CONVERTING ALL KINDS OF REFUSE AND INFECTIOUS ANIMAL MATTERS INTO GAS AND OTHER USEFUL PRODUCTS FOR AGRICULTURE AND TRADE, AND MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for an Invention of " CONVERTING ALL KINDS OF REFUSE AND
INFECTIOUS ANIMAL MATTERS INTO GAS AND OTHER USEFUL PRODUCTS FOR
AGRICULTURE AND TRADE, AND MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
A communication from abroad by Lorenzo Enrico Ernesto Claro Delfino
Teodoro Anthony, of Toulouse, Haute Garonne, Franco.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th October 1880.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of
23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent.
CONVERTING ALL KINDS OF REFUSE AND INFECTIOUS ANIMAL MATTERS INTO GAS
AND OTHER USEFUL PRODUCTS FOR AGRICULTURE AND TRADE, AND MEANS OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Lorenzo
Enrico Ernesto Claro Delfino Teodoro Anthony, of Toulouse, Haute Garonne,
France.
"E
"
The Invention consists in a process for rendering generally more wholesome the
manufacture of carbo-azoted-phosphated manures, bone-black, ammoniacal salts,
tar, grease, or tallows, lighting and heating gas by the especial treatment in closed
vessels, by pressure, straining, and distillation of all animal substances considered
as un wholesome and susceptible of producing miasmas, such, for instance, as divers
excrements, the bodies of animals which have died from disease, by accident, or
have been killed on account of their age, meat and fish seized as unwholesome,
waste produced in trades treating animal matters, refuse of tripe dressers, kitchens,
fisheries, bones, blood, old boots and shoes, and in general all matters of animal
origin.
When the animal matters to be treated contain more than 20 to 25% of liquid
parts they are submitted, as soon as they arrive at the works, to the action of a

page_text: common press. The water driven out by the press and charged with organic
matters runs off by an outlet into a tank.
This tank is constructed of any kind of materials and cemented; it is
hermetically closed by means of a bell-shaped dome with hydraulic closure,
provided with a pipe for the escape of gases in communication with the fire placo
of the apparatus for dry distillation, also with a man hole provided with a
hydraulic closure, by which quick lime is introduced into the tank for partially
disinfecting the water contained in it. The tank is moreover provided with an
agitator, having spatulas for distributing the lime throughout the whole of the
liquid mass, and two plunging tubes, the one to be used for conveying the waters
from the press, the other for their discharge after treatment with lime by means
of a suction and forcing pump, which sends them to a strainer or filter.
This filter is composed of three columns 1, 2, and 3, mounted the two first on
one cylinder and the third on another cylinder. Column 1 is larger than the other
two, which are of similar height and joined together near the top by a pipe. The
cylinder carrying the columns 1 and 2 is connected by a pipe, provided with a
cock, with a third cylinder which discharges by means of a pipe into a cistern for
sediments, to which flow also the waters from the column 3. This cylinder is
destined to receive the liquid contained in the filters 1, 2, and the cylinder carrying
them when the bone-black is to be changed.
The three columns are provided at their upper part with three screw threaded
covers to enable them to be charged with bone-black, with which each of them is
to be filled to within a short distance (say, 8 inches) from the top. The cylinders
are also closed by covers, like those of the columns serving for their own discharge
and that of the columns 1, 2, 3; as to the third cylinder it is charged and emptied
through openings at tho ends thereof, closed by screw threaded pressure plugs.
The columns 1, 2, 3, and the three cylinders being filled with bone-black and
hermetically closed water is caused to flow through a pipe into the top of the first
column, whence they descend into and passes through the first mentioned cylinder,
whence they rise up column 2 and flow from the upper end thereof through the
connecting pipe into the third column, through the bone-black of which they finish
their filtration, and from thence flow to the cistern tank. When the filter is full
the action of the pump is much decreased, for the water running off at the bottom
of the filter exerts a power equal to that which it requires to raise it to the level
at the top of the column 1. When it is desired to change the bone-black of tho
filters a cock is opened, and the water contained in columns 1, 2, and first cylinder
runs off and is filtered in the third cylinder whenco it flows into the cistern.
By this filtering process the waters are completely disinfected and separated from
the lime and the organic matters they contained.
The lime in which the disinfected animal matters are contained serves for the
manufacture of manures as well as the bone-black taken out of the filtors. More-
over the latter may be revivified and used several times. The pressed matters
are treated in the furnace for dry distillation; there are thus obtained more con-
centrated ammoniacal waters and a less abundant formation of hydrogen, oxide of
carbon, carbonic acid, and all gases which would diminish the standard quality of
lighting gas, generally produced by the decomposition of steam in presence of the
carbon of the incandescent matters, as well as in presence of the red heated sides of
the retort; when the latter is metallic the quantity of fuel used in the fire place
of the furnace is less, that alone pays the work of the press.
The filtered and disinfected waters are drawn up to be used in the steam
generator of the works, and may be employed for all the requirements of the
works.
Animal matters which contain quantities of grease above that required for
supplying the ordinary lighting and heating gas of the place where the works
are established must be submitted to the separation of the greasy matter, which
is effected by a grease separator and evaporator composed of the following
apparatus:-A boiler hermetically closed by means of a removeable cover. It is

page_text: surrounded by a sheet iron casing, inside of which circulate at will hot gases and
superheated steam.
The bottom of the boiler is convex on the inside. Below the cover and fixed
thereto is a circular plate of sheet iron with perforations or a cast iron grating.
On the bottom of the boiler is placed a second plate similar to the first, supported
by screwed rods and nuts. This arrangement serves to compress the matters
contained between the two discs by the forcible raising of the lower plate by
means of the said screws and nuts. The boiler is provided with a water gauge,
a discharge cock, a clearing pipe to which is attached a pressure gauge, and four
semi-cylindrical pipes rivetted to the outside of the boiler and perforated with
holes communicating with the boiler, serving for the running out of the liquefied
grease, as well as with safety tubes in case of obstruction of the holes in one of
the discs by the compressed matters. The casing is provided with two pipes,
the one for the entrance of hot gas and steam, and the other for the escape of
these gases and vapours after they have produced their heating effect; this latter
pipe may be connected at will with a refrigerator, and from thence with the fire-
place, or directly with the fire placo.
The boiler has also a manhole.
The absorption chamber is made of wood, or sheet iron, or other material, but
always lined with sheets of lead. It is divided into three vertical compartments
by sheet lead partitious, having each an upper opening for charging and an opening
towards the bottom for discharging; these openings are closed during the working
by plugs with pressure screws. A pipe with a rose made of lead distributes
sulphuric acid in each compartment, which has also a leaden grating or perforated
plato for letting the excess of acid run off into the lower tank. This acid at a
given level flows through a tube into a reservoir of sheet lead, from which it is
made to rise again above the chamber of absorption by the action of the steam
from the generator upon its surface until it is perfectly neutralized by its passage
through ammoniacal vapours divided by absorbing matters (charcoal, leather black,
pumice stone, or other material) contained in the leaden chambers.
The furnace contains two retorts each closed at one of its ends, the other end
being closed by a luted cover. One retort is provided with a pipe for the admission
of the vapours connected with a pipe communicating with the boiler, and a second
pipe which leads the vapours after their passage through this retort into the
second, the latter is provided with another pipe leading the vapours and gases
into the casing.
The waters from the pressing apparatus, or from any other source, are introduced
above the bottom of the boiler and the cover is fastened, the matters about to be
treated being charged through the manhole; these matters having been previously
sprinkled with quick lime in the proportion of from 2 to 10%, according to the
nature and structure of the matters. The manhole is then closed and the fire
lighted.
When the pressure gauge marks two atmospheres of pressure the fire is slackened
and a cock is opened, connecting the boiler with the retorts, filled with iron filings,
carbon, or, still better, with black produced by the dry distillation of old boots and
shoes in the raw state, that is to say, with the nails and pieces of iron adhering to
them. The retorts have been previously heated to red heat. The steam evolved
from the boiler, carrying along with it organic particles and vapours, is introduced
into the retorts; the organic molecules are decomposed into carbon and combustible
gases, whilst the steam in presence of the incandescent matters is decomposed
according to the following formulas :—
TI
T
TI

page_text: decomposition and which is superheated, escapes through the exit pipe of the
second retort and enters the casing of the boiler. It leaves in the latter the greatest
part of its caloric, and according to the quantity of steam and ammoniacal vapours
they contain they are directed towards the fire place or led previously through a
condenser. The combustible gases, oxide of carbon, hydrogen, and some little 5
carburetted hydrogen are burnt, as well as all the other carbon and hydrogen
gases, and serve as fuel without infecting the vicinity of the works, as would
be the case if the matters to be treated were boiled in the open air in the
boiler.
The lime with which the animal matters are sprinkled becomes slacked by the 1
water which they contain, and the steam which fills the boiler and attacks the
membranes and cells, thereby causing the grease they contain to flow out freely.
Besides the action of the lime the matters are submitted to other actions. The
matters dry up by losing the water of evaporation, the water at the bottom being
then vaporized and the matters are separated from the fat; for the tallow 1
and other grease being no longer kept back are melted by the action of the lime
and by the temperature to which the boiler is heated, and run off through the
matters. Further the matters under treatment are compressed by means of the
screw threaded rods, and the fat running out through all the interstices falls to
the bottom and may be drawn off by opening the cock from time to time, which
may be determined by examining the level. When, after having pressed the discs
down to the bottom, no further flowing of grease takes place the operation is
finished. The greasy matters thus obtained are used for the manufacture of
excellent soap and fat acids; if they were to be applied to any other purpose for
which the small quantity of lime contained in the grease would be a disadvantage,
it may be replaced by alum.
Then the chains of a crane are hooked to the rings of the cover, the bolts of the
cover are loosened, the latter is taken off, and at the same time two discs and the
matters they contain are withdrawn from the boiler, and the whole is then lowered
into a damper inade of sheet iron placed on a little carriage, which is then closed
and carried to the workroom for dry distillation where the matters are put in the
oven at once, or after having left them to cool in the damper according to the
requirements of the service.
During that time the crane puts a second cover in its place with spare discs, the
manhole being opened the cover is bolted down and another quantity of matters
put in, the manhole is closed and another operation begun.
When fecal matters are treated in order to transform them into inodorous
manure the boiler is used, these matters having been previously decanted and
the liquid part strained off. No water is put into the bottom of the boiler, and it
is charged with the fecal matters in a pasty state, consequently containing yet a
When
certain quantity of water which passes into the false bottom of the boiler.
the charging is done the cover is bolted and the operation proceeds as described
above, only instead of opening at the beginning the cock which connects the boiler
with the retorts, the vapours are led into the absorbing chamber by opening
another cock; these vapours contain ammoniacal salts, which in passing through
the layers of absorbing matters contained in the absorbing chamber are trans-
formed in the presence of the sulphuric acid in them into sulphate of ammonia
which remains in the pores of the matters and forms a sediment on their surface.
The
The steam which escapes from the chamber of absorption is sent either into the
retorts to be transformed into gas as mentioned above, or into a refrigerator to be
condensed; when the liquid part has been evaporated in the boiler only small
quantities of steam are evolved mixed with organic vapours proceeding for the
greater part from the greasy molecules which the excrements contain.
temperature of the boiler is increased, the cock is closed, and by opening the other
cock the above mentioned vapours are led into the retort, which may then be
empty, or contain only a little carbon or bone-black. The organic vapours are
decomposed at the temperature to which the retorts are heated into combustible

page_text: and lighting gases, which are sent, like those mentioned above, to burn in the fire
place of the boiler, or if it be desired to use them for lighting they are directed
towards the refining apparatus used for dry distillation, and from thence into the
gasometers. When no more gas is evolved the excrements are taken out of the
boilers in the same way as previously described for the other matters; they are
then treated by dry distillation or used for the kind of manure called "desiccated
night soil," or they are mixed with others obtained by later operations. Blood is
treated in the same manner in the boiler. As to the water when it is decanted,
filtered, and partly disinfected, it is caused to flow into a tank covered with a bell
provided with hydraulic closure, and thence it is directed into a boiler similar to
the above but much larger. The water in this tank is mixed with slacked limo
in variable quantity according to the richness of the water, on an average with
7 to 8%, and is then evaporated. The ammonia separated from its salts by the
lime and driven off by heat is collected in the absorption chamber. The water,
when it does not contain any more alkali, is sent directly to the filters, it is
entirely purified from organic particles and lime in suspension, and totally
disinfected by the action of the bone-black. The number of filters and their
The animal matters which
dimension vary according to the water to be treated.
have been submitted to the different treatments already mentioned, those containing
a small proportion of water, or those that could not not be pressed on account of
their physical construction, and those that it would not be desirable to separate
from their grease in order to use their richest parts in the manufacture of gas, aro
submitted to dry distillation separately, mixed together, or mixed with other
bodies, such as coal dust, bituminous, and other matters. The temperature to
which they are submitted varies according to their nature, it is generally
about 500° A regular pressure is also to be maintained in the apparatus for the
production of gas; it is to be varied, according to the greater or less proportion of
fat contained by the matters to be treated between from inch to 1 inches of
water. These conditions are essential in order to give to the gas produced a great
The distilling
lighting power, and to make the other products of good quality.
oven contains a number of retorts in proportion to the importance and division
of the work, but an oven with five retorts with return of the flame will be
convenient in most cases.
Each retort is closed during distillation in the ordinary manner. The retorts are
provided with a pipe which projects a short distance behind the furnace. A second
pipe provided with a plate held by a screw to facilitate cleaning is connected with
the aforesaid pipe and passes through the hydraulic valve. This valve serves for
regulating the pressure to which the gas is to be submitted in the retort by
means of a water manoscope. A pipe leads the gas from the valve into a chamber,
from whence another pipe conducts it to an ordinary refrigerator and puritier with
lime, from which it is directed to a gasometer. When the gas is only to be used
for heating it is conducted into the absorption chamber already described, and
from thence directed to be used as fuel wherever it is required, for there is no fear
of a diminution of the standard quality of the gas by the absorption of the volatile
lighting hydrogen carburets, which are soluble in the sulphuric acid of the
absorption chambers.
The retorts being heated to the temperature required by the matters to be
treated, the latter are charged by means of a ladle containing the complete charge
of a retort, the ladle is emptied as quickly as possible, the plug is put on the retort
and screwed down at once, the valve is instantly opened, affording a passage to
the gas by raising or lowering it more or less; the pressure in the retort is
regulated by using as guide the water nanoscope. The greasy matters melt and
distil, becoming immediately decomposed by their passage in the retort and in the
tube, which renders the quantity of grease very small, which without that circum-
stance might have escaped decomposition. Consequently there is a less abundaunt
formation of sediment in the pipes, less greasy tar, and a greater quantity of very
good lighting gas.

page_text: The different kinds of gas in passing through the chamber deposit the greatest
part of the tar mixed with a trifling quantity of ammoniacal water; in traversing
the refrigerator they lose the remainder of the tar and ammoniacal water; more-
over in the lime purifier they are deprived of the carbonic acid they contain.
The gases pass afterwards into the gasometers to be used as lighting and heating
gas in the ordinary way, or as compressed portable gas.
When the gases are produced from excrements it is necessary to add for the
purifying process sulpho-hydric acid to the carbonic acid, as these matters contain
sometimes sulphuretted compounds; but in most cases the purifying with lime is
sufficient. The only gas contained in lighting gas that might be detrimental either
to health or to the beauty of the light is carbonic acid. It contains only trifling
traces of oxide of carbon and contains no sulphuretted hydrogen. When gas no
longer passes through the operation is finished. The water is then on the same
level in the two branches of the manoscope. The matters contained in the retorts
are then removed; for that purpose the cover of the retort is removed and tho
hydraulic valve is closed, the operator taking care to present burning coals to
the opening of the retort, so that the gases with which it is yet filled burn in
coming out without having time to form explosive mixtures with the air. Tho
carbonized matters are quickly removed and caused to fall on to a damper which
is closed hermetically, then the operations are repeated for a new charge.
The products of the operation arc,-
1st. Bone black for use in refineries, black for the manufacture of paints,
blacking, and especially carbo-azotic blacks for manure.
2nd. Ammoniacal water marking about 14° Beaumé, and containing on an
average about 2 ounces of ammonia to the quart, to be used for the manufacture
of ammoniacal salts, and in certain cases for the requirements of agriculture
in the natural state after being saturated with alkali.
3rd.. The gas serving, as has been already mentioned, either for lighting or
heating.
4th. The tar, which may be sold as it is or treated anew for the manufacture of
gas by mixing it with the matters treated.
The matters serving for the manufacture of manures are,―
1st. Animalized lime, which has been used for the treatment of the waters.
2nd. Black in powder, having been used for the filtration of that water, the
black being revived.
3rd. The fecal matters and the blood treated in the boiler and reduced to a state
of desiccated inodorous powder.
4th. The matters taken out of the absorption chamber after a certain number of
operations. These matters covered and impregnated with a great quantity of raw
sulphate of ammonia have been triturated, and contain consequently a very
considerable proportion of ammoniacal salts.
5th. The black for refineries badly damped or badly carbonized, the bone-black
produced especially for manure, the black produced froin leather, flesh, and generally
animal matters of any kind treated at at the works.
All these matters, which for themselves are powerful manures, are dosed after
previous experiments, and after their trituration mixed in a manner to form a
homogeneous whole, containing all the fertilizing principles, among which pre-
dominate carbon, azote, phosphate, from which it derives its name carbo-azoted-
phosphated manure.
Besides it is very easy, knowing the composition of the matters which constitute
it, to increase some of their constituents in order to obtain a manure better qualified
for certain crops.
The ammoniacal water being treated to separate the ammonia in a state of raw
salts (nitrate, sulphate, and chlorluydrate), these salts are employed to increase the
richness of these manures in azote in the most convenient form, so that these
Dianures may be adapted to all kinds of agriculture.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th April 1881.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of
23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent.
"CONVERTING ALL KINDS OF REFUSE AND INFECTIOUS ANIMAL MATTERS INTO GAS
AND OTHER USEFUL PRODUCTS FOR AGRICULTURE AND TRADE, AND MEANS OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN.' A communication from abroad by Lorenzo
Enrico Ernesto Claro Delfino Theodoro Anthony, of Toulouse, Haute Garonne,
France.
The Invention consists in a process for rendering generally more wholesome
the manufacture of carbo-azoted-phosphated manures, bone-black, ammoniacal salts,
tar, fat, or tallows, fertilizing ashes, lighting and heating gas, by the especial
treatment in closed vessels by pressure, straining, and separation of fat, effected by
Anthony's fat separating and evaporating apparatus, of all animal substances con-
sidered as unwholesome and susceptible of producing miasmas, such for instance, as
divers excrements, the bodies of animals which have died from disease, by accident,
or have been killed on account of their age, meat and fish seized as unwholesome,
waste produced in trades treating animal matters, refuse of tripe dressers, kitchens,
fisheries, bones, blood, old boots and shoes, and in general all matters of animal
origin.
When the animal matters or refuse to be treated contains more than 20 to
25 per cent. of liquid parts, they are submitted as soon as they arrive at the
works to the action of a common press. The water driven out by the press and
charged with organic matters runs off by an outlet a into a tank A (Figure 1 in
the Drawings).
This tank is constructed of any kind of materials and cemented; it is hermetically
closed by means of a bell shaped dome E with hydraulic closure provided with a
pipe C for the escape of gases in communication with the fire place of the apparatus
for dry distillation; also with a manhole e provided with a hydraulic closure, by
which quick lime is introduced into the tank for partially disinfecting the water
contained in it. The tauk is moreover provided with an agitator having spatulas d
for distributing the lime throughout the whole of the liquid mass, and two plunging
tubes, the one a to be used for conveying the waters from the press, the other b for
their discharge after treatment with lime by means of the suction and forcing
pump P, which sends them to the strainer or filter F.
This filter is composed of three columns 1, 2, and 3, mounted the two first on the
cylinder B, and the third on the cylinder C. The column 1 is the largest, and the
two others are of similar height and joined together by the pipe f. The cylinder B
is connected by a pipe g, provided with a cock r, with a third cylinder D, which
discharges by means of a pipe i into a cistern for sediments, to which flow also the
waters from the column 3. This cylinder is destined to receive the liquid con-
tained in the filters 1, 2, and the cylinder B when the bone black is to be changed.
The three columns are provided at their upper part with three screw threaded
covers k, l, m, to enable them to be charged with bone black, with which each of
them is to be filled to within a short distance (say 8 inches) from the top; the
cylinders B, C, are also closed by covers n, o, p, like those mentioned above, serving
for their own discharge and that of the columns 1, 2, 3; as to the cylinder D, it is
charged and emptied through the opening g, n', closed by screw threaded pressure
plugs. The columns 1, 2, 3, and the cylinders B, C, D, being filled with bone black
and hermetically closed, the waters are caused to flow through the pipe b' into the
op of the column 1, whence they descend into and pass through the cylinder B,

page_text: whence they rise up column 2 and flow from the upper end thereof through the
connecting pipe into the third column, through the bone black of which they finish
their filtration, and from thence flow to the cistern tank. When the filter is full
the action of the pump is much decreased, for the water running off at the bottom
of the filter exerts a power equal to that which it requires to raise it to the level at
the top of the column 1. When it is desired to change the bone black of the
filters, the cock is opened, and the waters contained in the columns 1, 2, and
cylinder B run off and are filtered in cylinder D, whence they flow into the
cistern.
By this filtering process the water is completely disinfected and separated from
the lime and the organic substances it contained.
The lime in which the disinfected animal refuse is contained serves for
the manufacture of manures, as well as the bone black taken out of the
filters.
Moreover, the latter may be revivified and used several times. The pressed
substances are treated in the furnaces for dry distillation; there are thus
obtained more concentrated ammoniacal waters and a less abundant formation of
hydrogen, oxide of carbon, carbonic acid, and all gases which would diminish the
standard quality of lighting gas generally produced by the decomposition of steam
in presence of the carbon of the candescent substances, as well as in presence of the
red heated sides of the retort; when the latter is metallic, the quantity of fuel used
in the fire place of the furnace is less; that alone pays the work of the press.
The filtered and disinfected waters are drawn up to be used in the steam
generator of the works, and may be employed for all the requirements of the
work.
Animal refuse which contains quantities of grease above that required for
supplying the ordinary lighting gas and heating gas of the place where the works
are established, must be submitted to the separation of the fatty substance, which
is effected by a grease separator and evaporator composed of the following
apparatus, Figure 2:-The boiler A hermetically closed by means of a removeable
cover. It is surrounded by a sheet iron casing D, inside of which circulate at will
hot gases and super-heated steam.
The bottom of the boiler is convex on the inside below the cover, and fixed
thereto by double bolts; a, a, is a circular plate of sheet iron with perforations or a
cast iron grating E. On the bottom of the boiler is placed a second plate, similar
to the first, supported by rods b, b, and nuts. This arrangement serves to compress
the matters contained between the two discs by the forcible raising of the cover
plate by means of the said screws b, b, and nuts. The boiler is provided with a
water gauge N, a discharge cock R, a clearing pipe T, to which is branched a
pressure gauge P, and four semi cylindrical pipes 1, 2, 3, 4, rivetted to the outside
of the boiler, and perforated with holes cominunicating with the boiler, serving for
the running out of the liquefied grease, as well as with safety tubes in case of
obstruction of the holes in one of the discs by the compressed substances. The
casing D is provided with two pipes f, c, the one for the entrance of the hot gas
and steam, the other for the escape of the gases and vapours after they have
produced their heating effect; this latter pipe e may be connected at will with a
refrigerator, and from thence with the fire place, or directly with the same fire
place.
The boiler has also a man hole H.
The absorption chamber C is made of wood, or sheet iron, or other material, but
always lined with sheets of lead. It is divided into three vertical compartments
by sheet lead partitions, having each an upper opening for charging, and opening
towards the bottom for discharging; these openings are closed during the working
by plugs with pressure screws. A pipe with a rose made of lead distributes
sulphuric acid in each compartment, which has also a leaden grating or perforated
plate for letting the excess of acid run off into the lower tank. This acid at a
given level flows through a tube K into a reservoir of sheet lead, from which it is

page_text: made to rise again above the chamber of absorption by the action of the steam from
the generator upon its surface, until it is perfectly neutralized by its passage
through ammonical vapours divided by absorbing substances (charcoal, leather
black, pumice stone, or other material) contained in the leaden chambers.
The furnace B contains two retorts, each closed at one of its ends, the other end
being closed by a luted cover. The retort 1 is provided with a pipe for the
admission of the vapours connected with the pipe T communicating with the boiler,
and a second pipe which leads the vapours after their passage through this retort
into the second; the latter is provided with another, f, leading the vapours and
gases into the casing D.
The waters from the pressing apparatus or from any other source are introduced
above the bottom of the boiler, and the cover fastened, the matters about to be
treated being charged through the manhole, these matters having been previously
sprinkled with quick lime in the proportion of from 2 to 10 per cent., according to
the nature and structure of the matters or refuse. The manhole is then closed and
the fire lighted.
2°
When the pressure gauge marks two atmospheres of pressure the fire is slackened,
and the cock is opened connecting the boiler with the retorts filled with iron
filings, carbon, or, still better, with black produced by the dry distillation of old
boots and shoes in the raw state, that is to say, with the nails and the pieces of
iron adhering to them. The retorts have been previously heated to red heat.
The steam evolved from the boiler, carrying along with it organic particles and
vapours, is introduced into the retorts, the organic molecules are decomposed into
carbon and combustible gases, while the steam, in presence of the incandescent
matters is decomposed according to the following formulas:-
1. In presence of iron, HO + Fe = H + Fe O.
2. In prosence of carbon in the first retort, 3 HO+2C=3H + CO + CO².
3. In presence of carbon in the second retort the carbonic acid is converted into
oxide of carbon, CO² + C = 2 CO; or general formula for carbon, 3 HO + 3 C =
3H + 3 CO.
The gases formed mixed with the small quantity of steam which has escaped
decomposition and which is super-heated escapes through the exit pipe of the
second retort and enters the casing D of the boiler A. It leaves in the latter the
greatest part of its caloric, and according to the quantity of steam and ammonical
vapours it contains they are directed towards the fire place F or led previously
through a condenser L. The combustible gases, oxide of carbon, and hydrogen, and
some little carburetted hydrogen, are burnt as well as all the other carbon and
hydrogen gases, and serve as fuel, without infecting the vicinity of the works, as
would be the case if the refuse to be treated were boiled in the open air in the
boiler A.
The lime with which the animal matters are sprinkled becomes slacked by the
water which they contain and the steam which fills the boiler and attacks the
membranes and cells, thereby causing the grease they contain to flow out freely.
Besides the action of the lime the refuse is submitted to two other actions. The
matters dry up by losing the water of evaporation, the water at the bottom being
then vaporized, and the matters are separated from the fat, for the tallow and
other grease being no longer kept back or melted by the action of the lime and by
the temperature to which the boiler is heated, and run off through the matters or
refuse. Further, the matters under treatment are compressed by means of the
screw threaded rods and nuts, and the fat running out through all the interstices
falls to the bottom, and may be drawn off by opening the cock R from time to
time, which may be determined by examining the level N. When, after having
pressed the discs down to the bottom, no further flowing of the fat takes place the
operation is finished. The greasy matters thus obtained are used for the manu-
facture of excellent soap and fat acids; if they were to be applied to any other
purpose for which the small quantity of lime contained in the grease would be a
disadvantage it may be replaced by alum.

page_text: Then the chains of a crane are hooked to the rings a', a', of the cover, the bolts
of the cover are loosened, the latter is taken off, and at the same time the two
discs and the matters or refuse they contain are withdrawn from the boiler. The
whole is then lowered into a damper made of sheet iron, placed on a little carriage,
which is then closed, and carried to the workroom for dry distillation, where the
matters or refuse are put in the oven at once or after having left them to cool in
the damper, according to the requirements of the service. During that time the
crane puts a second cover in its place with spare discs; the manhole being opened,
the cover is bolted down, and another quantity of matter put in; the manhole is
closed, and another operation begun.
When fecal matters are to be treated in order to transform or convert them into
inodorous manure the boiler A is employed, these matters having been previously
decanted, and the liquid part strained off. No water is put into the bottom of the
boiler, and it is charged with the fecal matters in a pasty state, consequently con-
taining yet a certain quantity of water, which passes into the false bottom of the
boiler. When the charging is done the cover is luted, and the operation proceeds
as described above; only instead of opening at the beginning the cock 7, which
connects the boiler A with the retorts, the vapours are led into the absorbing
chamber by opening the cock r¹. These vapours contain ammonical salts, which
in passing through the layers of absorbing matter contained in the absorbing
chamber are transformed, in the presence of the sulphuric acid in them, into
sulphate of ammonia, which remains in the pores of the matters and forms a
sediment on their surface.
The steam which escapes from the chamber of absorption is sent either into the
retorts to be transformed into gas, as mentioned above, or into a refrigerator to be 1
condensed. When the liquid part has been evaporated in the boiler only small
quantities of steam are evolved mixed with organic vapours proceeding for the
greater part from the greasy molecules which the excrements contain.
The temperature of the boiler is increased, the cock r is closed, and by opening
the cock the above mentioned vapours are led into the retort D, which may then
then be empty or contain only a little carbon or bone black. The organic vapours
are decomposed at the temperature to which the retorts are heated into combus-
tible and lighting gases, which are sent like those mentioned above to burn in the
fire place of the boiler; or, if it be desired to use them for lighting, they are
directed towards the refining apparatus used for dry distillation, and from thence
into gasometers. When no more gas is evolved the excrements are taken out of
the boiler in the same way as previously described for the preceding matters; they
are then treated by dry distillation, converted into coal, which may be used for
the heating of the apparatus, and leaves as residuum about 50 per cent. of ashes
of the following composition:-

page_text: absorption chamber. The water, when it does not contain any more alkali, is
sent directly to the filters; it is thus entirely purified from organic particles and
lime in suspension, and totally disinfected by the action of the bone black. Tho
number of filters and their dimensions vary according to the water to be
treated.
The animal matters or refuse which have been submitted to the different
treatments already mentioned, those containing a small proportion of water, or
those which could not be pressed on account of their physical structure, and those
it would not be desirable to separate from their grease in order to use the richest parts
in the manufacture of gas are submitted to dry distillation separately, mixed together,
or mixed with other bodies, such as coal dust, bituminous, and other matters. The
temperature to which they are submitted varies according to their nature; it is
generally about 500°. A regular pressure is also to be maintained in the apparatus
for the production of gas; it is to be varied, according to the greater or less proportion
of fat contained by the matters to be treated, between from inch to 1 inches of
water. These conditions are essential in order to give to the gas produced a great
lighting power, and to make the other products of good quality. The distilling oven
contains 3, 5, 7, or other number of retorts, according to the importance and the
division of the work, but an oven with fivo retorts with return of the flame, as
shown at Figure 3, will be convenient in most cases. The retorts may be of metal
or refractory clay. Each one is closed at one of its ends, the other being open and
serving for charging with the matters or refuse.
This opening is closed during the distillation by a plug operated by a screw, and
luted with loam. The retorts are provided with a pipe e, which projects a short
distance behind the furnace from about 4 to 6 inches.
A second pipe f, provided with a plate p, held by a screw to facilitate cleaning,
is connected with the aforesaid pipe e, and passes through the hydraulic valve V.
This valvo serves for regulating the pressure to which the gas is to be submitted
in the retort by means of a water manoscope m. A pipe g leads the gas from the
valve into the chamber B, from whenco another pipe / conducts it to an ordinary
refrigerator and purifier with lime, from which it is directed to a gasometer. When
the gas is only to be used for heating it is conducted into the absorption chamber
already described, and from thence directed to be used as fuel wherever it is
required, for there is no fear of a diminution of the standard quality of the gas by
the absorption of the volatile lighting hydrogen carburets which are soluble in the
sulphuric acid of the absorption chambers.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-The retorts being heated to the
temperature required by the matters to be treated, the latter are charged by means
of a ladle containing the complete charge of a retort; the ladle is emptied as
quickly as possible, the plug is put on the retort and screwed down at once by
means of the screw v, the valve is instantly opened affording a passage to the gas;
by raising or lowering it more or less, the pressure in the retort is regulated by
using as guide the water manoscope. The greasy substances melt and distil,
becoming immediately decomposed by their passage in the retort and in the tube e,
which renders the quantity of grease very small, which without that circumstance
might have escaped decomposition. Consequently there is a less abundant
formation of sediment in the pipes, less greasy tar, and a greater quantity of
very good lighting gas. The different kinds of gas in passing through the
chamber, deposit the greater part of the tar mixed with a trifling quantity of
ammonical water; in traversing the refrigerator, they lose the remainder of the
tar and ammoniacal water, moreover in the lime purifier they are deprived of the
carbonic acid they contain. The gases pass afterwards into the gasometers to be
used as lighting and heating gas in the ordinary way, or as compressed portable
gas. When the gases are produced from excrements, it is necessary to add for the
purifying process sulpho-hydric-acid to the carbonic-acid, as these matters contain
sometimes sulphuretted compounds; but in most cases the purifying with lime is
sufficient. The only gas contained in this lighting gas that might be detrimental

page_text: either to the health or the beauty of the light is a small quantity of carbonic acid.
It contains only trifling traces of oxide of carbon, and contains no sulphuretted
hydrogen. When gas no longer passes through, the operation is finished. The
water is then on the same level in the two branches of the manoscope. The
inatters or refuse contained in the retorts are then removed for that purpose,
the cover of the retort is removed, and the hydraulic valve V is closed, the operator
taking care to present burning coals at the opening of the retort, so that the gases
with which it is yet filled burn in coming out without having time to form
explosive mixtures with the air. The carbonized matters are quickly removed, and
caused to fall into a damper which is closed hermetically; the operations are then
repeated for a new charge.
The products of the operations are,-
1. Boneblack for use in refineries, black for the manufacture of paints, blacking,
and especially carbo-azotic-blacks for manure.
2. Ammonical waters, marking about 14 Beaumé, and containing on an average
about 2 ounces of ammonia to the quart, to be used for the manufacture of
ammonical salts, and in certain cases in the natural state after being saturated
with alkali for the requirements of agriculture.
3. The gas serving, as has been already mentioned, either for lighting or heating.
4. The tar, which may be sold as it is or treated anew for the manufacture of gas
by mixing it with the matters to be treated.
The matters serving, for the manufacture of manures are,-
1. Animalized lime, which has been used for the treatment of the water.
2. Black in powder, having been used for the filtration of that water, the black
being revived.
3. The fecal matters and blood treated in the boiler A, and reduced to a state of
desiccated inodorous powder, the ashes of carbonized excrements.
4. The refuse taken out of the absorption chamber after a certain number of
operations. These matters covered and impregnated with a quantity of raw
sulphate of ammonia have been triturated, and contain consequently a very
considerable proportion of ammonical salts.
5. The black for refineries, badly damped or badly carbonized, the boneblack
produced especially for manure, the black produced from leather, flesh, and
generally animal matters, or refuse of any kind treated at the works. All these
matters, which for themselves are powerful manures, are dosed after previous experi-
ments, and after their trituration mixed in a manner to form a homogeneous whole,
containing all the fertilizing principles, among which predominate carbon-azote-
phosphate from which it derives its name.
CARBO-AZOTED-PHOSPHATED MANURE.
Besides, it is very easy, knowing the composition of the matters which constitute
it, to increase some of their constituents, in order to obtain a manure better
qualified for certain crops.
The ammonical water being treated to separate the ammonia in a state of raw
salts (nitrate, sulphate, and chlorhydrate); these salts are employed to increase the
richness of those manures in azote in the most convenient form, so that these
manures may be adapted to all kinds of agriculture.
According to the foregoing this process allows of,—
1. Rendering more healthy the towns where the works are established, for it
affords the means to treat as they are produced, and in closed vessels, all kinds of
animal matters or refuse which generally form pestilential focuses by remaining in
the establishments and works where they are produced, either when they are
thrown away as rubbish, or when they are stored up in storehouses of wholesale
merchants, in order to collect complete loads for sale.
2. Treating all kinds of animal matters or refuse, some of which would be
entirely lost or used only in part, and converting them entirely into useful products
that may be employed in manufactures and criculture

page_text: The various animal matters or refuse to be treated by this process are removed
to the works by closed carriages lined with sheet iron, and painted inside with red
lead. The disinfection of these matters or refuse is effected before removal by
animal charcoal produced by this process, and mixed with salts diluted in
pyrogenated liquids.
.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
First. The process of converting all kinds of infectious animal matters or refuse
into gas and other useful products to be employed in agriculture and manufactures,
substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
Second. The means or apparatus employed in the process of converting all kinds
of infectious animal matters into gas and other useful products, substantially as
herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty ninth of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
B. J. B. MILLS. (L.S.)