IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE, AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF MANURE THEREFROM, AND ALSO IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR, AND IN THE A com- MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR SUCH PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE, AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF MANURE THEREFROM,
AND ALSO IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR, AND IN THE
A com-
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR SUCH PURPOSES."
munication from abroad by Emile Barrault, of Paris, in the Republic of
France
Sealed the 13th April 1877, and dated the 5th February 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th February 1877.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE, AND IN THE PRO-
DUCTION OF MANURE THEREFROM, AND ALSO IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATERIALS
THEREFOR, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR SUCH
PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Emile Barrault, of Paris, in the
Republic of France.
'
This Invention relates to the treatment of sewage, for the purpose of purifying
the same, and converting the solid matters into an agricultural manure, and to the
manufacture of crude sulphate of alumina to be employed for such purposes.
In carrying out this Invention it is proposed to obtain from the iron, stone, or
coal measures shale which is free from lime, or other alkalies, or as nearly free as is
practicable, or such specially selected clays as contain a large proportion of alumina
and are practically free from lime or iron, but it is preferred to use the shale before
mentioned. The whole of the moisture contained in the shale or clay is driven off,
if necessary, by the application of heat thereto in a kiln, or on floors heated by
flues passing underneath, or otherwise. The dry shale or clay is next pulverized
into a fine powder by means of a suitable mill or machinery, and this dry powdered
shale or clay is mixed with sulphuric acid or ordinary commercial brown oil of
vitriol, of the specific gravity of say about 150 Twaddle, in the proportion of say
about two parts by weight of shale or clay to one part by weight of sulphuric acid,

page_text: the same being mixed gradually but thoroughly together in a suitable mixer. This
mixture as it emerges from the mixer is conveyed to heated floors, and sufficient
heat applied to cause the whole of the sulphuric acid to combine with alumina, thus
forming a crude sulphate of alumina. As the crude sulphate of alumina formed in
this manner is very insoluble, it is proposed to apply it to sewage in the following
manner, it being found economial to do so, for the purpose of utilizing the whole of
the sulphate of alumina, and for preventing the refuse contained in the crude
material entering the sewage, thereby diminishing the value of the manure.
hard lumps of crude sulphate of alumina are broken up into small pieces, and it is
dissolved in water or sewage in vats provided with a mechanical stirrer or agitator,
and suitable machinery for stirring the whole contents of the vat during the
preparation of a solution of sulphate of alumina.
The
In order to dissolve out the sulphate of alumina, the vat is being filled with water
at the same time that the crude sulphate of alumina is introduced, and the mixture
is effected by agitation or stirring, and the whole is then treated by the injection
of steam through steam pipes from a boiler provided for the purpose. When the
whole of the sulphate of alumina is dissolved the. vat is allowed to remain until the
insoluble matter, including sand, alumina, clay, and the like, falls to the bottom of
the vat. Two or more vats are used, so that one may always contain the solution
of sulphate of alumina in use while the others are being refilled and allowed to settle.
Each vat is provided with suitable means of running off the clear solution without
disturbing the precipitate at the bottom of the vat. When the contents of a vat
have been run off the precipitate or residue is removed, and if desired may bė
reutilized in the manufacture of fresh sulphate of alumina.
In this manner a
solution of sulphate of alumina is prepared ready for admixture with the sewage.
I shall now proceed to describe the process for the defecation of the sewage, the
production of a good effluent water, and an agricultual manure.
The sewage is
received at the outfall, and all the largest solid contents, including garbage, paper,
and the like, are removed or extracted, if necessary, by means of any suitable
apparatus, such, for example, as that known as Latham's solid sewage extractor;
the solid matter thus extracted is used for a manure. Into the sewage so strained
as it flows past the alumina vats, a small stream of solution of sulphate of alumina
is allowed to flow continuously, the quantity of this solution added to the sewage
varying according to the quality of the sewage. The sewage and this solution are
then mixed together as they pass through a mixing well provided with a mechanical
stirrer or agitator, with suitable machinery for working it by steam or other power.
This mixture of sewage and sulphate of alumina flows on for a short distance, and
then receives the addition of a small quantity of milk of lime, which is prepared in
vats or circular tanks. This lime is dissolved in water or sewage; the vat or tank
is kept continually agitated or stirred, so that the lime may not settle to the bottom.
Two or more vats are employed, each provided with machinery for this purpose, so
that one may always be ready for use. Each vat is provided with suitable means
for allowing a small stream of the milk of lime to flow continually into the mixture
of sewage and sulphate of alumina as it passes by the vats or tanks.
It is preferred to add the solution of sulphate of alumina first to the sewage and
the milk of lime afterwards, but either one or the other may be added first. This
mixture of sewage, sulphate of alumina, and milk of lime, is allowed to flow through
a stirring or mixing well provided with a suitable agitator and machinery turned
by steam or other power, and the whole is then thoroughly mixed together. The
sulphuric acid of the sulphate of alumina then combines with the lime, forming
sulphate of lime, free aluinina is liberated, and a floculent deposit immediately is
formed; the mixture is then allowed to flow into the precipitating tanks, which
may vary in number, in size, in shape, or arrangement, and inay be either worked
on the intermittent or the continuous systems. They inay consist of 'syphon tanks
or weir tanks, as found desirable, and may be flat bottomed or shaped with more
or less inclination from the sides to the centre. Each tank is provided with inlet
sluices made water-tight, outlet sluices for drawing off the water from the top

page_text: downwards, and suitable valves for draining the deposit or sewage sludge left at the
bottom of the tank when the effluent water is drawn off.
The effluent water is allowed to flow either over a weir at the end of the tank or
over the outlet sluices, as desired, and either direct into a river, canal, watercourse, or
stream, or into the sea, having been first filtered through earth properly drained and
prepared, or other suitable material, according as a high or a low standard of purity
in the quality of the water produced is required.
The sewage sludge or deposit at the bottom of the precipitating tank after the
effluent water is drawn off is collected together or swept up; this may be effected
either by manual labour or by a scraper extending across the tank, and worked
backwards and forwards by machinery, or by an archimedian screw worked longi-
tudinally along the bottom of the tank, or other suitable means.
The deposit is
then passed through sluices by gravitation, or raised by elevators or suitable pumps
into chambers or tanks, where it is allowed to settle, and the supernatant water
drawn off from the top by a suitable arrangement for that purpose; this stiffened
sludge is then removed and dried by the application of a filtering process and by heat,
or otherwise. It is preferred to employ the contiguous filters and drying machines
for sewage sludge known as Milburn's for this purpose. The dry sludge is then
reduced to a finc powder by a suitable disintegrator or mill, and forms an agricultural
manure, which may be sold in the condition in which it is produced, or bo enriched
by the addition of phosphates and ammonia, and other suitable substances, so as to
obtain for it a more ready sale.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st August
1877.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE, AND IN THE PRO-
DUCTION OF MANURE THEREFROM, AND ALSO IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATERIALS
THEREFOR, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR SUCH
PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Emile Barrault, of Paris, in the
Republic of France.
This Invention relates to the treatment of sewage, for the purpose of purifying
the same, and converting the solid matters into an agricultural manure, and to the
manufacture of crude sulphate of alumina to be employed for such purposes.
In carrying out this Invention it is proposed to obtain from the iron, stone, or
coal measures, shale which is free or practically free from lime. The moisture
contained in the shale is driven off, if necessary, by the application of heat. The shale
after having been submitted to the foregoing calcining or heating process is reduced
to a powder by means of suitable machinery, and it is then mixed with sulphuric
acid or ordinary commercial brown oil of vitriol, of the specific gravity of say about
150 Twaddle, in the proportion of say about two parts by weight of calcined or
burnt shale to one part by weight of sulphuric acid, the same being mixed gradually
but thoroughly together in a suitable mixer. This mixture as it emerges from the
mixer is conveyed to heated floors and sufficient heat applied to cause the whole of
the sulphuric acid to combine with the alumina, thus forming a crude surphate of
alumina, or the combination may be effected by other means. The crude sulphate
of alumina thus obtained may be dissolved in water or in sewage, the same being
contained in vats provided with a mechanical stirrer or agitator, and with suitable
machinery for stirring the contents of the vat. When the whole of, or practically
the whole of, the sulphate of alumina is dissolved the contents of the vat or
apparatus are allowed to settle, in order that the insoluble portion may be separated
from the solution. Two or more vats or apparatus may be employed, in order that

page_text: time may be afforded for the deposition of the insoluble constituents, and that a
solution of sulphate of alumina free from such insoluble constituents may be
obtained. The solution of the sulphate of alumina thus obtained may then be
employed for the treatment of sewage in the manner following:-Each vat is
provided with suitable means of running off the solution without disturbing the
deposit at the bottom of the vat. When the contents of a vat or apparatus have
been run off, the residue is removed, and if desired may be further employed in the
inanufacture of sulphate of alumina.
In order to effect the defecation of the sewage, the production of a good effluent
water, and an agricultural manure, the sewage is received at the outfall, and all the
larger solid contents, including garbage, paper, and the like are, by preference,
removed or extracted, if necessary, by means of any suitable apparatus, such as that
known as "Latham's solid sewage extractor;" the solid matters thus separated may
be used for manure. Into the sewage thus treated a small stream of the solution of
sulphate of alumina, prepared as before mentioned, is allowed to flow, the amount
and the strength of the solution thus added to the sewage varying according to the
quality of the sewage to be treated.
After the admixture of the sulphate of alumina with the sewage it is preferred to
thoroughly intermix the same, and after such admixture milk of lime is added in
such quantity as that any residual sulphate of alumina may be decomposed, and
the defecating action of the alumina be made available. The vats or vessels
containing the milk of lime are so arranged as that their contents may be agitated
or stirred. It is preferred to employ two or more vats, each being provided with
machinery for this purpose. Each vat is provided with suitable means for allowing
a small stream of the milk of lime to flow into the mixture of sewage and sulphate
of alumina.
It is preferred, firstly, to add the solution of sulphate of alumina to the sewage,
and subsequently the milk of lime, but the milk of lime may be added previous to
the sulphate of alumina if desired. This mixture of sewage, sulphate of alumina,
and milk of lime is allowed to flow through a stirring or mixing well. The mixture
is then allowed to flow into tanks, which may vary in number, in size, in shape, or
arrangement, and may be either worked on the intermittent or on the continuous
system. They may consist of syphon tanks or weir tanks, as found desirable, and
may be flat bottomed or shaped with more or less inclination from the sides to the
centro. Each tank is provided with inlet sluices made water-tight, and also with
outlet sluices for drawing off the clarified sewage, suitable valves or apparatus being
provided for draining the deposit or sewage sludge left at the bottom of the tank
when the effluent water is drawn off.
The effluent water is allowed to flow either over a weir at the end of the tank or
over the outlet sluices, as desired, and either direct into a river, canal, watercourse,
or stream, or into the sea, having, by preference, been first filtered.
The sewage sludge or deposit at the bottom of the precipitating tank after the
effluent water is drawn off is collected together or swept up; this may be effected
either by manual labor or by a scraper extending across the tank, and worked
backwards and forwards by machinery, or by an archimedian screw worked longi-
'tudinally along the bottom of the tank, or by other suitable means.
The deposit
is then passed through sluices by gravitation, or raised by elevators or suitable
pumps into chambers or tanks, where it is allowed to settle, and the supernatant
water is drawn off from the top by a suitable arrangement for that purpose, the
sludge is then removed and dried. The dry sludge may then be reduced to a powder
by a suitable disintegrator or unill, and will then form an agricultural manure, which
may be sold in the condition in which it is produced, or be onriched by the addition
of phosphates and ammonia, and if desired with other substances, so as to obtain for
it a more ready sale.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
èffect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and original

page_text: and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the horein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, the treatment of shale in the manner herein-before described,
and the employment of the products obtained therefrom, in order to effect the
purification of sewage, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, this First day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)