters, the temperature being varied according to the nature of
the products to be treated, such temperature being generally by preference
between 300° and 500° centigrade; these different matters may be treated
separately or mixed together with various other substances, such for instance as
tan, sawdust, and coal refuse. The gas thus formed is cooled by passing through
refrigerators where the volatile products (ammoniacal waters and tars) are condensed;
then the gas is either burnt directly or conducted into gasometers in order to be sup-
plied through pipes for consumption, or as compressed portable gas.
.
The gas obtained by the above operation, either purified or not, is composed for
the greater part of heavy hydrochlorides of carbon, which give at equal volume a
lighting power much superior to that of coal gas.

page_text: As soon as the matters submitted to distillation emit no longer any gas, the
residuums are removed from the retort, taking care to place them in extinguishing
chambers or otherwise to prevent their combustion, or to extinguish them previously
in the retort by means of a jet of steam, which on coming into contact with the
carbon of the said incandescent matters becomes decomposed, its oxygen takes up
the carbon and thus forms carbonic acid of the carbonic oxide, the hydrogen being
set free. This method enables a large part of the carbon of the residuum to be
utilized if it is found desirable, and secures a not less considerable advantage in the
production of gas suitable for heating purposes, dispenses with the extinguishing
chambers, and avoids the removal of the matters in an incandescent state.
The sub-products resulting from the above operation are the following:
First. Bone coal, or bone black resulting from the distillation of bones.
Second. The ammoniacal tarry waters contained in the condensing apparatus.
If other animal matters than bones are employed in the production of gas the
following products are obtained :—
First. In the condenser the ammoniacal tarry waters.
A
Second. In the apparatus of distillation a residuum formed of carbonized matters
containing, according to circumstances, the following substances in larger or lesser
proportion:
Potash
Macmasie
Phosphates

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 6th May 1878.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by Lawrence Henry Ernest Clair Anthony, Chemist,
of Faubourg des Minimes, Toulouse (Haute Garonne), in the Republic of France.
The gas
is obtained by distilling either in the retorts generally used for the dis-
tillation of pit coal and wood, or in other distilling apparatus, bones, foecal matters,
and other animal matters, the temperature being varied according to the nature of
the products to be treated, such temperature being generally by preference
between 300° and 500° centigrade. These different matters may be treated
separately or mixed together with various other substances, such, for instance,
as tan, sawdust, and coal refuse. The gas thus formed is cooled by passing through
refrigerators, where the volatile products (ammoniacal waters and tars) are con-
densed; then the gas is either burnt directly or conducted into gasometers in order
to be supplied through pipes for consumption or as compressed portable gas.
The gas obtained by the above operations, either purified or not, is composed for
the greater part of heavy hydrochlorides of carbon, which give at equal volume a
lighting power much superior to that of coal gas.
As soon as the matters submitted to distillation emit no longer any gas, the
residuums are removed from the retort, taking care to place them in extinguishing
chambers or otherwise to prevent their combustion, or to extinguish them previously
in the retort by means of a jet of steam, which on coming into contact with the
carbon of the said incandescent matters becomes decomposed; its oxygen takes up
the carbon, and thus forms carbonic acid of the carbonic oxide, the hydrogen being
set free. This method enables a large part of the carbon of the residuum to be
utilized, if it is found desirable, and secures a not less considerable advantage in the
production. of gas suitable for heating purposes, dispenses with the extinguishing
chambers, and avoids the removal of the matters in an incandescent state."
The sub-products resulting from the above operation are the following:-
First. Bone coal, or bone black resulting from the distillation of bones.
Second. The ammoniacal tarry waters contained in the condensing apparatus.
If other animal matters than bones are employed in the production of gas the
following products are obtained :—
First. In the condenser the ammoniacal tarry waters.
Second. In the apparatus of distillation a residuum formed of carbonized matters
containing, according to circumstances, the following substances in larger or lesser
pranartions.
proportions
Potash
Soda
Lime
Magnesia
Chlorides of sodium
Oxide of iron
Carbon
Phosphates
Ammonia
Vitrifiable earth
which constitute the component parts of a good manure. All these variable products
constitute in themselves a profitable manufacture without even taking account of
the gas, whilst the latter is cheaper than any hitherto manufactured for the same
purposes.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
Firstly. The manufacture of gas for lighting and heating purposes from bones,
focal matters, and other animal matters, in the manner and by the means sub-
stantially as herein described.

page_text: And, Secondly. The employment of water steam as a means of extinguishing the
exhausted incandescent matters, thereby producing useful gas by setting free the
hydrogen of the steam.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
B. J. B. MILLS. (L.S.)