THE TREATMENT OF AMMONIACAL WATERS RESULTING FROM PUTRIFIED URINES AND FROM PRODUCTS EXTRACTED BY THE DISTILLATION OF COAL
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer & Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"THE TREATMENT OF AMMONIACAL WATERS RESULTING FROM PUTRIFIED
URINES AND FROM PRODUCTS EXTRACTED BY THE DISTILLATION OF COAL."-A.
communication from abroad by Messrs. Louis Joseph Frédéric
Margueritte, Chemist, and Alfred Lalouël de Sourdeval, both of Paris,
in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 5th November 1861, and dated the 13th May 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th
May 1861.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer & Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "THE TREATMENT OF AMMONIACAL WATERS RESULTING FROM PUTRIFIED URINES
& FROM PRODUCTS EXTRACTED BY THE DISTILLATION OF COAL," to be as follows:-.
Carbonate of ammoniac is ordinarily obtained by distilling putrified urine &
the products of distillation of coal, it is then formed into other salts. Now
this Invention consists 1st, in extracting ammoniacal salts in a much simpler
manner; 2ndly, in employing carbonate of ammonia in the manufacture of
[Price]

page_text: other high priced insoluble carbonates; 3rdly, in employing carbonate of
ammonia for extracting sulphur from sulphurets of barium & calcium.
The following is the method of operation:-1st, preparation of ammoniacal
salts. By the addition of lime to the ammoniacal waters will be formed
carbonate of lime, sulphuret of calcium which precipitates, & carbonate of
ammonia which dissolves the liquor, is then decanted, and the clear part
distilled in a rectifying apparatus similar to that used for bran lies. The
ammonia which escapes is mixed either with sulphuric or hydrochloric acid,
or if salts of ammonia are formed they may be withdrawn from the mother
waters by submitting them to a drying turbine. The mother water in which
there may yet remain any ammonia may be sold as manure.
2ndly,preparation of insoluble carbouates.-Iemploycarbonate of ammonia
resulting from impure water in the preparation of carbonates of baryta, zinc,
lend, or copper, instead of employing carbonate of soda as heretofore. The
reaction is effected by a double decomposition, thus for obtaining carbonate of
baryta, sulphuret of barium is prepared by heating sulphate of baryta with
charcoal in a furnace, the sulphuret of barium dissolved in water & heated
with carbonate of ammonia will form pure carbonate of baryta which
precipitates, and sulphydrate of ammonia which remains in solution. The
liquid part is then extracted by decantation, & is next treated with lime
for the extraction of ammonia.
3rdly, preparation of sulphur.-The sulphydrate of ammonia in solution
obtained in the foregoing reaction is treated with hydrated peroxide of iron,
the ammonia set at liberty is collected, and the sulphuret of iron exposed to
the air will deposit the sulphur.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters l'atent filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
November 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer &
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant

page_text: unto me, the said.William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William 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
"THE TREATMENT OF AMMONIACAL WATERS RESULTING FROM PUTRIFIED URINES
& FROM PRODUCTS EXTRACTED BY THE DISTILLATION OF COAL," a com. to him
from abroad by Messrs. Louis Joséph Frédéric Margueritte, Chemist, &
Alfred Lalouël de Sourdeval, both of Paris, in the Empire of France, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Clark, 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 per-
formed, 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 William 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 fol-
lowing statement (that is to say):—
The only treatment to which waste waters have been subjected to the
present time consists in extracting by distillation the carbonate of ammonia
contained therein, collecting it in different acids, afterwards evaporating this
solution and obtaining ammoniacal salts by crystallization. I have found,
however, 1st, that ammoniacal salts may be treated in a more simple manner
and with greater rapidity and economy; 2ndly, that carbonate of ammonia may
serve without loss of quality for the manufacture of certain carbonates, the
use of which would be of great importance; 3rdly, that the reaction of the
carbonate of ammonia on sulphates of barium and calcium will produce
considerable quantities of sulphur.
The following isadescription of the different operations above mentioned: -
Preparation of ammoniacal salts.-To the waste waters is added lime in
sufficient quantity to remove the carbonic acid and sulphuretted hydrogen
and so to completely free the ammonia. This liquor is suitably agitated and
mixed with milk of lime when it is left to rest the carbonate of lime and
the sulphuret of calcium, which form are then deposited, the perfectly clear

page_text: liquid resulting is introduced into a spirit rectifier, this operation is performed
in the same manner as in treating alcohol when the rectifying column contains
a sufficient number of plates, the ammonia disengages itself in a dry gascous
state which is collected by means of concentrated hydrochloric or sulphuric
acids. Under these conditions, and after a complete cooling of the liquid, the
greater part of the ammoniacal salt formed is deposited in a crystalline state,
the whole is submitted to the action of a turbine, which separates the crystals
from the mother water, so that the salt may be free from iron, care being
taken that the liquor is slightly acidulated and washed while the turbine is
in motion with a small quantity of water. By this method of acting on the
ammonia instead of on the carbonate the distillation is much easier effected
and the alkali by reason of its extreme valatility escapes from the apparatus
in a state of gas, and leaves the waste waters which are run completely purged
of the ammonia. By saturating concentrated acids with dry ammoniacal gas
ammoniacal salts are obtained by precipitation, and all evaporation and
crystallization is prevented. The mother waters from the turbine instead of
being evaporated may be absorbed in various matters, such as sawdust,
plaster, chalk, earth, or animal black, and sold at a remunerative price as
manure, while the azote may be sold at ninepence per pound and upwards.
By this mode of operating not only is the evaporation avoided, but also the
destruction of the apparatus.
Preservation of insoluble carbonates. - It is well known that to manufacture
insoluble, alkaline, carthy, or metallic carbonates, such as carbonates of baryta,
zinc, load, or copper, an alkaline carbonate is employed, that ofsoda generally.
The high price of this product has hitherto prevented its employment in the
preparation of different carbonates of which the production is necessitated both
in arts and industry. The carbonate of ammonia in waste waters will be
found to answer advantageously as a substitute for the carbonate of soda, as
in every case in ceding its carbonic acid to a mineral acid the ammonia
augments in value, which is not the case with soda under the same
circumstances, for carbonate of soda, which becomes chloride or sulphate,
loses nearly its whole value, while carbonate of ammonia obtained from waste
waters possesses the advantage of being easily extracted, and will be rendered
of great commercial value. Thus I prepare all metallic carbonates, especially
those of lead, zinc, and copper, by precipitating their corresponding chlorides
or sulphates with ammoniacal carbonates from waste waters. The mother
water containing the am noniacal salt may be evaporated or treated by a base
which sets the ammonia again at liberty to be treated in the. rectifying

page_text: apparatus above mentioned; as the carbonate of ammonia always contains a
certain quantity of hydrosulphate of ammonia, the solution should be previously
filtered in a metallic oxydo to fix the sulphuretted hydrogen, which colors or
renders the carbonate impure. Besides the metallic carbonate there is also
an alkaline earthy carbonate, of which the preparation is very simple and
economical, namely, carbonate of baryta. Sulphuret of barium is prepared by
calcining in a reverbating furnace a mixture of sulphate of baryta and
charcoal. The mass is washed and emptied into the waters charged with
carbonate of ammonia; this carbonate of ammonia will be precipitated
perfectly white & pure, which is then washed and dried. The mother water
from the sulphydrate of ammonia is treated with lime contaiuing sulphuretted
hydrogen, and then introduced to the rectifying apparatus. By this mode of
operation the ammonia cedes its carbonic acid, which forms carbonate of
buryta, and the lime employed in the ordinary way to free the ammonia serves
for retaining the sulphuretted hydrogen instead of carbonic acid. Thus a very
useful intermediate function is performed by the carbonate of ammonia.
Hence the manufacture of carbonate of baryta is confined to the reduction of
sulphate by charcoal.
Preparation of sulphur.-In the preceding operation it is seen that the
carbonate of ammonia is transformed into sulphydrate; in this combination the
sulphur can be extracted with little expense, it suffices for that purpose to
filter the solution of sulphydrate ona hydrated peroxide of iron, the ammonia
liberated is distilled in a rectifying apparatus, and the sulphur of iron formed is
exposed to the air, whereby it is transformed into peroxide of iron; in thus
depositing the sulphur it is regenerated and may be used again and again an
indefinite number of times.
I can also operate in the following manner :-The sulphurous liquid being
heated in a rectifying apparatus disengages easily all the sulphydrate of
ammoniawhich it contained by reason of thegreat volatility of thecomposition;
it is passed thence in a state of gas into purifiers filled with hydrated peroxid>
of iron which absorbs the sulphur. The sulphuret of iron being regenerated
by its exposure to the air cau be employed a great number of times. When
the quantity of sulphur precipitated on the peroxyde of iron becomes so
considerable as to sensibly diminish the action of this latter, the mixture is to
be submitted to a gentle calcination in a retort, and the sulphur obtained by
distillation.
I will now describe in what manner I obtain the reaction of sulphuret of
barium on the carbonate distilled from refuse waters.-Carbonate of baryta.

page_text: which, by reason of its whiteness, purity, and minute subdivision, is capable of
being employed in painting and several other purposes, particularly in the
manufacture of glass.
I can also operate on refuse waters in other ways. 1st, the crude water
may be distilled and the carbonate of ammonia obtained by collecting the
volatilized products, which are then precipitated by the sulphuret of barium.
By this means carbonate of baryta is obtained perfectly white and
pure, and
suitable for painting and glass-making. 2ndly, large quantities of mother
waters, residue of the distillation of carbonate of ammonia with sulphuret of
.barium, and a mixed precipitate is obtained of phosphate, sulphate, carbonate,
&c., of baryta, which can be used with advantage in every case for the natural
pulverized sulphate of baryta ; instead of sulphuret of barium, sulphate of
lime may be employed, when I obtain phosphate of lime sufficiently pure to
be sold as such for agriculture. 1 heat directly after the clarification refuse
waters clarified by sulphuret of barium, when there resultsa precipitate mixed
with phosphate, carbonate, sulphate, &c., of baryta, a white precipitate, which
can be beneficially employed for painting, the thickening of paper, and the
preparation of cyanides of barium by ammonia or by azote of the air. 4thly
& lastly, I filter crude refuse waters on beds of sulphate of lime, which retain
in their transition to the state of insoluble phosphate of lime, phosphoric acid,
so precious for agricultural purposes, and which reacts on the carbonate of
ammonia to form a carbonate of lime and sulphate of ammonia. The waters
running from the sulphate of lime filters are mixed with asolution of sulphuret
of barium, whereby the sulphate of ammonia which they contain produces a
precipitate of sulphate of baryta tolerably pure. It should be remarked that
inall operations above described, & which permit of utilizing the carbonic acid
& phosphoric acid, that the waste or refuse waters have lost nothing of their
value as regards the ammonia they contain, and that it is easy to recover this
alkali by known means, and by the means above described.
I will now describe a very easy method of extracting ammonia contained in
waste or refuse waters.-After a previous addition of lime to liberate the
ammonia, I distil the water in an apparatus such as is employed to rectify
alcohol. From experiments made on a certain scale I have been led to intro-
duce in the construction and arrangements of different parts of this apparatus
important modifications herein-after described. This operation, which other-
wise works perfectly well, necessitates the employment of lime, which entails
expense and considerable hand labour. I have tried if it were possible to
distil directly the refuse waters without previously adding lime, that is to say,

page_text: by volatilizing the carbonate of ammonia in order to obtain it in a state of
gas, but which I found impossible, as the carbonate of ammonia is a solid salt,
and has not, so to speak, the tension of 100° degrees.
Another idea is to distil and obtain it as alcohol mixed with water, but in
a state of great concentration. After having overcome some difficulties, by
means of different changes in the apparatus herein-after described, I have
beonable to obtain carbonate of ammonia in solution excessively concentrated.
It is this solution which, treated by sulphuric acid and evaporated, produces
the sulphate of ammonia at very little cost. I have rendered continuous the
two distillations of ammoniacal gas and carbonate, which is considered a very
important point; besides employing the rectifying apparatus to extract from
refuse waters the ammonia in a state of dry gas, & of carbonate of ammonia
in a state of concentrated solution.
I further effect the preparation of ammonia by the following process:-
Supposing I fill with refuse water ten or twelve receivers of cast or sheet iron
communicating with cach other so as to resemble an apparatus known as
Woulf's apparatus.
At one extremity a current of steam enters which raises
the contents to the temperature of ebullition; at the other extremity is intro-
duced the refuse waters in a continuous and regular manner, which naturally
flow in an inverse direction to the current of steam. In the first receptacle
where the stean enters, the carbonate of ammonia is driven into the second
receiver, and thence into the third, and so on in such way that the water is
completely purged of this salt near the entrance of the steam, and, on the
contrary, it becomes enriched towards the point where the refuse watersenter;
by which arrangement the running of waste water from the first receptacle
may be permitted, andthus enabling a continuity inthe operation,asin distilling
alcohol. In a word, by the diffusion of steam in a current of refuse waters I
effect the extraction of carbonate of ammonia mixed with steam. An operation
(analogous but differing in so far thatitis intermittent) generally used, in which
the carbonate of ammonia is extracted under the influence of a current of steam
passing in two apparatus of large dimensions. I have ascertained that it is
preferable to have apparatus presenting to a current of steam but little height
of liquid to traverse, from 20 to 40 inches at most; on the one hand tho car-
bonate of ammonia disengages itself more easily, and on the other hand the
quantity of steam withdrawn is very much less. Instead of condensing the
carbonate and steam Iconduct them directly to the heated sulphuric acid in a
leaden vessel, which forms the last receptacle in Woulf's apparatus. The
carbonate of ammonia is alone absorbed by the acid, & the steam continuing

page_text: its course passes into a worm tube, which heats the refuse waters for treat-
ment in the apparatus. In this way I obriate the condensation and reheating
& redistillation of the water which accompanies the carbonate. To prevent
condensation of the water in the sulphuric acid, it suffices to maintain this
latter at a temperature nearly up to boiling point, which for acid in the leaden
vessels should not exceed 330° Fahrenheit. It is easy to produce this tom-
perature by means of a circulation of steam at a pressure of about four
atmospheres. As the sulphuric acid may boil and concentrate in the leaden
chambers, it suffices to cover with this metal the worm tubes intended to heat
the acid; but it is as well to remark, that in proportion as the acid becomes
saturated, the point of ebullition lowers, that is to say, by employing diluted
sulphuric acid it would suffice to keep it some degrees below 212° Fahrenheit
to prevent any condensation of steam.
When the sulphuric acid is saturated, it is run off in solution by means of
a cock; which solution, when cooled, forms a mass, and constitutes sulphate
of ammonia, which only requires to be slightly desiccated.
By the different arrangements above described I am able to effect great
economy in the amount of fuel required, the operation being simple, rapid,
and continuous in its action. Thus, to distil waste waters, and manufacture
sulphate of ammonia, I employ a Woulf apparatus traversed by a current of
steam, the products of distillation of which pass directly and immediately into
the sulphuric acid, heated to a temperature sufficient to prevent condensation
of or combination with the steam.
Taking as a basis the fact, that at an ordinary temperature au ammoniacal
solution placed in a closed vessel with an acid solution gives up to the latter
the whole of its ammonia in a very short time, I have devised a new method
of treating refuse waters; I operate as follows:-I take a closed boiler,
separated by a vertical partition into two compartments, into one of which is
placed the liquid ammonia with the addition of lime, and in the other (linod
with lead) dilute sulphuric acid. The operation may be effected at the
ordinary temperature, or it may be heated to 140° or 212°, at a pressure of
one atmosphere. The ammonia is absorbed by the sulphuric acid more or
less rapidly according to the temperature, and also with more or less expense
with relation thereto. When the absorbtion is terminated, which may be
ascertained by drawing off and trying a small quantity of the ammoniacal
liquid, it is allowed to run off, & is replaced by a fresh quantity of liquid; the
same takes place when the acid is saturated, it is renewed, and another
operation commenced. In this matter the ammoniacal & acidulated liquid

page_text: being at the same temperature, thero is no reason why there should be more
steam in one than the other, as the ammonia alone has a tendency to escape
from the liquid containing it, and to be absorbed by the sulphuric acid, thus
will be obtained on the part of the acidulated liquid a strongly concentrated
solution of sulphate of ammonia, which costs little for evaporation; in this
case there will be neither production, passage, condensation, nor reproduction
of steam, the economy in fuel will thus be very considerable. One of the
principal conditions to be observed is, that in the boiler the ammoniacal
surfaces of emission, and the acidulated surfaces of absorb tion, should be as
extended as possible. It will thus be seen that the expense of the operation
is very small, which may readily be ascertained beforehand, as it is known to
a nicety what is the quantity of the coal necessary for raising a given quantity
of water to 140° or 212° Fahrenheit at a pressure of one atmosphere. The
expense of fuel is nil when working at the ordinary temperature of the
atmosphere, but the operation will be much slower.
The greater part of the sulphate of ammonia which is manufactured either
from water produced in the distillation of coal or from refuse waters is employed
in the manufacture of alum. The high price of this sulphate has hitherto
been the obstacle to its application to agriculture, which objection still applies
to it in consequence of the cost of the necessary sulphuric acid employed,
which amounts to ten shillings for every two cwt. of sulphate. The object
I propese to effect is to supply agriculturalists with azote in the form of
ammonia, that is, in an assimilable state. The nature of the acid combined
with the ammonia is of no consequence, as the base alone acts on vegetation,
and there is little doubt the sulphate of ammonia produces certain results in
the ground which ammonia has failed to effect. From observation of the
prodigious developement of vegetables in an atmosphere of ammoniacal gas, I
argue, as a consequence, that the acid which retains this alkali with the least
tenacity forms a salt the most favorable for vegetation; hence, I employ for
this purpose carbonic acid, and for a salt use bicarbonate of ammonia. I
have proved by experiment that the alkaline state or the alkaline reaction of
the earth and the atmosphere is an indispensible condition for the develope-
ment of any vegetation exposed to its action, and that the vegetable albumen
composing the greater part of the sap is coagulated, the same as animal
albumen, by means of acids other than carbonic acid, & that consequently
neither a vegetable nor an animal can exist or be developed in an acid state,
although acidulated juices may be met with in certain fruits or other parts of
alante

page_text: The employment of lime, desiccated night soil, guano, and dung proves that
vegetation has always a permanent alkaline base (such as lime or ammonia);
it also possesses carbonic acid, which the plants decompose & assimulate in
some measure, which is the only acid (up to the present time at least) the
harmlessness of the action of which is properly understood. Two equivalents
for the carbonic acid will be found in bicarbonate of ammonia; this salt
supplies to the plants both azote and carbonic acid, which are so essential to
their developement, & fulfils all the conditions above mentioned; italso easily
abandons the ammonia and leaves it free, and is further easily assimilated to
plants; ammonia produced by the decomposition or fermentation of stable
manure is disengaged in the form of carbonate or bicarbonate of ammonia, &
this salt forms of itself a very active manure, which I have incontestably
proved by carefull experiments. The following is a method of preparing the
sait: Theammonia is first extracted from the stagnant or refuse waters, from
water of gasworks, &c., & is then saturated with water at the ordinary
temperature which constitute a volatile alkali, a current of carbonic acid is
then passed into the solution produced by the combustion of charcoal, the
.ammonia is thus saturated by degrees, becoming less and less influenced by the
current of carbonic acid gas (azote) & is precipitated in the form of small
brilliant crystals, which are then collected. The mother water remaining is
again saturated with ammoniacal gas and then with carbonic acid, and so on,
for the purpose of furnishing an indefinite quantity of bicarbonate of ammonia.
For this
purpose Woulf's apparatus is employed with a number of receivers
communicating with each other, and terminated by a vessel filled with sul-
phuric acid to finally retain the ammoniacal gas, which would otherwise cscape
from the apparatus. The crystallized bicarbonate isdried at the ordinary tem-
perature, and may be supplied in that state to agriculturalist. This salt is of
a permanent character, and is only disengaged in a gaseous state with extreme
slowness, which is a good condition for its prolonged action on the plant.
Intheannexed Drawing is represented aspirit rectifying apparatus suitably
modified to adapt it to the distillation of gaseous ammonia and carbonate of
ammonia.
Fig.1 shows the apparatus,part in elevation and part in section; Fig.2 shows
a plan of one of the partitions, placed in the evaporating column; Fig. 3
shows a vertical section of a trunk, forming the evaporating column, and
having one of the above partitions about midway of its height. The same
letters of reference indicate like parts in the several Figures where they recur
seen in different positions.

page_text: a, evaporating column, furnished in the interior with a suitable number of
horizontal partitions,b,forming so many separate compartments; c, tube, fixed
to the cap which terminates columna, for conducting the vapours to worm
tube-d contained in the superheater e; f. analysing vessels or bottles, in
suitable number, & arranged throughout the worm d; tubes g in the form of
inverted syphons are adjusted at the lower part of said vessels f, to conduct the
condensed liquid back into the distilling column a; 1, tube conducting thegas
into the refrigerating worm tube i, in which refrigerator the gas is cooled by
means of a current of water; j,tube for conducting the ammoniacal liquids into
the superheater e; k, tube, for conducting the ammoniacal liquids from the
reheater e into the first compartiment of the evaporating column a; l, hemis-
pherical caps, closing the open ends of passages m; n, lugs, for securing caps
to partitions b. The lower edges of these caps 7 descend about one-third
of an inch below the upper orifice of the passages m,so that the steam and the
gas ou rising in each of said passages stirs up and agitates the liquid, so
as to cause it to bubble up under the edges of the cap or inverted cap-
sule; o, overflow tubes, for conducting the liquid from one compartment
to the other, the upper openings of which are a little below the level of the
upper ends of branches m, and below that of caps 2, these tubes descend
into the compartment below and plunge at their lower parts into the liquid,
so that the steam and the gas shall not escape therent, p & q, diaphragm in
each compartment straight and curved,serving to separate the inlet and outlet
tubes of the liquid, so as to enable the latter to circulate through each com-
partment, openings, corresponding to each compartment for cleaning
the interior of the distilling column; s, inlet for the steam; t, agitator placed in
the interior of the reheater to prevent the deposit of lime; & emptying cock
of the water after the extraction is completed, as the quantity of ammonical
liquid heated in the reheater é is more considerable than that which can be
exhausted in the evaporating column a. I divide the reheater into two
parts by a partition and introduce the ammonical waters at the upper part,
and the cold water at the lower part. Further instead of connecting the
return tubes to the upper part of the evaporating column a, I place them
at the lower part. The action of the apparatus is the same as for distilling
alcohol. The ammoniacal waters are conducted to superheater b by tube j
being heated by the waste heat of worm d, and are thence conducted into
the first compartment of the exaporating column a by tube Zi, & pass
successively from plate to plate until they reach the lower part where the
liquid resulting is drawn off. The gas and vapours follow the opposite course
as they rise on being formed, from one compartment to another, and pass

page_text: into the worm & in which is effected the separation of the condensed and
gaseous products by means of the analysing vessels placed at suitable
distances apart; lastly, the gascous product is dried in the condenser i, thence
it is conducted to any suitable part to be collected either in a gaseous state,
in solution, or otherwise. In case the ammonia is to be distilled in a
gaseous state for disolving or combining with acids, the condenser i is dis-
pensed with, which is only employed for the distillation of carbonate of am-
monia. Instead of manufacturing sulphate of ammonia for agricultural
purposes I can manufacture sulphites of ammonia by the introduction of
sulphurous acids to the ammonia, thereby saving a great expense both in
material and transport.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claimas the Invention to bo protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the various methods
of treating ammoniacal waters for the purposes and as herein-before described
which may be enumerated as follows:-
First, obtaining ammonical salts without employing evaporation.
Secondly, preparing insoluble carbonates in the economical manner
described.
Thirdly, the preparation of carbonate of baryta by the reaction of car-
bonate of ammonia distilled from refuse waters on sulphuret of barium.
Fourthly, the preparation of phosphates of baryta & lime for precipitating
the waste water resulting from the distillation of carbonate of ammonia by
means of sulphuret of barium, that of calcium by means of sulphate of lime,
the chloride of calcium.
Fifthly, the general & immediate precipitation of waste waters clarified
by means of sulphurets of barium and calcium for the purpose of obtaining
a mixed precipitate.
Sixthly, the filtration of waste waters through layers of sulphate of lime
which fixes the phosphoric acid, and also the ulterior precipitation of the same
waters by sulphuret of barium.
Seventhly, the extraction of the sulphur from sulphates of baryta and lime.
Eighthly, the distillation of carbonate of ammonia by means of the spirit
rectifying apparatus arranged as described and represented in the Drawings
annexed.
Ninthly, the extraction of a continuous current of waste water from car-
bonate of ammonia by means of steam passing through a Woulf's apparatus
and also passing it immediately through heated sulphuric acid.
Tenthly, mixing the ammonical waters & sulphuric acid in a closed vessel

page_text: either at the ordinary temperature, or at a temperature of 140° to 212°
Fahrenheit, or at a pressure of one atmosphere.
Eleventhly, the employment of the apparatus known as a spirit rectifier
which has hitherto only been employed for distilling alcohol applied for the
purpose of distilling ammonia and carbonate of ammonia contained in refuse
waters, putrified urine, water of condensation, or other similar products.
Twelfthly,the preparation of bicarbonate of ammonia & its applicatio nas a
manure to agriculture, all as herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
W. G. E. SWINNOCK,
53, Chancery Lane.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)