Specification of William Henry Hughan : treating sewage, &c.

  • Hughan, William Henry.
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of William Henry Hughan : treating sewage, &c. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Hughan’s Improvements in Treating Sewage, 8fC. 1 hundredweight common salt, 1 hundredweight carbonate of magnesia (native dolomite) in powder to the ton of excrements, adding sufficient acid generally 400 pounds to dissolve the phosphates, hut sometimes much less acid is necessary. Having ground up the contents of the ash barrels 5 I incorporate them with the nightsoil superphosphate mixture in equal parts in the mortar mill, adding sulphate of lime until the proper degree of consistency is arrived at. This is then withdrawn from the mill and allowed to set and harden, until dry enough for crushing, after which it is ready for use. If not sufficiently dry for crushing I drive off the 10 uncombined moisture by application of heat when rapidity of manu¬ facture is essential. I sometimes add other ingredients besides carbonate of magnesia into the dissolving tub along with the phosphates, and I sometimes add other manure ingredients, such as potash for incorporation in the mortar mill when I want to manufacture special manures. The 15 nightsoil when not used in the superphosphate manufacture must be treated to acid, and I would prefer to use a carboy to a ton of nightsoil before being cemented up, otherwise it is dangerous to protracting, overpowering, and sometimes destroying the cementatious principle. I sometimes use Portland cement, and this I prefer to use in the same 20 manner as the plaster of Paris or sulphate of lime as herein-before described in combination with the superphosphated urinous or nightsoil mixture, sometimes adding sulphate of magnesia and chloride of sodium. Portland cement I consider the best cementer of nightsoil alone or in combination with phosphates, magnesia, and salt, but I occasionally use 25 other suitable cements upon considerations of price, locality, carriage, or otherwise. I manufacture another modification of a cheap urinous superphosphate by incorporating and grinding equal (by preference) proportions of excreta and ashes either as collected mixed or separately, When ground to an impalpable paste I add sufficient acid (hydrocoloric, 30 sulphuric, or nitric,) to dissolve the mass. After this mixture is cool I cement it up with sulphate of lime or other cements, and when sufficiently dried it is crushed and fit for use. I sometimes also enrich the last named mixture by adding a proportion of phosphates to the ashes and excreta before being dissolved with the acid, and likewise substitute 35 evaporation for cementation, utilising the cinder produce of the ashes for that purpose. Having now particularly described the nature and object of my Invention and in what manner the same is performed, I hereby declare