A NEW OR IMPROVED CHEMICAL COMPOUND FOR THE DISINFECTION AND TREATMENT OF SEWAGE AND OTHER LIQUID AND SOLID MATTERS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"A NEW OR IMPROVED CHEMICAL COMPOUND FOR THE DISINFECTION AND
TREATMENT OF SEWAGE AND OTHER LIQUID AND SOLID MATTERS."- A
communication from abroad by Lucien Henri Blanchard, Merchant,
and Theodore Chateau, Chemist, both of 13, Boulevart St. Martin,
Paris, in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 1st June 1869, and dated the 5th December 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th December 1868.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lanc, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED CHEMICAL COMPOUND FOR THE DIS-
INFECTION AND TREATMENT OF SEWAGE AND OTHER LIQUID AND SOLID MATTERS,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of double phosphate of
magnesia and iron, and also to the application of the same for the

page_text: treatment of sewage waters and other similar matters, and for dis-
infecting and enriching the residuum of said waters or matters.
The chemical composition of this Invention, to which I have applied
the name of double phosphate of magnesia and iron, has never been
known hitherto cither in commerce or chemistry.
Double phosphate of magnesia and iron possesses the following pro-
perties, as determined by careful and lengthened experiments on a
large scale: 1st, by the action of the phosphoric acid and magnesia
contained it fixes the ammonia for the most part in the form of
ammoniaco-magnesian phosphate, (this being an azoted salt slightly
soluble in water, but readily assimilated to plants,) the ammonia,
however, being in all cases in a free state, or but partially combined,
that is to say, in the form of carbonate, hydrosulphate, urate, or lactate
of ammonia; in other words, combined with a weak acid which is
readily displaced by a strong acid, such as the phosphoric acid con-
tained in the double phosphate of magnesia and iron of this Invention.
2ndly, by the action of the phosphate of iron it contains, conjointly
with the phosphate of magnesia, it destroys the sulphuretted compounds,
transforming the sulphur into an inodorous and insoluble sulphuret of
iron. 3rdly, by the action of the phosphoric acid existing in the reagent
for maintaining the phosphate of magnesia and iron contained in a
soluble state it is capable of saturating other alkaline, alkalino-terreous,
or terrcous bases which may exist in the putrifiable or putrescent
matters on which the new chemical product is to act. 4thly, by the
joint action of the chemical elements it contains it also acts on certain
fermentable matters contained in sewage waters, or other similarly in-
fected matters, so as to destroy the said matters, and consequently
prevent any renewal of fermentation. Lastly, this chemical product,
not only by the aid of the phosphoric acid it contains but also by the
combination of its fixing properties, possesses a richness which is almost
wholly supplied to the matters on which the double phosphate of
magnesia and iron act.
.
The double phosphate of magnesia and iron is manufactured in the
following manner:-1st, I take natural phosphates of lime of all kinds
such as coprolites, apatites, phosphorites, bones calcined to whiteness
animal charcoal, phosphated shells, or guanos, the phosphate precipitate
of glue and gelatine manufactories, and others. These phosphates ard
reduced to a fine powder, and one only may be used or several combined

page_text: The powderca phosphate or phosphates is first treated with sulphuric
acid at 66 or 53 degrees Beaumé, or in the condition it leaves the lcaden
vessels. This treatment is effected in vessels of lead, or lined with the
same metal, which vessels may also be employed in the manufacture of
superphosphates or acid phosphate of lime (biphosphate) intended for
the preparation of the phosphorus.
The
The quantity of sulphuric acid to be employed for decomposing the
basic phosphate of lime is necessarily proportionate to the amount of
real phosphate of lime and foreign calcareous matters contained in the
natural phosphate or phosphates employed. Hence the exact or even
an approximate quantity cannot be given, it being variable.
product of the reaction of the sulphuric acid on the powdered natural
phosphate of lime employed consists on the one part of sulphate of
limo (hydrated plaster), and the other part of acid phosphate of lime
in an impure state, the impurities consisting chiefly of acid phosphates
of iron, alumina, and others. The mass resulting from the above
treatment is subjected to a regular series of washings with cold, or
preferably with warm water, for the purpose of dissolving the impure
acid phosphate of lime in question. The washing waters are evaporated
over a fire, or by the aid of steam in suitable apparatus composed of
lead or lined with the same. The evaporation is continued until the
cooled liquid marks from 25 to 30 degrees of Beaumé's arcometer. On
marking about 27 degrees two cold solutions are added to the heated
liquid, one of sulphate of magnesia, and the other of sulphate of iron
(both as ordinarily used), or it may be a mixture of the two solutions.
The proportions of the two sulphate solutions are regulated, 1st, in order
that the lime in the liquid at 27 degrecs shall be precipitated in the
form of sulphate of lime; and, 2ndly, that the magnesia and oxide of
iron substituted for the lime in the liquid at 27 degrees shall be in the
proportion of two-thirds magnesia and one-third oxide of iron. Never-
theless I may use other proportions of sulphate of magnesia and sulphate
of iron suitable for establishing a varying relation between the magnesia
and oxide of iron in the product. The magnesia and ferruginous
solutions employed mark 25 degrees of Beaumé's acidimeter. After
these solutions have been added the mixture is stirred to facilitate
the formation and precipitation of the sulphate of lime. This latter
salt is allowed to settle, and the supernatant liquid product which
should mark 25 degrees of the acidimeter forms the product to which I

page_text: have applied the name of double phosphate of magnesia and iron. If
this product is required to be more highly concentrated the liquid at
25 degrees is evaporated in suitable apparatus, either of lead or lined
with such metal, until it marks when cold the degree required. The
liquid before being placed in bottles or casks should be allowed to remain
for several days, in order to deposit the sulphate of lime, it being pre-
ferable to deprive the liquid product of the lime.
This new or improved chemical product, the properties of which have
been herein-before stated, may be employed, 1st, for disinfecting and
enriching sewage waters, rivers, and other contaminated watercourses;
2ndly, for disinfecting and enriching the residues obtained from said
waters, either by evaporation or extraction in any or whatever;
Brilly, for similarly treating all kinds of deposits from watercourses,
whether on a large or small scale; 4thly, it may be similarly used for
the treatment of night soil in any condition, whether-liquid,-semi-
liquid, or solid, said matters being treated in either open or closed
closet apparatus, also for the treatment of fresh or putrid urines;
5thly, for disinfecting refuse waters of manufactories of all kinds;
6thly, of ammoniacal waters from the manufacture of lighting gas;
7thly, refuse fish; 8thly, manure of all-kinds; 9thly, of street sweepings
of all kinds, and generally of all liquid, semi-liquid, or solid residues
of animal, vegetable, or mineral origin, which after being treated by
the double phosphate of magnesia and iron may be transformed into
manure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent 2
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 4th June 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
g
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her a

page_text: special licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my exc-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED CHEMICAL COMPOUND FOR
THE DISINFECTION AND TREATMENT OF SEWAGE AND OTHER LIQUID AND SOLID
MATTERS," a communication to me from abroad by Lucien Henri Blan-
chard, Merchant, and Théodore Chateau, Chemist, both of 13, Boulevart
St. Martin, Paris, in the Empire of France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Olark, my exe-
cutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of double phosphate of
magnesia and iron, and also to the application of the same for the
treatment of sewage waters and other similar matters, and for dis-
infecting and enriching the residuum of said waters or matters.
The chemical composition of this Invention, to which I have applied
the name of double phosphate of magnesia and iron, has never been
known hitherto either in commerce or chemistry.
Double phosphate of magnesia and iron possesses the following pro-
perties, as determined by careful and lengthened experiments on a
large scale:-1st, by the action of the phosphoric acid and magnesia
contained it fixes the ammonia for the most part in the form of
ammoniaco-magnesian phosphate, (this being an azoted salt slightly
soluble in water, but readily assimilated to plants,) the ammonia,
however, being in all cases in a free state, or but partially combined,
that is to say, in the form of carbonate, hydrosulphate, urate, or lactate

page_text: of ammonia, in other words, combined with a weak acid which is readily
displaced by a strong acid, such as the phosphoric acid contained in the
double phosphate of magnesia and iron of this Invention. 2ndly, by
the action of the phosphate of iron it contains conjointly with the phos-
phate of magnesia, it destroys the sulphuretted compounds, transforming
the sulphur into an inodorous and insoluble sulphuret. 3rdly, by the
action of the phosphoric acid existing in the reagent for maintaining
the phosphates of magnesia and iron contained in a soluble state, it is
capable of saturating other alkaline, alkalino-terreous, or terreous bascs
which may exist in the putrifiable or putrescent matters on which the
new chemical product is to act. 4thly, by the joint action of the
chemical elements it contains it also acts on certain formontable matters
contained in sewage waters or other similarly infected matters, so as to
destroy the said matters, and consequently prevent any renewal of
fermentation. Lastly, this chemical product-not-only-by-the-aid-of-the-
phosphoric acid it contains, but also by the combination of its fixing
properties possesses a richness which is almost wholly retained by the
matters on which the double phosphate of magnesia and iron act.
The double phosphate of magnesia and iron is manufactured in the
following manner-1st, I take natural phosphates of lime of all kinds,
such as coprolites, apatites, phosphorites, bones calcined to whiteness,
animal charcoal, phosphated shells or guanos, the phosphate precipitate
of glue and gelatine manufactorics and others. These phosphates
are reduced to a fine powder, and one only may be used or several
combined. The powdered phosphate or phosphates is first treated with
sulphuric acid at 66 or 53 degrees Beaumé, or in the condition it leaves
the leaden vessels. This treatment is effected in vessels of lead or lined
with the same metal, such as those employed in the manufacture of
superphosphates or acid phosphate of lime (bi-phosphate) intended for
the preparation of phosphorus.
The quantity of sulphuric acid to be employed for decomposing the
basic phosphate of lime is necessarily proportionate to the amount of
real phosphate of lime and foreign calcareous matters contained in the
natural phosphate or phosphates employed. Hence the exact or even
an approximate quantity cannot be given, it being variable. The
product of the reaction of the sulphuric acid on the powdered natural
phosphate of lime employed consists on the one part of sulphate of lime
(hydrated plaster), and on the other part of acid phosphate of lime in

page_text: an impure state, the impuritics consisting chiefly of acid phosphates
of iron, alumina, and others. The mass resulting from the above.
treatment is subjected to a regular series of washings with cold, or
preferably with warm water, for the purpose of dissolving the impure
acid phosphate of lime in question. The washing waters are evaporated
over a fire, or by the aid of steam in suitable apparatus composed of
lead, or lined with the same. The evaporation is continued until the
liquid when cooled marks from 25 to 30 degrees Beaumé's areometer.
On marking about 27 degrees two cold solutions are added to the licated.
liquid, one of sulphate of magnesia, and the other of sulphate of iron
(both as ordinarily used), or it may be a mixture of the two solutions.
The proportions of the two sulphate solutions are regulated, 1st, in.
order that the lime in the liquid at 27 degrees shall be precipitated in
the form of sulphate of lime; and, 2ndly, that the magnesia and oxide.
of iron substituted for the lime in the liquid at 27 degrees shall be in
the proportion of two-thirds magnesia and one-third oxide of iron.
Nevertheless I may use other proportions of sulphate of magnesia and
sulphate of iron suitable for establishing a varying relation between
the magnesia and oxide of iron in the product. The magnesia and
ferruginous solutions employed mark 25 degrees of Beaumé's acidimeter.
After these solutions have been added the mixture is stirred to facilitate
the formation and precipitation of the sulphate of lime. This latter
salt is allowed to settle, and the supernatant liquid product which
should mark 25 degrees of the acidimeter forms the product to which
I have applied the name of double phosphate of magnesia and iron.
If this product is required to be more highly concentrated the liquid at
25 degrees is evaporated in suitable apparatus, either of lead or lined
with such metal, until it marks when cold the degree required. The
liquid before being placed in bottles or casks should be allowed to
remain for several days in order to deposit the sulphate of lime, it being
preferable to deprive the liquid product of the lime.
This new or improved chemical product, the properties of which have
been herein-before stated, may be employed, 1st, for disinfecting and
enriching sewage waters, rivers, and other contaminated watercourses;
2ndly, for disinfecting and enriching the residues obtained from said
waters, either by evaporation or extraction in any manner whatever;
3rdly, for similarly treating all kinds of deposits from watercourses,
whether on a large or small scale; 4thly, it may be similarly used for

page_text: the treatment of night soil in any condition, whether liquid, semi-liquid,
or solid, said matters being treated in either open or closed closet.
apparatus, also for the treatment of fresh or putrid urines; 5thly, for
disinfecting refuse waters of manufactories of all kinds; 6thly, of
ammoniacal waters from the manufacture of lighting gas; 7thly, refuse
fish; 8thly, manure of all kinds; 9thly, of street sweepings of all kinds,
and generally of all liquid, semi-liquid, or solid residues of animal,
vegetable, or mineral origin, which after being treated by the double
phosphate of magnesia and iron may be transformed into manure.
Having described the nature of this Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Leliers Palent, is,-
First. Producing a new chemical product, which I term double
-phosphate.of magnesia and iron, possessing the properties herein-before
specified.
Secondly. I claim the mode of manufacture described.
Thirdly. I claim the application of said product for the several
purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville. Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lanc,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)