IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION OF SEWAGE LIQUID, NIGHT SOIL, URINE, AND OTHER FOUL WATERS OR LIQUIDS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PRECIPITATING AGENTS TO BE USED THEREIN.
Year: 1876

page_text: .LETTERS PATENT to Henry Staples, of No. 2, Buckland Villas, Belsize Park, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PURIFICATION OF SEWAGE LIQUID, NIGHT SOIL, URINE, AND OTHER
FOUL WATERS OR LIQUIDS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PRECIPITATING
AGENTS TO BE USED THEREIN.'
"
Sealed the 21st October 1876, and dated the 23rd August 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Staples at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd August 1876.
HENRY STAPLES, of No. 2, Buckland Villas, Belsize Park, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION OF SEWAGE LIQUID,
NIGHT SOIL, URINE, AND OTHER FOUL WATERS OR LIQUIDS, AND IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF PRECIPITATING AGENTS TO BE USED THEREIN."
My Invention refers firstly to a method of treating sewage with agents prepared
as herein-after described
I take the mineral known as "Campsie shale" or other equivalent natural basic
sulphates of alumina, either ground or unground, and I mix with the same muriatic
acid (preferably crude), or sulphuric acid (preferably of the the kind known as
"chamber acid"), or both muriatic acid and sulphuric acid. I either make the
shale or other mineral hot before adding the acid or acids, or I apply a gentle heat
to the mixture of the said shale or other mineral and the said acid or acids, or. I
simply mix the said acid on acids with the said shale or other mineral without
applying artificial heat. By these means I obtain from the minerals treated not
only such salts as are soluble in water, but also a large quantity of alumina, oxide
of iron, silica, and other substances, which could not be extracted from such
minerals without the agency of the said acids, and have consequently hitherto been
wasted; thus for example, in an average sample of Campsie shale there is about
15 per cent. of matter soluble in water, but by the treatment of the said shale with
an acid or acids, according to my Invention, about 50 per cent. of the matters
contained in the saide shale are rendered soluble in water.
The mixture prepared as herem-before described if it be required for use at or
near the place of manufacture, is either added at once to the sewage or other matter

page_text: to be purified, or the said mixture is lixiviated with water, and the lixivium is run
into the sewage, the insoluble portion being left behind; or I evaporate the whole
or a portion of its moisture (by artificial heat or otherwise) to facilitate the transport
of the said mixturo. Or instead of evaporating the moisture contained in the said
mixture as aforesaid I add to it the substance known as "vat waste," or "alkali
waste," in such quantity as to take up all superfluous moisture, but not to decompose
the salts of alumina and iron formed, or to give the mixture an alkaline reaction.
The mixture thus prepared (either moist or dried) may be used as a precipitant in
the treatment of sewage liquid, night soil, or any foul water from towns or manu-
factories as a cheap substitute for commericial salts of alumina, and may be so used
either by itself or in conjunction or admixture with other agents.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Staples in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd February
1877.
HENRY STAPLES, of No. 2, Buckland Villas, Belsize Park, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION OF SEWAGE LIQUIDS,
NIGHT SOIL, URINE, AND OTHER FOUL WATERS OR LIQUIDS, AND IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF PRECIPITATING AGENTS TO BE USED THEREIN."
My Invention relates to a mode of treating sewage with the precipitating or
purifying agent prepared as herein-after described.
I take the mineral known as Campsie shale (ie, the alum shale found at and in
the neighbourhood of Campsio, near Glasgow), or other shales having the same
chemical constituents as Cainpsie shalc, and I mix with such shale or shales (either
ground or unground) muriatic or hydrochloric acid (preferably crude). I either
apply a gentle heat not exceeding 100° Fahrenheit to such shale before adding the
acid, or I apply the said hent to the mixture of the said shale and acid, or I simply
mix the said acid with the said shale without applying artificial heat, to the use of
which I make no claim. By these means I obtain from the said shale not only
such salts as are soluble in water, but also a large quantity of alumina, oxide of
iron, silica, and other substancos, which could not be extracted from the said shale
without the agency of an acid; thus for example, in an average sample of Campsie
shale there is about 15 per cent of matter soluble in water, but by the treatment
of the said shale with muriatic acid, according to my Invention, about 50 per cent.
of the matters contained in the said shale are rendered soluble in water. I find in
practice that the addition to the Campsie shale of about one-fourth of its weight of
muriatic acid of the ordinary commerical strength (say 33° Twaddel) gives a good
result, but I do not limit myself to this proportion.
The aforesaid mixture may be used as a precipitant in the treatment of sewage
liquid, night soil, or any foul waters from towns or manufactories as a cheap
substitute for commercial salts of alumina, and may be so used either by itself or in
conjunction or admixture with other agents. The said mixture if it be required for
use at or near the place of manufacture is added to the sewage or other matters to
be purified, and is mixed therewith. I do not limit myself to the proportions of
the said mixture to the sewage or other matter, as they must be varied according
to the nature of such sewage or mattor, and to the extent to which it is required to
be purified For average London sewage I take 10 lbs of the said mixture to every
1000 gallons of the sewage. For urine or liquid night soil I take from 25 to 50 lbs.
to every 1000 gallons of such urine or night soil, a larger quantity of the said
mixture being required if the urine or night soil be in a highly putrescent
condition.
The substance known "f
as alkali waste" or "vat waste" may be added to the
said mixture in such quantity as to take up all superfluous moisture, but not to

page_text: decompose the salts of alumina and iron formed, or to give the mixture an alkaline
reaction; but to this separately from the use of the shale treated as above described
I make no claim as forming a separate part of my Invention.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I make no claim to the use
of aluminous shales other than the Campsic shale or shales, having the same
chemical constituents as Campsic shale herein-before referred to, inasmuch as those
shales will be found to have peculiar properties which render them especially
suitable for my process; but I claim as my said Invention the use of the improved
purifying mixture or compound formed by mixing muriatic acid with Campsic
shale, or other shales having the same constituents, substantially as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Staples, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-third day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
H. H. MURDOCH,
Staple Inn,
London.
H. STAPLES. (LS)