IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF COPROLITES AND OTHER FOSSIL PHOSPHATES OF LIME
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marc Antoine François Mennons, of the British and
Foreign Patent Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of
France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF
COPROLITES AND OTHER FOSSIL PHOSPHATES OF LIME."-A communication
from Guillaume Louis Edouard Buran, and Louis Goupy, both residing
at No. 17, Rue du Grand, St. Michel, Paris, France.
Sealed the 18th July 1862, and dated the 10th February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 10th February 1862.
I, MARC ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent
Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT
OF COPROLITES AND OTHER FOSSIL PHOSPHATES OF LIME," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved method of treating coprolites and
other calcareous phosphates, by means of which these minerals are converted
into a highly assimilable manure, and at same time are rendered applicable to
the disinfection of certain animal products, and. the extraction therefrom of
fertilizing principles.
The nodules or rocky phosphates to be operated on are first pulverised as
finely as possible by any suitable machinery, and with the powdered mass is
intimately incorporated from six to ten per cent. of organic matter, highly
charged with hydrogen and carbon; say, for instance, the pitch or tar produced

page_text: during the distillation of the coal in gas manufacture. The mixture is then
calcined in closed and luted kilns, retorts, or other suitable capacities, each
containing a minimum quantity of about four hundredweight. In this process
the tarry matter is decomposed. The hydrogen unites with the sulphur of the
sulphuret of iron contained in the nodules forming sulphuretted hydrogen,
which is thrown into the furnace and there consumed. The carbon reduces
the metallic oxides and assists the conversion of the sulphurets into carbonates,
which afterwards pass to the state of oxides, the carbonate of lime especially
being converted into oxide of calcium (quicklime). The water and carbonic
acid are driven off, and the excess of carbonaceous matter takes their places.
When the disengagement of gas ceases (generally in about half an hour with
the quantity above noted) the operation is suspended, the product is withdrawn
from the recipient and placed to cool in sheet-iron dampers.
The compound obtained as above may either be employed directly as manure
or enriched by an admixture of animal products, such as blood, fecal, and
liquid excretions, and other analogous matters on which it acts as disinfectant.
The proportions of such admixture vary according to the density of the
substances operated upon, but equal parts may, in most cases, be employed.
The product consisting of black calcareous phosphate, silica completely
separated from the lime, and a small quantity of oxide of iron and of ammonia
forms a valuable and highly assimilable manure.
It should be observed, that although gas tar has been adopted in the
calcining process above described, it may, if so desired, be replaced by
equivalents of other mineral, animal, or vegetable substances, either sepa-
rately, or in combination.
Thus, for instance, five per cent. of coal tar with ten per cent. of fecal
matter; or again, horn, hair, bristles, and other animal products or or residues
of similar nature in the proportion of about sixteen pounds weight to each
hundred pounds of calcined phosphate.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Marc Antoine François Mennons in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th July 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARC
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 39,
Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, Her special licence that I, the
said Marc Antoine François Mennons, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT
OF COPROLITES AND OTHER FOSSIL PHOSPHATES OF LIME," (a communication
from Guillaume Louis Edouard Buran, and Louis Goupy, persons resident at
No. 17, Rue du Grand, St. Michel, Paris, France) upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, .my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their;
or one of their hands and seals, 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 Marc Antoine François Mennons, 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 an improved method of treating coprolites and
other calcareous phosphates, by means of which these minerals are converted
into a highly assimilable manure, and at same time are rendered applicable to
the disinfection of certain animal products, and to the extraction therefrom of
fertilizing principles.
The nodules or rocky phosphates to be operated on are first pulverised as
finely as possible by any suitable machinery, and with the powdered mass is
intimately incorporated from six to ten per cent. of organic matter highly
charged with hydrogen and carbon; say, for instance, the pitch or tar produced
during the distillation of coal in gas manufacture. The mixture is then
calcined at a temperature of from 400° to 500° (centigrade) in closed and
luted kilns, retorts, or other suitable capacities, each containing a minimum
quantity of four hundredweight. In this process the tarry matter is
decomposed; the hydrogen unites with the sulphur of the sulphuret of
iron, forming sulphuretted bydrogen, which is thrown into the furnace and

page_text: f
there consumed. The carbon reduces the metallic oxides, divides the molecules,-
and assists the conversion of the sulphurets into carbonates, which afterwards
pass to the state of oxides, the carbonate of lime especially being converted
into oxide of calcium (quick lime). The water and carbonic acid are driven
off, and the excess of carbonaceous matter takes their place. When the
disingagement of gas ceases (generally in from half-an-hour to an hour, with
the quantity above noted) the operation is suspended, the product is withdrawn
from the recipient, and placed to cool in sheet-iron dampers.
The compound obtained as above, may either be employed directly as
manure, or enriched by an admixture of animal products, such as blood, fecal,
and liquid excretions, and other, analogous matters on which it acts as
disinfectant. The proportions of such admixture vary according to the density
of the substances operated upon, but equal parts may in most cases be
employed.. The product, consisting of black calcareous phosphate, finely
divided silica, lime, and a small quantity, of oxide of iron and of ammonia,
forms a valuable and bighly assimilable manure.
It should be observed, that although gas tar has been adopted in the calcining
process above described, it may, if so desired, be replaced by equivalents of
other mineral, animal, and vegetable substances, either separately or in com-
bination. Thus, for instance, five per cent. of coal tar, with ten per cent. of
fecal matter; or again, horn, hair, bristles, and other animal products or
residues of similar nature, in the proportion of about sixteen pounds to each
hundredweight of calcareous phosphate.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of
carrying it into effect, I declare that what I claim is, the improved processes
and combinations of matter, substantially as herein specified, by means of
which coprolites and other fossil phosphates of lime may be converted into
rich and assimilable manure, and at same time be rendered applicable to the
deodorisation of certain animal products, and to the extraction therefrom of
fertilizing elements.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, have
hereto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of July, in the
year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.