Improved Means of Oxydizing and Decomposing by Electrical Action Organic Matter and Inorganic Salts in Sewage, Water, and other Liquids.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improved Means of Oxydizing and Decomposing by Electrical
Action Organic Matter and Inorganic Salts in Sewage, Water,
and other Liquids.
I, WILLIAM WEBSTER, Junr. Electrician, of 50 Lee Park, Lee Kent do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention consists of an improved mode of Electrolysis for oxydising organic
matter, and decomposing inorganic salts such as: Chloride of Sodium, Potassium,
Magnesium, etc.; and all salts contained in sewage; also for oxydising organic
compounds in water used for domestic and other purposes, where it is desirable that
the said salts should be absent, the essential feature being the production, by the
electric action, of nascent chlorine by means of which the organic matter in sewage
etc. is most efficaceously decomposed.
In the case of sewage; I construct a reservoir, or a series of reservoirs, in such
manner that the sewage shall therein pass through passages which are lined with
carbon plates or bricks, or metal plates or blocks; laid in suitable cement and fixed
in such manner that absolute contact shall be maintained between each carbon plate or
brick etc., one series of such plates etc. forming the positive pole, and the other
series the negative pole thus making electrodes of very large extent which may be
varied in size and form.
The reservoir I employ is made of a size suitable to the amount of sewage to be
treated, and is constructed in the following manner. The construction I prefer is
similar to that used for storing water, being built of the best Gault, or other approved
bricks and cement; and I divide the reservoir into passages, not more than 3 ft. or
4 ft. wide by brick walls running from right to left.
These intersecting walls are built as follows: The first one being built into the right
hand outside wall of the reservoir and from thence extending across the reservoir
such a distance, say 95 ft., as to leave a passage between the outer wall and the end
of intersecting wall. The 2nd is built into the left-hand side wall and across to
within a short distance of the right hand wall, and so on, thus forming a continuous
zig zag passage. The entire reservoir shell is on an inclined plane so as to prevent

page_text: the blocking up of the passages by precipitated organic maiter, each passage being so
constructed that its floor shall be on an incline.
The right hand end of passage No. 1 is provided with a small Pen-stock (for the purpose
of letting in the sewage to be treated) and the last passage, at the bottom of the
incline, has another pen-stock for the purpose of letting the sewage out into a settling
back or reservoir etc.
Each of the intersecting walls, and the parallel outer walls of the reservoir (which
should be at least six feet high), is covered or lined with carbon bricks or plates built
into the walls in such manner that each wall shall form an immense Electrode or series
of electrodes either positive or negative; in some cases I prefer to use metal plates for
the negative pole, either of iron or some other suitable metal. The carbon bricks or
plates are joined together by means of a metal tongue or suitable wire made of lead,
copper, iron, either coated with nickel, tin or platinum etc., or platinum wire. Each
If
brick is grooved and tongued so that it can be keyed to the next one, and so on.
possible the series of plates connected with the positive pole should have at least one
third more surface. than the negative pole. At the positive pole, in decomposing
sewage etc., oxygen and chlorine etc. are generated, the latter gases being forined
owing to the large amounts of chloride etc. present in the sewage. The nascent
chlorine alone produced by the electrical action on the chlorides having quite twice as
much efficiency as the chlorine present in chloride of lime etc., and the same holds
good with the nascent oxygen and other gases. Should the liquid to be treated be
insufficiently charged with chlorides, I in some cases add chlorides thereto, in order
to produce the requisite amount of nascent chlorine.
The electrical current required is necessarily great, but it would entirely depend on
the amount of sewage to be treated at any one time. The E. M. F. would vary from
50 Volts upwards; in some cases it will be found desirable to have an alternating
current, but an alternating current produced by means of a special switch. The terminals
on the electrodes, in every case, must be made of nickel-plated or platinised metal.
The great advantage in having these large electrodes (known as Anode and
Cathode) is that, as the energy of the electrolytic action of the current is the same
in all parts, and the same quantity of electricity decomposes chemically equivalent
quantities of all the bodies it traverses, every molecule of the organic and inorganic
salts, becomes decomposed owing to the large surfaces on which the electric action is
active. It is, of course, understood that the positive and negative poles of the
apparatus producing the necessary electrical current shall be joined to the electrodes
in the usual way by means of suitable wires.
The carbon bricks or plates are made of any suitable form, either plain or
corrugated.
In cases where it is desirable to disinfect, or assist in the oxydisation of the refuse
from water closets, sinks, etc. before reaching the ordinary sewer, I erect in a
other covered tank fitted with
convenient position, an earthenware, wooden, or
appropriate electrodes of carbon, etc.; from this tank a pipe is fitted, of some non-corrosive
material, leading to the drain pipe of any of the above-mentioned conveniences; to the
electrodes I attach the positive negative wires fitted with the proper switch or switches
so that, at any convenient time electrical contact can be produced. The electric
current being produced by means of batteries or dynamo I fill the tank with a strong
solution of common salt, hydro-chloric acid or other chloride, or suitable chemicals
or, in places where procurable; I use sea water, so that at any time desired, by setting
the battery or dynamo in action I can decompose the chloride etc., and thus set fred
disinfecting gases which find their way to the drains, these last of course being fitted
with suitable traps to prevent the gases from rising.
The above described apparatus may also be employed on a small scale for treating
the sewage of detached houses.
In applying the above method for decomposing organic matters in potable water
I construct electric household filters as follows. I take a stoneware jar made in th
form of an ordinary filter; in the usual place in the centre I put a block of carbon o
spongy metal, the block of carbon being about three or four times the length of tha

page_text: generally used. I line the interior of the filters parallel with the centre carbon with
carbon plates of suitable form according as the filter may be of a round or square form.
To the centre block of carbon I attach the positive wire of a battery; to the carbon
plates I attach the wire or wires of the negative pole of the battery; the said wires
being fitted with a suitable switch in any convenient position. The batteries used are
either the Universal Primary Battery described in my previous patents, or any battery
that gives a constant and strong current, and that requires little or no attention. A
certain number of cells must necessarily be used to overcome the internal resistance
between the two electrodes, but this entirely depends upon the amount of water to be
acted upon and the size of the filter. When the water is poured into the filter, it must
naturally percolate through the positive electrode, so, that, when the current is acting
on the water, particles of oxygen gas are carried by the water into the receptacle
below, and the organic matter present is thoroughly oxydised by the nascent gas
produced by this electrode.
In applying the invention to the reservoirs of public waterworks, I construct the
reservoirs in a similar way to that described for the purpose of decomposing sewage,
or for small works, I filter the water through a layer of lumps or bricks of carbon,
and suspend plates or bricks of carbon in the water face downwards at certain distances
apart, the lower layer of carbon forming the positive pole, the upper the negative pole ;
the electric current necessary for the decomposition of the organic matter in the water
would depend entirely on the analysis of the latter. In cases where a constant water
supply is not maintained, or where, as in outlying villages, tanks are used for the
storage of water pumped from wells etc., I fit the said tanks with electrodes of carbon,
like the purifying tanks for drains, and where iron tanks are used, I suspend the
positive electrodes in the water, and use the tank as a negative electrode, supplying
the electric current in the usual manner. The reason why I use metal plates for the
negative electrode is that when rendered negative in this manner, under water or acid
etc., they do not oxydise.
Care must be taken in all the above cases that the ventilation is good, as the
hydrogen given off at the negative pole, if allowed to collect, will form an explosive
mixture with the air and oxygen.
Dated this 27th day of January 1887
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improved Means of Oxydising and Decomposing by Electrical
Action Organic Matter and Inorganic Salts in Sewage. Water,
and other Liquids.
I, WILLIAM WEBSTER, Junr., Electrician, of 50 Lee Park, Lee, Kent, 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 :-
My invention consists of an improved mode of electrolysis for oxydising and
precipitating organic matter and decomposing inorganic salts such as Chloride of
Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium &c. and all salts contained in sewage, also for
oxydising organic compounds in water used for domestic and other purposes where it
is desirable that the said compounds or salts should be absent, the essential feature
being the production by the electric action of nascent Chlorine and Oxygen at the
positive pole producing an acid reaction, and nascent hydrogen, ammonia &c., at the
negative pole, producing an alkaline reaction by means of which the organic matter in
sewage &c. is most efficaceously decomposed and precipitated.
For this purpose in treating sewage and similar impure liquids I subject the liquid
while flowing through reservoirs or channels, to the electrolytic action of positive and
negative electrodes having very extended surfaces, of which the positive and negative
electrodes are made of iron, while the positive electrodes are of either iron, carbon,
or other suitable substance. Nascent ammonia will by this means be evolved at the
negative electrode producing an alkaline reaction, which effects the precipitation of the
solid suspended matter, while at the positive pole nascent oxygen and chlorine are
evolved, producing an acid reaction whereby the organic impurities held in suspension
or solution are readily decomposed and purified.
The formation of chlorine at the positive electrodes is due to the presence of large
quantites of chlorides &c. present in the sewage; if this action is therefore carried
on long enough the sewage will be converted into a disinfecting and bleaching liquor.
At the negative pole ammonia and alkalies are set free and directly an alkaline
reaction is shewn in the sewage, the precipitation of the solid matter takes place,
together with part of the calcium and magnesium salts &c.
When iron positive electrodes are used, chlorides of iron are formed at the positive
pole and are partly precipitated by the alkaline reaction at the negative eletrode, in
the form of oxide, which carries down with it the suspended organic matter.
The nascent Chlorine produced as above described will have much greater efficiency
than the chlorine present in chloride of lime, and the nascent oxygen will also have
much more effect on the organic matter in the form of albumenoids than the oxygen
of the atmosphere. Should the liquid treated be insufficiently charged with chlorides,
I in some cases add chlorides thereto in order to produce the requisite amount of
nascent chlorine, and for this purpose, at sea ports, I employ sea water.
The electrical current required is necessarily fluctuating in amount, according to
the amount of sewage to be treated at any one time; the electromotive force would
vary from 10 volts üpward.

page_text: In some cases, where both electrodes are of iron, it may be found desirable to
alternate the current by means of a suitable switch.
Platinum or platinized electrodes might be used at the positive poles, but for
extensive works, the expense would be too great.
In some cases the positive and negative electrodes may be separated by a porous
partition so that there is a body of sewage flowing in contact only with the positive
electrode and being subjected to an oxydizing action, and a second body flowing in
contact only with the negative electrode and consequently subjected to the precipitating
action, the two bodies being afterwards either united together, or kept separate from
each other.
The apparatus which I employ for the purpose of my invention may be variously
constructed; thus, according to one arrangement I construct a reservoir in which are
arranged electrodes extending alternately from opposite sides transversely across the
reservoir or tank so as to form this into a long narrow zigzag passage in the same, as
indicated diagrammatically in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings, which
shew respectively a part plan, part longitudinal section and a cross section of the
reservoir. The positive electrodes a a a are fixed to the one side of the reservoir
and extend to within a certain distance of the other side, while the negative electrodes 6
are fixed to this side and extend to within a certain distance of the first named side,
all the electrodes being fixed either permanently or in a removeable manner to the floor
of the reservoir, thus forming a closed zigzag passage between them, into which the
liquid to be treated enters at a, and in which it gradually flows along to the opposite
end where it is discharged, the bottom of the entire zigzag passage being made with a
sufficient inclination to facilitate such flow at a slow velocity. The negative electrodes
are built up of iron plates in any suitable manner, being either bedded into the bottom
of the tank as shewn at 6 Fig. 4 or they may be fitted at bottom into sockets as at c, of
any suitable material, fixed in the bottom, so that the electrodes can be withdrawn
and replaced when required. The positive electrodes a may either-be are also of iron or
they may-be-of-carbon or other suitable material; if made of carbon they may be
constructed as shewn in cross section and part longitudinal section at Figs. 5 and 6,
where carbon plates d are imbedded in a layer of coke e confined between two walls f
of perforated tiles.
The electrodes being connected by conductors g g¹ respectively to the positive and
negative poles of a dynamo electric machine or other generator of electricity, the
sewage or other liquid in passing in contact therewith will, as before stated, he acted
upon by the nascent ammonia, generated at the negative electrodes and by the
nascent oxygen and chlorine at the positive electrodes a, and the passage, between
these being comparatively narrow, and of considerable length, it will be evident that by
the time the liquid arrives at the discharge opening, all particles thereof will have been
effectually brought in contact with both sets of electrodes and subjected to the above
described precipitating and purifying action.
If necessary, an outlet closed by a valve may be provided at the one end of each
length of the zigzag passage through which the accumulated solid deposit may be
discharged from time to time.
According to another modification instead of forming a zigzag passage I arrange
the electrodes so as to form a number of separate long narrow passages, as indicated
in part plan and part cross section at Figs. 7 and 8, the sewage or other liquid being
admitted into each passage at the one end h and discharged at the other end i. The
partitions a a constitute, as before, the positive electrodes and the partitions
negative electrodes.
the
In some cases, where it is desirable to disinfect or assist in the oxydation of the
refuse from water closets, sinks &c. before reaching the main sewer, erect in a
convenient position an earthenware, wooden, or other tank fitted with suitable
electrodes of carbon, iron, or platinum, through which an electric current is passed
and which is filled with a strong solution of a chloride, sea water, or hydrochloric
acid, the positive and negative electrodes being separated by means of porous pots or
partitions so that the chlorine acids and compounds may be collected together at the

page_text: positive pole. The positive cells thus formed are closed in and pipes of suitable
material are connected therewith for leading the evolved chlorine gases into the sewage
passing away from the house.
The tank may be made of iron and be made itself to act as the negative electrode.
In subjecting water for household and such like purposes to electrolytic action
according to my above described invention, I cause the water while flowing through
a filtering medium to be acted upon by nascent oxygen produced by the action of an
electric current upon positive and negative electrodes of which the former, at which
the oxygen is evolved, is constituted either by the filtering medium itself or by a
carbon body imbedded therein, while the negative electrode may either he imbedded
in a filtering medium or be otherwise in electrical contact with the body of water to
be acted upon.
The construction of the electrolytic filtering apparatus may be variously modified,
according as it is required to act upon large or small bodies of water.
Figs. 9, 10 and 11 shew respectively a part longitudinal section, a part plan, and a
cross section of one arrangement for treating larger bodies of water, in which a tank or
reservoir a is divided by transverse partitions of perforated tiles or other suitable
material into separate compartments; in the first, third, fifth &c. compartments are
placed the negative carbon or iron electrodes c contained in porous pots d, while in
the second, fourth, sixth, &c. compartments are placed the positive carbon electrodes e
surrounded by the filtering medium which may be either coke or other suitable
material, with which these compartments are filled. The positive electrodes being
connected to the positive pole of a generator by the conductor y while the negative
electrodes are connected to the negative pole by the conductor g¹ the before described
electrolytic action will be set up as soon as water is made to flow through the several
compartments, the porous pots d being also filled with water; that is to say, the
water on passing through each filtering compartment will be brought into intimate
contact with the nascent oxygen and chlorine evolved at the positive electrode,
whereby the impurities contained therein will be effectually decomposed. The object
of enclosing the negative electrode in a porous pot is to separate the free ammonia
that may be given off at this electrode from the body of water flowing through; in the
arrangement shewn in part sectional elevation and part plan at Figs. 12 and 13
however, this separation is dispensed with, the negative carbon electrodes c being
formed as perforated partitions through which the water is made to flow, passing
thence through the perforated tilo partitions & into the filters fand in contact with the
positive electrodes e.
In the arrangement shown in part side elevation and part longitudinal section at
Fig. 14, part plan at Fig. 15, and cross section at Fig. 16.
There are a series of vertically arranged coke filters ff' separated by horizontal
perforated tile partitions bb positive carbon electrodes in the form of blocks e being
imbedded in the filters while negative carbon electrodes c are imbedded in the
filters f. Suitably insulated conductors g g pass from the main leads through
the sides of the tank to the electrodes c c.
In this arrangement, the water entering at the top of the apparatus is subjected to
a continuous combined electrolytic and filtering action as it descends through the
filtering chambers, passing away at bottom through a passage i.
Figs. 17, 18, 19, and 20 shew the application of my invention to domestic filters,
Fig. 17 shews a vertical section, Fig. 18 a plan, with the cover removed, Fig. 19
section on line X X and Fig. 20 a part section on line Y Y.
For this purpose, any existing form of stoneware filter is employed. The central
aperture in the partition being filled in with any suitable porous filtering material
in which are imbedded the lower ends of carbon elec des m n, of which m m are
connected by a conductor o to the positive pole of a battery or other electrical
generator while n n are connected by a conductor o¹ to the negative pole.
Thus the water in filtering through the material I will be subjected to the electrolytic
action as before.
Figs. 21, 22, 23, show respectively a vertical section, a plan, and a section at Z Z of

page_text: another arrangement in which the positive electrode m is formed by a carbon block
such as is ordinarily used in domestic filters so that the water passes through this
electrode which acts at the same time as a filter. The negative electrode n is formed
by a number of carbon rods surrounding the block m but kept from contact therewith
by means of strings p of non-conducting material, such as asbestos secured round the
block m.
The upper ends of the rods n are fixed in a conducting ring n' to which the con-
ductor o is attached.
It will be evident that when treating sewage, according to my invention it may if
desired be passed through the herein described electrolytic filtering apparatus, after
having been subjected to the first described electrolytic precipitating and purifying
process.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method substantially as herein described of subjecting sewage and other
impure liquids to the precipitating action of nascent ammonia and to the oxydizing
and purifying action of nascent oxygen, and nascent chlorine, produced by the passage
of an electric current through extended positive and negative electrodes of iron with
which the liquid is brought in contact.
2. Purifying sewage and other impure liquids by electrolytic action by causing the
liquid to flow through comparatively narrow channels in which it is brought in contact
on the one hand with positive and negative electrodes of iron having very extended
surfaces, and on the other hand-with extended positive electrodes of either iron,
eurbon, or other suitable material, the liquid being thereby subjected to the action of
nascent ammonia evolved at the negative electrodes, and to the action of nascent oxygen
and chlorine evolved at the positive electrodes producing both the precipitation of solid
matter and the oxydation and purification of organic matter therein contained,
substantially as herein described.
3. The use for effecting the purification of sewage or other impure liquid by
electrolytic action of a reservoir or tank divided by partitions into narrow channels
through which the liquid is made to flow, the partitions on one side of such channels
being made of iron and constituting the negative electrode connected with the negative
pole of a generator of electricity while the partitions on the other side are also made
of either iron, carbon, or other suitable material and constitute the positive electrode
connected with the positive pole of the said generator, substantially as herein described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. Subjecting water while passing through a filtering medium, to the action of
nascent oxygen produced by an electric current passing through positive and negative
electrodes, of which the former is constituted either by the filtering medium itself or
by a carbon body imbedded therein, substantially as herein described.
5. The use for purifying water, of electrolytic apparatus in which a filtering medium
through which the water is passed, either itself constitutes the positive electrode or has
a positive electrode imbedded in it, while the negative electrode is either also imbedded
in a filtering medium or is otherwise in electrical contact with the water to be filtered,
substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated th: Deal
Nahan 1907
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 26th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 27th Apr., 1888
Action Organic Matter and Inorganic Salts in Sewage, Water,
and other Liquids.
I, WILLIAM WEBSTER Junr. Electrician, of 50 Lee Park Lee Kent do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of an improved mode of Electrolysis for oxydising organic
matter, and decomposing inorganic salts such as: Chloride of Sodium, Potassium,
Magnesium, etc.; and all salts contained in sewage; also for oxydising organic
compounds in water used for domestic and other purposes, where it is desirable that
the said salts should be absent, the essential feature being the production, by the
electric action, of nascent chlorine by means of which the organic matter in sewage
etc. is most efficaceously decomposed.
In the case of sewage; I construct a reservoir, or a series of reservoirs, in such
manner that the sewage shall therein pass through passages which are lined with
carbon plates or bricks, or metal plates or blocks; laid in suitable cement and fixed
in such manner that absolute contact shall be maintained between each carbon plate or
brick etc., one series of such plates etc. forming the positive pole, and the other
series the negative pole thus making electrodes of very large extent which may be
varied in size and form.
The reservoir I employ is made of a size suitable to the amount of sewage to be
treated, and is constructed in the following manner. The construction I prefer is
similar to that used for storing water, being built of the best Gault, or other approved
bricks and cement; and I divide the reservoir into passages, not more than 3 ft. or
4 ft. wide by brick walls running from right to left.
.These intersecting walls are built as follows: The first one being built into the right
hand outside wall of the reservoir and from thence extending across the reservoir
such a distance, say 95 ft., as to leave a passage between the outer wall and the end
of intersecting wall. The 2nd is built into the left-hand side wall and across to
within a short distance of the right hand wall, and so on, thus forming a continuous
zig zag passage. The entire reservoir shell is on an inclined plane so as to prevent

page_text: the blocking up of the passages by precipitated organic matter, each passage being so
constructed that its floor shall be on an incline.
The right hand end of passage No. 1 is provided with a small Pen-stock (for the purpose
of letting in the sewage to be treated) and the last passage, at the bottom of the
incline, has another pen-stock for the purpose of letting the sewage out into a settling
back or reservoir etc.
Each of the interstecting walls, and the parallel outer walls of the reservoir (which
should be at least six feet high), is covered or lined with carbon bricks or plates built
into the walls in such manner that each wall shall form an immense Electrode or series
of electrodes either positive or negative; in some cases I prefer to use metal plates for
the negative pole, either of iron or some other suitable metal. The carbon bricks or
plates are joined together by means of a metal tongue or suitable wire made of lead,
copper, iron, either coated with nickel, tin or platinum etc., or platinum wire. Each
brick is grooved and tongued so that it can be koyed to the next one, and so on. If
possible the series of plates connected with the positive pole should have at least one
third more surface than the negative pole. At the positive pole, in decomposing
sewage etc., oxygen and chlorine etc. are generated, the latter gases being formed
owing to the large amounts of chloride etc. present in the sewage. The nascent
chlorine alone produced by the electrical action on the chlorides having quite twice as
much efficiency as the chlorine present in chloride of lime etc., and the same holds
good with the nascent oxygen and other gases. Should the liquid to be treated be
insufficiently charged with chlorides, I in some cases add chlorides thereto, in order
to produce the requisite amount of nascent chlorine.
The electrical current required is necessarily great, but it would entirely depend on
the amount of sewage to be treated at any one time. The E. M. F. would vary from
50 Volts upwards; in some cases it will be found desirable to have an alternating
current, but an alternating current produced by means of a special switch. The terminals
on the electrodes, in every case, must be made of nickel-plated or platinised metal.
The great advantage in having these large electrodes (known as Anode and
Cathode) is that, as the energy of the electrolytic action of the current is the same
in all parts, and the same quantity of electricity decomposes chemically equivalent
quantities of all the bodies it traverses, every molecule of the organic and inorganic
salts, becomes decomposed owing to the large surfaces on which the electric action is
active. It is, of course, understood that the positive and negative poles of the
apparatus producing the necessary electrical current shall be joined to the electrodes
in the usual way by means of suitable wires.
The carbon bricks or plates are made of any suitable form, either plain or
corrugated.
In cases where it is desirable to disinfect, or assist in the oxydisation of the refuse
from water closets, sinks, etc. before reaching the ordinary sewer, I erect in a
convenient position, an earthenware, wooden, or other covered tank fitted with
appropriate electrodes of carbon etc.; from this tank a pipe is fitted, of some non-corrosive
material, leading to the drain pipe of any of the above-mentioned conveniences; to the
electrodes I attach the positive negative wires fitted with the proper switch or switches
so that, at any convenient time electrical contact can be produced. The electric
current being produced by means of batteries or dynamo I fill the tank with a strong
solution of common salt, hydro-chloric acid or other chloride, or suitable chemicals"
or, in places where procurable, I use sea water, so that at any time desired, by setting
the battery or dynamo in action I can decompose the chloride etc., and thus set free
disinfecting gases which find their way to the drains, these last of course being fitted
with suitable traps to prevent the gases from rising.
;
The above described apparatus may also be employed on a small scale for treating
the sewage of detached houses.
In applying the above method for decomposing organic matters in potable water,
I construct electric household filters as follows. I take a stoneware jar made in the
form of an ordinary filter; in the usual place in the centre I put a block of carbon or
spongy metal, the block of carbon being about three or four times the length of that

page_text: A
generally used. I line the interior of the filters parallel with the centre carbon with
carbon plates of suitable form according as the filter may be of a round or square form.
To the centre block of carbon I attach the positive wire of a battery; to the carbon
plates I attach the wire or wires of the negative pole of the battery; the said wires
being fitted with a suitable switch in any convenient position. The batteries used are
either the Universal Primary Battery described in my previous patents, or any battery
that gives a constant and strong current, and that requires little or no attention.
certain number of cells must necessarily be used to overcome the internal resistance
between the two electrodes, but this entirely depends upon the amount of water to be
acted upon and the size of the filter. When the water is poured into the filter, it must
naturally percolate through the positive electrode, so, that, when the current is acting
on the water, particles of oxygen gas are carried by the water into the receptacle
below, and the organic matter present is thoroughly oxydised by the nascent gas
produced by this electrode.
In applying the invention to the reservoirs of public waterworks, I construct the
reservoirs in a similar way to that described for the purpose of decomposing sewage,
or for small works, I filter the water through a layer of lumps or bricks of carbon,
and suspend plates or bricks of carbon in the water face downwards at certain distances
apart, the lower layer of carbon forming the positive pole, the upper the negative pole;
the electric current necessary for the decomposition of the organic matter in the water
would depend entirely on the analysis of the latter. In cases where a constant water
supply is not maintained, or where, as in outlying villages, tanks are used for the
storage of water pumped from wells etc., I fit the said tanks with electrodes of carbon,
like the purifying tanks for drains, and where iron tanks are used, I suspend the
positive electrodes in the water, and use the tank as a negative electrode, supplying
the electric current in the usual manner. The reason why I use metal plates for the
negative electrode is that when rendered negative in this manner, under water or acid
etc., they do not oxydise.
Care must be taken in all the above cases that the ventilation is good, as the
hydrogen given off at the negative pole, if allowed to collect, will form an explosive
mixture with the air and oxygen.
Dated this 27th day of January 1887.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Oxydising and Decomposing by Electrical
Action Organic Matter and Inorganic Salts in Sewage, Water,
and other Liquids.
I, WILLIAM WEBSTER, Junr., Electrician, of 50 Lee Park, Lee, Kent, 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:-
My invention consists of an improved mode of electrolysis for oxydising and
precipitating organic matter and decomposing inorganic salts such as Chloride of
Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium &c. and all salts contained in sewage, also for
oxydising organic compounds in water used for domestic and other purposes where it
is desirable that the said compounds or salts should be absent, the essential feature
being the production by the electric action of nascent Chlorine and Oxygen at the
positive pole producing an acid reaction, and nascent hydrogen, ammonia &c., at the
negative pole, producing an alkaline reaction by means of which the organic matter in
sewage &c. is most efficaceously decomposed and precipitated.
For this purpose in treating sewage and similar impure liquids I subject the liquid
while flowing through reservoirs or channels, to the electrolytic action of positive and
negative electrodes having very extended surfaces, of which the negative electrodes
are made of iron, while the positive electrodes are of either iron, carbon, or other
suitable substance. Nascent ammonia will by this means be evolved at the negative
electrode producing an alkaline reaction, which effects the precipitation of the solid
suspended matter, while at the positive pole nascent oxygen and chlorine are evolved,
producing an acid reaction whereby the organic impurities held in suspension or
solution are readily decomposed and purified.
The formation of chlorine at the positive electrodes is due to the presence of large
quantities of chlorides &c. present in the sewage; if this action is therefore carried
on long enough the sewage will be converted into a disinfecting and bleaching liquor.
At the negative pole ammonia and alkalies are set free and directly an alkaline
reaction is shewn in the sewage, the precipitation of the solid matter takes place,
together with part of the calcium and magnesium salts &c.
When iron positive electrodes are used, chlorides of iron are formed at the positive
pole and are partly precipitated by the alkaline reaction at the negative electrode, in
the form of oxide, which carries down with it the suspended organic matter.
The nascent Chlorine produced as above described will have much greater efficiency
than the chlorine present in chloride of lime, and the nascent oxygen will also have
much more effect on the organic matter in the form of albumenoids than the oxygen
of the atmosphere. Should the liquid treated be insufficiently charged with chlorides,
I in some cases add chlorides thereto in order to produce the requisite amount of
nascent chlorine, and for this purpose, at sea ports, I employ sea water.
The electrical current required is necessarily fluctuating in amount, according to
the amount of sewage to be treated at any one time; the electromotive force would
vary from 10 volts upwards.

page_text: In some cases, where both electrodes are of iron, it may be found desirable to
alternate the current by means of a suitable switch.
Platinum or platinized electrodes might be used at the positive poles, but for
extensive works, the expense would be too great.
In some cases the positive and negative electrodes may be separated by a porous
partition so that there is a body of sewage flowing in contact only with the positive
electrode and being subjected to an oxydizing action, and a second body flowing in
contact only with the negative electrode and consequently subjected to the precipitating
action, the two bodies being afterwards either united together, or kept separate from
each other.
The apparatus which I employ for the purpose of my invention may be variously
constructed; thus, according to one arrangement I construct a reservoir in which are
arranged electrodes extending alternately from opposite sides transversely across the
reservoir or tank so as to form this into a long narrow zigzag passage in the same, as
indicated diagrammatically in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings, which
show respectively a part plan, part longitudinal section and a cross section of the
reservoir. The positive electrodes a a a are fixed to the one side of the res voir
and extend to within a certain distance of the other side, while the negative electrodes b
are fixed to this side and extend to within a certain distance of the first named side,
all the electrodes being fixed either permanently or in a removeable manner to the floor
of the reservoir, thus forming a closed zigzag passage between them, into which the
liquid to be treated enters at x, and in which it gradually flows along to the opposite
end where it is discharged, the bottom of the entire zigzag passage being made with a
sufficient inclination to facilitate such flow at a slow velocity. The negative electrodes
are built up of iron plates in any suitable manner, being either bedded into the bottom
of the tank as shewn at 6 Fig. 4 or they may be fitted at bottom into sockets as at c, of
any suitable material, fixed in the bottom, so that the electrodes can be withdrawn
and replaced when required. The positive electrodes a may either be also of iron or
they may be of carbon or other suitable material; if made of carbon they may be
constructed as shewn in cross section and part longitudinal section at Figs. 5 and 6,
where carbon plates d are imbedded in a layer of coke e confined between two walls f
of perforated tiles.
The electrodes being connected by conductors g g respectively to the positive and
negative poles of a dynamo electric machine or other generator of electricity, the
sewage or other liquid in passing in contact therewith will, as before stated, be acted
upon by the nascent ammonia, generated at the negative electrodes band by the
nascent oxygen and chlorine at the positive electrodes a, and the passage, between
these being comparatively narrow, and of considerable length, it will be evident that by
the time the liquid arrives at the discharge opening, all particles thereof will have been
effectually brought in contact with both sets of electrodes and subjected to the above
described precipitating and purifying action.
If necessary, an outlet closed by a valve may be provided at the one end of each
length of the zigzag passage through which the accumulated solid deposit may be
discharged from time to time.
According to another modification instead of forming a zigzag passage I arrange
the electrodes so as to form a number of separate long narrow passages, as indicated
in part plan and part cross section at Figs. 7 and 8, the sewage or other liquid being
admitted into each passage at the one end and discharged at the other end i. The
partitions a a constitute, as before, the positive electrodes and the partitions bb the
negative electrodes.
In some cases, where it is desirable to disinfect or assist in the oxydation of the
refuse from water closets, sinks &c. before reaching the main sewer, I erect in a
convenient position an earthenware, wooden, or other tank fitted with suitable
electrodes of carbon, iron, or platinum, through which an electric current is passed
and which is filled with a strong solution of a chloride, sea water, or hydrochloric
acid, the positive and negative electrodes being separated by means of porous pots or
partitions so that the chlorine acids and compounds may be collected together at the