An Improved Method of Nitrogenising Substances in the Manufacture of Manures and for other purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 13th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Nitrogenising Substances in the
Manufacture of Manures and for other purposes.
I HARTLEY FEWSON of 13 St. Margaret's Street, Canterbury in the County of
Kent Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention for an improved method of nitrogenising' substances in the manu-
facture of manures and for other purposes has for its object the treatment of sewage
sludge blood, putrid fish or other suitable substance so as to render the same of
commercial value and consists in separating the nitrogen from the oxygen of the
atmosphere and in fixing it and mixing the resulting compound with the sludge or
other substance which is thus rendered rich in nitrogenous matters and of increased
commercial value.
In carrying my invention into practical effect the sludge or other substance to be
treated is mixed with malic, malæic or fumaric or other suitable acid in a suitable
insulated vessel and into the sludge is inserted an apparatus similar to that described
in Letters Patent No. 7174 dated 28th May 1886 previously granted to me except
that the outer case is dispensed with. The apparatus consists of a series of parallel
plates of glass, vulcanite or other suitable material having their corresponding faces
coated with tin foil or platinum or other suitable metal. A small platinum wire is
supported in front of each plate opposite to the covering and these wires are connected
alternately to the positive and negative leads from an electric generator or the
generator may be connected in any other suitable manner to the plates.
The apparatus is inserted into the sludge or other substance, the platinum wires
being kept above its surface, and on the passage of the current nitrogen is separated
from the oxygen mechanically mixed with it in the air and combines with the acid
in the sludge and renders it rich in nitrogenous matters and valuable as a manure.
Dated this 13th day of December 1889.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Nitrogenising Substances in the
Manufacture of Manures and for other purposes.
IHARTLEY FEWSON of Castle Street Buckingham, Merchant, 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 :-
This invention for an improved method of nitrogenising substances in the
manufacture of manures and for other purposes has for its object the treatment of
sewage sewage sludge blood putrid fish or other suitable substances so as not only to
render the saine of increased commercial value as a manure but also so that the
same is thoroughly deodorised and the solid matter readily separated from the liquid
which is left in a perfectly clear condition and consists in absorbing the nitrogen
from the atmosphere and in fixing it and mixing it with the sewage or other
substance which is rendered rich in nitrogenous matters and is thus of increased
commercial value and is deodorised and the liquid readily separated in a clear state.
In carrying this invention into practical effect in the treatment of sewage, in the
sewer or at or near the outfall or at any suitable place a compound-prepared as will
be presently described-is added to the sewage in order to prepare the same for
precipitation and to absorb nitrogen as hereinafter described. Two to four grains of
Pine R1

page_text: lime or other suitable alkali are then added to each gallon of sewage to be treated to
effect the precipitation of any organic matter in solution and to bring down the
suspended solid matter and fix any nitrogen contained therein. The sewage is then
subjected to electrical influence by means of an apparatus inserted in the sewer or
at any other suitable spot and is then caused to deposit any solid matter in settling
beds or is filtered, the solid matter being valuable as a manure and the fluid being
clear and odorless. The precipitated sewage sludge is also enriched and rendered
more open and thereby capable of parting with its water more completely by the
addition of the vegetable matter. If desired the lime may he added to the sewage
after it has been subjected to the electrical influence instead of before.
In order to manufacture or form the special vegetable preparation for preparing
the sewage for precipitation and for absorbing the nitrogen, any refuse matter
containing suitable vegetable acids such as malic malæic or fumaric citric tartaric
tannic oxalic benzoic acetic or gallic acid-such as found in houseleek rhubarb
elderberry oak leaves and the like and garbage or vegetable refuse of markets shops
manufactories and other places-is preferably ground up small and is boiled with
water containing a suitable alkali to remove unpleasant odours that arise when some
vegetable matters are fermenting and to assist in precipitation. One bushel of
vegetable matter to ten gallons of water and one quarter of an ounce of sulphate of
soda are good workable proportions. This boiled vegetable preparation is added to
the sewage in the proportion of one half a cubic inch or a little more to every gallon
of sewage operated upon.
The electric apparatus for operating upon the sewage consists of an insulating
pipe or box provided with suitable inlet and outlet passages O for the sewage and
with a mass of iron I or other suitable metal preferably in the form of gauze or
netting so as to give an extended surface over which the sewage flows and with a
platinum or other suitable electrode E within the box but above the surface of the
sewage. The iron and platinum electrodes I and E are connected by the insulated
conductors C to the opposite poles of a high potential electric generator which may
be a primary generator or an induction coil or transformer. In Figs. 1 and 2 the
apparatus is shown constructed of ordinary sewer pipes S between which are fitted
plates P to direct the course of the sewage. The pipes S are provided with man-
holes H through which the interior can be examined. The conductors C are
cemented in the pipes S and the electrode E is maintained at a height of about one
inch above the surface of the sewage. In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a
portion of a trough or channel T down which the sewage flows is lined with glass G
and provided with a glass cover through which the conductors C pass. The plates P
direct the current as in Figs. 1 and 2. The line L shews the level of the sewage
surface in all the figures.
It will be readily understood that the action of the electric current is to produce
ozone or ozonized air which oxidises the organic matter in the sewage and to
decompose the iron which assists in fixing the nitrogen which is absorbed by the
above described special compound during the electric action and fixed by the lime.
In order to increase the absorption of nitrogen, the gases from the top of the electric
apparatus may be drawn out by a fan and forced through the sewage or otherwise be
brought more intimately in contact therewith.
When operating upon sewage sludge blood putrid fish and the like they are put in
an insulated vessel and mixed with the above described vegetable preparation and
acted upon electrically, either before or after which they are treated with lime, and
finally the liquid is separated by filtration or other suitable means.
The vegetable preparation is also suitable for use as a deodoriser and disinfectant
for house drains sewers and other similar purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The method of treating sewage consisting in mixing it with vegetable refuse,
in treating it with lime and in subjecting it to the action of high potential electric

page_text: currents whereby the solid matter is precipitated and enriched in nitrogenous
matters and the liquid readily separated in a clear and odorless state substantially as
described.
2. The treatment of sewage by adding to or mixing with it a vegetable preparation
prepared substantially in the manner described.
3. The treatment of sewage by adding to or mixing with it the vegetable
preparation and lime substantially as described.
4. The method of nitrogenising suitable substances substantially as described.
5. Treating sewage substantially as described.
Dated this 11th day of October 1900
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.