The Chemical Age, M ay 5th, 1945» W IT H M E T A LL U R G IC A L S E C T IO N
MOST
EpT (2 COOPER ST.. HANLEY. S T O K E-o n -TR EN T London O ffice: 329. H igh Hoi born, W .C.l.
P hone: Ho!born 6 0 2 3 Y O L . L n
No. 1349 S A T U R D A Y , M A Y 5, 19 4 5
R E G IS T E R E D AS A N EW SPA PER •
6 D. P E R COPY P o s t 1? r e e 8 d .
H IG H ' SPEED M I X E R . T h m ach in e is d esig n ed fo r M ixing cellu lo se, d is te m p e r, e m u lsio n ’s, en a m els, Inks, lu b ric a n ts, oils and s im ila r liq u id s. It is also fo r th in n in g , tin tin g , c ru sh in g an d liq u efy in g m a t
erials. P erfe c t lu b r i
ca tio n is given to th e g ea rs, w hich a re to ta lly en c lo se d and ru n in oil
m m m m ® i
BALL & PEBBLE MILLS
fo r th e grinding of all kinds of Chemicals, Clays, Fibres, Paints, Enamels, M inerals, N itro-cellulose, lacquers, etc., and practically every substance w hich can be reduced by abrasion. In addition, th ey are m ost efficient M ixers. T h e o p eratio n s o f mixing
and grinding a re accomplished sim u ltan eo u sly . ’
’
v \
L e t us sen d y o u :a’br.£i^Mi1& 1 deal! ng in g re atd h *tfeValf J w i t h S t e e l - S h a wjf mach! ijes. . V M
P O R C ELA IN PO T MILLS. F o r w e t o r d ry g rin d in g o f sm all b atc h es and la b o r a to r y te s tin g sam p le s, and are m ad e up in v ario u s u n its co n tain in g fro m o n e to n in e p o ts.
STEELE&COWLISHAW LTD
Engineers
T b sjv tÁ f 2 a fp £n Ź U )U jS % xpm ¿iace. fin . ^ -u n x lis u fr^ ~
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y. 5, 1 9 4 5
WELLS OIL FILTERS
NEW FE give OLD OIL
W ith W e lls ’ W a s te - O il F ilte r y o u can u se y o u r o il se v e ra l tim e s
o v e r an d ch a n g e I t m o re o fte n . A th o ro u g h ly re lia b le su p p ly o f oil* Is as s u re d w ith th e u se o f W ells*
Special F ilte r Pads w h ich w o r k In c o n ]u n c tlo n w ith W ells* P a te n t S yp h o n F eed.
A.C. WELLS
& CO. LTD
P R O V I D E N C E M I U S ' H Y D E ' C H E S H I R E
Write for luiler particulars of these oil filters.
Telephone : H yde 953 Telegrams :Un~
breakable Hyde.
BÄKELAQUE PHENOLIC
RESINS
for acid-proof coatings for abrasive w heels for electrical insulation
ÄTTWÄTER & SONS, L td.
Est. 1868
HOPWOOD STREET MI L L , PRESTON, ENG.
V ALVES A N D A CCESSO RIES IN A L L APPRO PRIATE
METALS FOR TH E CH EM ICA L TRA D E
B r it is h S tea m S p e c ia l t ie s L t d . ^
W H A R F S T R E E T . L E IC E S T E R STANDARD PRODUCTIONS FROM STOCK AT:—
LEICESTER. L O N D O N , LIVERPOOL, W H IS T O N , G LA SG O W , BRISTOL. M ANCHESTER A N D NEW CASTLE - O N - TYNE
Ma y 5, 1945 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E
B A H A G OIL A N D FAT TREATING P LA N TS
O L E A G IN O U S S E E D E T C .- A N I M A L A N D M A R I N E P R O D U C T S .
C o h e o r R ealcL ue
T
S O L V E N T E X T R A C T I O N
F E R T I L I S E R S
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C A T T L E F O O D E T C .
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SAPON tF ICATJON
S O A P
G L Y C E R I N E
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C R U D E OIL FA TS P L I T T I N G
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F A T T V A C IO D IS T I L L A T I O N
C R U D E D Y N A M I T E A M D p H A P .M A C E U T I C A L
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S U L P H O N A T I O N
D E T E R G E N T S
S o a p S to c h .
-SX.EAR1NE.
P I T C H E T C .
W I N T E R I S I N G
S O A P S T O C K
I
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P i l s z£ £ ¿í¿JSl A N O V A R N I S H E S
H Y D R O G E N A T IO N
H ard O i l
D E O D O R IS IN G R e fin e d . H a r d ? > l l H a r d a n d w S o f t O llft
u
W I N T E R I S E D S T E A R l N g
£1J=.
B L E N D I N G A N O T E X T U R A T IO N
Hydrogen. H V D R O G E N P R O D U C T IO N
■9XYSLM.
P O S T R E F I N I N G
M A R G A R I N E - V E G E T A B L E G H g g C O N F E C T I O N E R Y E T C .
B a m a g Ltd . s u p p l y a l a r g e r a n g e o f P la nt f o r f h e C h e m ic a l a n d O i l In d u s try i n c l u d i n g th o s e m e n t i o n e d in th e a b o v e chart. D o n o t hesitate to call u p o n th e se rv ic e s o f th e B a m a g S p e cia lis t C h e m is ts a n d E n g in e e r s to h e l p y o u in th e p l a n n i n g o f y o u r plant.
Full p a rtic u la rs a n d l ite ra tu r e u p o n re q u e s t.
BAMAG
B A M A G L I M I T E D , U N I V E R S A L H O U S E
6 0 B U C K I N G H A M P A L A C E R O A D , L O N D O N , S . W . 1
T e l e p h o n e : S L O a n e 92 8 2 T e le g r a m s : B am ag, S o w esl, L o n d o n
B A M A G LIM ITED are on W ar O ffice and A dm iralty Lists
A
¡i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E M a y 5, 19-15
4 0 years’ e x p e r i e n c e enables us to supply
B E L T I N G
a n d
ENDLESS VEE ROPES
• - o f — —...- .... —
S u p e r l a t i v e Q u a l i t y
L A R G E S T O C K S . . . P R O M P T D I S P A T C H
FRANCIS W .
HARRIS & Co. L td.
B U R S L E M -S to k e -o n -T re n t P h o n e : S to k e -o n -T re n t 7181-2
W i r e t : B elting, B urslem
A. J. RILEY & SON, L td
BATLEY, YORKS
ESTA BLISH EO 1888 Telegrams: " B O ILERS, B A T L E Y .- Telephone: 657 B A T L E Y (3 lines)
M akers of
MILD STEEL RIVETED A N D WELDED VESSELS JACKETED PANS COMPLETE
W ITH AGITATORS SHEET LEAD O R HOM OGENEOUS
LINED VESSELS TAR, BENZOLE & OIL STILLS CONDENSERS, EVAPORATORS
A N D DISTILLING PLANTS MILD STEEL PIPES
ALL PRESSURES LANCASHIRE, CORNISH ECONO M IC & W .T . BOILERS
D U NLOP RUBBER C O . LTD. (GENERAL RUBBER G O O D S DIVISION)
W ORKS A N D HEAD O FFIC E: CAMBRIDGE STREET, MANCHESTER
London : C lerkenw ell House, Birmingham : Dunlop House, Livery S treet, 3 C lerkenw ell G reen, E.C. I Glasgow ; 48-60 and 70-78
Liverpool: 24 C ornhill, Park Lane, I N o rth W allace S treet, C.4
" 45/O.R.G/7B
A COMPLETE INDUSTRIAL RUBBER SERVICE
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Ma y- 5, 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E . iii
V-BELTS
The unique co nstruction and perform ance of Dunlop extensive research and ex p erim e n t by Dunlop technicians.
V-Belts w ith th e Dunlop C ontinuous Spiral c o n stru ctio n are noted fo r th e ir
• e x tre m e flexibility and absence of s tre tc h . They have se t new standards of efficiency in p ow er transm ission. This is belting w hich gives long and tro u b le - free service — service in th e Dunlop trad itio n .
^DUNLOP
KE.STNF.ll
B A R B I T O N E
BARBITONE SOLUBLE ALLOBARBITO N E.
CYCLOBARBITONE
F IN E S T Q U A LITY.
A C T U A L L Y M A N U F A C T U R E D A T B A R N E T
.. = by --- --- ----
PIERSON, MORRELL & CO., LTD.
(THE ORIGINAL BRITISH ASPIRIN MAKERS)
Q U E E N ’S RO AD - BA R N ET - HERTS
P hone : B arnet 0723 G ram s : Pierson, M orrell, B arnet
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y 5, 1 9 4 5
ÄXIÄL-FLOW ACID FANS
AN ENTIRELY N E W A D D IT IO N T O TH E W E LL.
K N O W N R A N G E O F K E S T N E R F A N S D E S I G N E D O N A D V A N C E D A E R O D Y N A M I C P R I N C I P L E S , -<■—
BUILT ENTIRELY O F CHEMICALLY
RESISTANT MATERIALS - —
These fans will ensure trouble-free work
ing with high efficiency when used for draughting highly corrosive gases and fumes including :
SULPHUR DIOXIDE NITROUS AND
SULPHUR TRIOXIDE NITRIC OXIDE
CHLORINE AN D HYDROCHLORIC ACID
KESTNER EVAPORATOR & ENGINEERING CO. LTD.
C H E M I C A L E N G I N E E R S
5, Grosvenor Gardens . . . London, S.W. I
Ma y 5, iy-i5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
NEWTON CHAMBERS &C0 LTD THQRNCUFFE N r SHEFFIELD
P E N I C I L L f N
THE GREAT LIFE S A V E R
Can only be m a n u factu re d in s te r ile p la n t.
“ L ith co te ” linings have b ee n ap p ro v ed fo r th is p u rp o s e by th e M inistry of W o r k s and a re n o w in use by m any of th e leading m a n u fa c tu re rs of P enicillin.
" L ith c o te ” lined vessels (lined in situ o r a t o u r W o rk s ) give c o m p le te p r o te c tio n ag ain st c o rro s iv e m edia, being in e r t to w a rd s acids, s o lv en ts, b rin e s, alco h o ls, fats, oils, sy ru p s, and give p ro te c tio n against m e tallic co n ta m in a tio n .
P lease ask fo r copy of o u r new B ro c h u re . AH e n q u irie s in th e U n ite d K ingdom and Irelan d to :—
N E W T O N C H A M B E R S & C O . , L T D .,
I r o n W o r k s , T H O R N C L I F F E , N r . S H E F F I E L D
“L I T H C O T E ”
llo v e d
IN THE NATIONAL
C A U S E
v i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y 5, 1.945
uve c íiii s u b t r a c t a s m e lt
In m any industrial processes it’s im p o rtan t to have your substance m inus its smell or m inus its im purities, since it may be going into a food or drink o r a beauty p reparation.
O ur Active C arbon can do m ore than deodorise, o f course.
It can de-colourise. It can sim plify crystallisation. It can im prove co lo u r and increase concentration. I t can rem ove detrim ental flavours.
It can clean precious liquids an d gases. In o th e r w ords it can rem ove the obstacles in th e way o f im proving the quality and attractiveness o f m any products in every day use, an d ou r advisory dep artm en t will be only to o pleased to assist th e process.
S U T C L I F F E S P EAKMAN
A N D C O M P A N Y LTD L E IG H * L A N C A S H I R E
L ondon O ffic e : 6 6 Victoria S t., S . W .l. V ic to r ia 7982-3 M e l b o u r n e A g e n t s — M e s s r s . H . R. H ill & S o n , P ty . L td ., 350 K in g S t r e e t .
Y e sta m in is p u re , d rie d , d e -b itte rc d Y east— ric h e st in V itam in s B1 an d B2 — w ith a 40 p e r c e n t P ro te in c o n te n t. I t a d d s g re atly to Food V alue, a n d im p a rts a n ap p etisin g , p iq u a n t flavour th a t re su lts in in c re ased d e m a n d fo r y o u r P rocessed F oods.
Y E S f a M
YES .. a /ie , tA e , coTn& ttfac& w fe)
YESTAMIN
B R A N D O F P U R E D R I E D Y E A S T T H E E N G L I S H G R A I N S C O . L T D . , B U R T O N - O N - T R E N TR E C O ,
L a b o r a to r y Glassware
used wherever GLASS and HEAT meet
made by CHANCE BROTHERS LTD. J V
HEAD OFFICE A N D 'W O R K S , SM ETH W IC K ,. BIRMINGHAM i l
L O N D O N OFFICE: 10, PRINCES STREET, W ESTMINSTER. S .W .I UiiYiV.S
Stocks held by all recognised Laboratory Furnishers
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
w m m Ę m M '
V;‘.‘ ■T HE C H E M I C A L A G E . Ma y 5, 1 9 4 5
Thu Research Chemist
The interest aroused in the public mind by the achievements o f the Research Chemist is based primarily on the practical value o f his discoveries, but the lay mind has little understanding o f the difficul
ties and the problems encountered before laboratory synthesis can be translated into factory production.
After the dram atic discovery comes the generally far more difficult task o f meeting the demand occasioned by it, and such problems have been accentuated during the last few years by the worry o f wartime scarcities. Patience, resource and unremitting effort are just as necessary in research and develop
ment work as the occasional flash of inspiration, and these qualities have helped the chemist to deal successfully with the many trouble
some situations which the war has brought.
The research workers o f May &
Baker have had their share o f war
time difficulties to overcome.
W ithout their efforts m any of our customers would have been less satisfied with the service we have been able to give them. Perhaps the problems which face you fall within the scope of their experience?
If so, we should be pleased to attem pt to solve them. T elephone:
Ilford 3060. Extensions 71 o r 72.
May & I laker L td
D A G E N H A M
/ X j i X E N G L A N D
Ai & B Industrial Chemicals Series (No. 2a).
A t the m om ent only halt the story can b e told.
Not until the p ea ce has b e e n won can we tell you of the w ar developm ents w hich will b e incorporated in the post-w ar design and manufacture of our O p t i c a l - M e c h a n i c a l - E l e c t r i c a l I n s t r u m e n t s and Aircraft Equipment.
A V IM O L T D ., TAUNTON S o m e r s e t ( E n g l a n d ) Approved under A ir Navigation Rules
for C M I Aviation.
PROGRESS by QUALITY
Ma y 5, 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
SOURCES OF IDEAS FOR IRE INVENTIVE M IRO
'T 'H E British chem ical industry is one o f o u r big post-w ar assets. T h ro u g h o u t the w ar it h as been w ork in g at to p pressure.
N o t m erely “ turning o u t the s tu ff” —;but devising, too, how
“ the s tu f f ” can be put- to a fuller use.
Fertility o f im agination and p ro ductivity have been stim ulated by the urgency o f o u r w ar needs.
N ew applications for established M onsanto pro d u cts — with co n ventional uses, and available by the ton — have been developed.
A nd after the w ar ? T he inven
tiveness, the ingenuity show n by British chem ists and technicians un d er the strain o f w ar will be continued, even expanded; for the equally vital aim s o f peace.
M onsanto m ak e at R u ab o n a wide range o f basic coal tar chemicals, w hich already feed a score o f in- dustries.T heirtechnicalexperience is wide. It is available for con
fidential co-operation on any problem which m ay enable M o n santo pro d u cts to serve m ore fully industry and m ankind.
H ere is a list o f some M O N SANTO products
P H EN O L
Ice, detached, hydrates, mixturesC R ESO LS
ortho-, meta-, para-C R E S Y LIC A CID S
high ortho-, high meta-, pale, dark, A.D.F., etc.S A LIC Y L A T E S
Salicylic Acid, B.P. and technical...Sodium * Methyl Salicylates...Aspirin
P H T H A LIC A N H Y D R ID E
Phthalic estersB EN ZO A T E S
Benzoic Acid — Sodium.BenzoateGERM ICIDES
P.C.M.X. — CresantolsPRESERVATIVES
P.C.M.C. — SantobriteRUBBER C H EM ICA LS
Santocure, P.B.N., etc.(Fuller list on request )
W ar demands, iri some cases, prevent usoffering b u lk quantities, but advice, data, samples, etc.. m ay enable you to plan now a rw *
MONSANTO C H E M I C A L S L I M I T E D , R u abon, W r e x h a m , D e n b i g h s h i r e
B
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y 5, 1 945
NEW CH EM ICA L DEVELOPM ENTS
if you had
invented water . . .
. . . you w ould n ee d a larger space th a n this a d v e rtise m en t to detail its m anifold advantages an d th e m u ltip lic ity o f its applications. I n p rese n tin g o u r range of w ettin g , disp ersin g , d eterg en t, p e n e tratin g an d degreasing p ro d u c ts, our p ro b lem is o f th e sam e o rd er ! F o r th e re are few aqueous processes— from th e processing o f an o stric h skin to th e developing o f p h o to g rap h ic films— in w hich one o r o th e r o f these p ro d u cts can n o t co n trib u te to a b e t t e r , . o r .a speedier, o r a less costly, o r a m ore d ep e n d ab le result.
In ste a d o f o u r tellin g you in detail, th erefo re, th e m a n y applications o f these new sy n th etics, w e suggest th a t i f you have any pro b lem s involving w ettin g , d etergency, d isp e rsio n , p en e tratio n or d egreasing, you tell us w h at th ese p ro blem s are. O u r tech n ical service w ill be glad to stu d y th e m carefully an d to suggest a solution.
As a clue to th e v ersatility o f th e new p ro d u c ts, w e ad d th ese n o tes regarding t h e m : S oluble to clear solutions in w ater o f any h a r d n e s s ; chem ically n e u tra l a n d h ighly s t a b l e ; im m ediately available in bulk.
T E C H N IC A L P R O D U C T S L T D
S T . H E L E N ’S C O U R T , G R E A T S T . H E L E N ’S L O N D O N , E .C .3
T E L E P H O N E : A V E N U E 4321
ST E A M (J W A T E R . F IT T IN G S FOR ALL P U R P O S E S
E N S U R E T H E M A X I M U M OF E F F I C I E N C Y T O G E T H E R W I T H LONG L I F E U N D E R
A L L W O R K I N G CONDI TI ONS A/to SAND CASTINGS IN AU NON-FERROUS METAtS .NCIUDING HIGH TE N SILE BRONZES & ALUM iNIUM
Trionite Ltd., C liffe Vole, Stoke-on-Trent PHONE I 8TOHE-ON-TRENT B171-2
BURGESS ZEOLITE COMPANY LIMITED
6Ô-72.H0RSEFERRY ROAD , WESTMINSTER.S.W.I. Tel : ABBey 1868
Ma y 5, 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
CLASS I FUSION W E LD E D
PRESSURE VESSELS
& CHEMICAL PLA N T
Consult
Specialists in Boilers and Vessels for 90 years.
T A N K S • S T IL L S • C O O L E R S D IS T IL L IN G P L A N T • P A N S • C R Y S T A L L IS IN G P L A N T • K IE R S • A U T O C L A V E S • M IX E R S • C O N D E N S E R S . E T C .
RUSTON & HORNSBY LT.D
B O I L E R D I V I S I O N
L I N C O L N ■
L I N C O L N .645
Approved by Lloyds for Class I fusion Welding
GANATE
★
B.P. and TECHNICAL
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W h o le sa le a n d E x p o r t D e p a rtm e n t
B O O T S P U R E D R U G C O . L T D N O T T I N G H A M
Bq70-Xo<;
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y 5, 1 9 4 5
L O D G E
C O TT R E L L
ELECTROFILTERS
F O R CO M PLETE P R E C IP IT A T IO N OF C E M E N T K IL N D U S T T A R F O G & A C ID M IS T B O IL E R F L U E D U S T P Y R IT E S D U S T
Head O/Jict and 11 " ' ' S M E L T E R F U M E S
BIRMINGHAM. H M i M r i H i H B L A S T F U R N A C E D U S T
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16, Church Street, Godaimintf
Surrey.
L O D G E - C O T T R E L L L I MI TED
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BROTHERHOOD
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A Weekly Journal Devoted to Industrial' and Engineering Chemistry
B O U V E R I E H O U S E , 1 54 F L E E T S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E .C .4
Telegram s: A LLAN G A S F L E E T LONDON T elephone: C E N T R A L 3 2 12 (10 lines) GLASGOW 1 1 6 Hope Street (Central 3970) B IR M IN G H A M : D aim ler House, Paradise S treet (M idland,0784-3 ) T H E C H E M IC A L -A G E offices are closed on Saturdays in accordance w ith the adoplioruoi the five-day week by
Benn Brothers L im ited , . . . r .'
VOL. L I I.
N o . 134 9 .
May 5, 1945
Annual Subscription 2 1 s.. Overseas 26s.
C o a 1 D
U R I N G th e d is c u s s io n o n D r .P a r k e r ’s . p a p e r to th e L o n d o n S e c tio n o f th e S o c ie ty o f ' C h e m ic a l I n d u s t r y , D r . L e v i n s t e in a s k e d a q u e s tio n . “ W i l l s o m e o n e ,” h e s a id in e ffe c t, “ t e l l u s h o w to r e d u c e th e p r ic e o f c o a l so t h a t o u r i n d u s t r ie s w ill a g a i n b e a b le to c o m p e te in w o r ld m a r k e ts ?”
T h e b e s t a n d m o s t c o m p le te a n s w e r t h a t h a s b e e n g iv e n h i t h e r t o is th e r e p o r t o f th e T e c h n ic a l A d v is o r y C o m m itte e o n C o a l M i n i n g s e t u p b y th e M in is tr y o f F u e l a n d P o w e r , n o w c o m in g to be k n o w n a s t h e R e id C o m m itte e . T h e M in is te r o f F u e l , i t is t r u e , h a s d e c la r e d s in c e th e p u b l ic a ti o n o f th is , r e p o r t t h a t h e d o e s n o t see m u c h p r o s p e c t o f a n e a r l y f a l l in th e p r i c e o f c o a l, p a r t i c u l a r l y a s th e r e m u s t b e n o d is tu r b a n c e o f th e le v e l o f w a g e s in th e m in i n g i n d u s t r y , a n d th e r e
is j u s tif ic a tio n fo r t h is v ie w if i t is c o n s id e r e d t h a t t h e p r e s e n t in f la te d w a g e s a r e to b e c o n tin u e d a f t e r t h e w a r . T h e R e id C o m m itte e h a s m a d e a t e c h n ic a l a n a l y s i s o f th e c o a l i n d u s t r y a n d . h a s sh o w n i ts d e f e c ts s t r i k in g l y . T h e p o lic y a r i s i n g , o u t o f t h e i r r e c o m m e n d a tio n s m u s t b e p u t i n to e ffe c t im m e d i a t e ly , b u t e v e n so i t c a n n o t in f lu e n c e th e p r ic e o f c o a l fo r . s o m e c o n s id e r a b le
tim e to c o m e .
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M e t a l l u r g i c a l S e c t i o n M a n u f a c t u r e o f S p o n g e I r o n . -E le ctrodepositio n M e m o r a n d u m 404
N o n - F e r r o u s M e ta ls F ed e r a tio n 404 A l u m i n i u m A ll o y B u ll e ti n ... 405 M e ta l N o t e s ... ... ... 405 G ener al N e w s f r o m W e e k to W e e k 407 C o m p a n y N e w s ... 410 S t o c k s a n d S h a r e s ... ... 410 B r i ti s h Chem ica l P rices ... 412
. T h e ' in e ffic ie n c y o f th e c o a l in d u s t r y h a s lo n g b e e n s u s p e c te d , b u t now. fo r th e first- tim e i t is e x p o s e d b y m e n c o n n e c te d w ith th e - in d u s try .. T h e . C o m m itte e t h a t d r e w u p th is r e p o r t w a s c o m p o s e d of. m in i n g e n g in e e r s o f th e h ig h e s t c a lib r e , w h o w e re f o r T h e ■ rnoSt p a r t m a n a g i n g d ir e c to r s o f l a r g e c o llie r y c o n c e r n s . T h e o n u s o f th e in e ffic ie n c y w h ic h h a s d e v e lo p e d is l a i d o n t h e Voifl o w n e rs . W h e t h e r th e y a r e i n d iv i d u a ll y a n d p e r s o n a l l y to b la m e f o r th is , h o w e v e r , is d o u b tf u l. T h e c o ll i e r y i n d u s t r y is a n o ld o n e t h a t ro s e to i ts h i g h e s t p e a k in th e V ic to r ia n p e r io d a n d n a t u r a ll y , in a n a g e w h e n t h e r i g h t s o f p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y w e r e m o r e h i g h ly e s te e m e d t h a n th e y a r e to - d a y , e a c h o w n e r d e v e lo p e d h is m in e s , a n d c a r e d n o t h in g f o r th o s e o f h is n e ig h b o u r s .
T h e f a u l t , th e n , lie s p r i m a r i l y a t th e d o o r o f th e s y s te m a n d it is o n ly w h e n th e s y s te m b r e a k s d o w n t h a t w e b e g in to see w h e r e i t h a s le d n s .
T h e R e id C o m m it
te e p o i n ts o u t t h a t in B r i t a i n th e f a c t t h a t o w n e r s h ip o f th e m in e r a l h a s b e e n in p r i v a t e h a n d s h a s o f te n r e s u l te d in u n d u l y s m a ll o r a w k w a r d ly - s h a p e d l e a s e h o l d s ; in th e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n e x c e s s iv e n u m b e r o f m in e s o f in s u ffic ie n t c a p a c i t y fo r- th e 393
394 395 397 398 399 400 401 402 402 403
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392 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y 5, 1 9 4 5 r e q u ir e m e n t s o f th e b e s t m in i n g p r a c t i c e ;
a n d in i n a d e q u a t e a tt e n t i o n to th e c o n s e r v a t i o n , o f r e s o u r c e s . T h e c o n d itio n s a t t a c h i n g to th e t r a n s f e r o f t h e o w n e r s h ip o f th e m in e r a l to th e C o a l C o m m is s io n h a v e l e f t m o s t o f th e s e d iffic u ltie s s t i l l u n s o lv e d . O n t h e C o n t in e n t , th e m in e r a l h a s b e e n o w n e d b y th e S t a te , a n d b o th c o n c e s s io n s a n d i n d iv i d u a l m in e s h a v e g e n e r a l l y b e e n l a r g e . S u c h g r o u p i n g h a s f a c i li t a t e d 1 th e c lo s in g d o w n , o r m e r g i n g , o f u n e c o n o m ic m in e s , a n d th e c o n c e n tr a t io n o f o p e r a t io n s in t h e r e m a i n i n g s h a f ts . T h e la y - o u t o f t h e C o n t in e n t a l m in e s w i t h s t r a i g h t le v e l r o a d s d r i v e n t h r o u g h th e s t r a t a p r o v id e d a b a s is f o r r e o r g a n i s i n g th e u n d e r g r o u n d w o r k in g s . A n o th e r f a c t w h ic h e m e r g e s is t h a t t h e a v e r a g e t o n n a g e o f s a le a b le c o a l h a n d l e d b y e a c h h a u l a g e w o r k e r p e r s h i f t is 50 to n s in th e U .S . A . , 20-25 to n s in H o l l a n d a n d 5 to n s in B r ita in .
M a n y t e c h n i c a l p o in ts a r e p u t f o r w a r d b y th e R e id C o m m itte e in to w h ic h it w o u ld b e i m p r o p e r to e n t e r h e r e in a n y d e t a i l . T h e s e a r e a d d r e s s e d e s s e n t ia l ly to m in i n g e n g in e e r s a n d th e s o lu tio n o f t h e s e p r o b le m s m u s t b e l e f t to th e m . I t is o b v io u s ly i m p o r t a n t, h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e c o a l in d u s t r y , i n c o m m o n w i t h o t h e r in d u s t r ie s , s h a l l n o t b e r u n b y “ b u s in e s s m e n , ” a c c o u n ta n t s , o r a m a t e u r s , b u t s h o u l d b e in t h e h a n d s o f t e c h n ic a l m en o f th e h i g h e s t a b il i ty .
H a v i n g r e a c h e d th is c o n c lu s io n it is w e ll to p o in t o u t t h a t th e R e id C o m m it
te e h a s h a d th e c o u r a g e o f its c o n v ic tio n s to g o f u r t h e r a n d to s t a te f la tly t h a t “ it is n o t e n o u g h s im p ly to r e c o m m e n d t e c h n i c a l c h a n g e s w h ic h w e b e lie v e to b e f u l ly p r a c t ic a b le , w h e n it is e v id e n t to u s , a s m in i n g e n g in e e r s , t h a t th e y c a n n o t B e s a t is f a c to r i l y c a r r i e d t h r o u g h b y th e i n d u s t r y o r g a n is e d a s it is to -d a y . I t is v i ta l t h a t th e s e t e c h n ic a l c h a n g e s s h o u ld b e c a r r i e d t h r o u g h if t h e c o s t o f p r o d u c tio n is to b e so r e d u c e d a s to e n a b l e th e c o a l i n d u s t r y to m e e t a ll th e n e e d s o f t h e c o u n tr y , a n d e s p e c i a l l y of th e e x p o r t tr a d e s . I t f o llo w s t h a t e v e r y p r a c t ic a b le e c o n o m y in c o s ts m u s t b e s o u g h t , a n d t h a t t h e v o lu m e o f n e w in v e s tm e n t s h o u ld n o t b e u n n e c e s s a r i ly in f la te d . I n a d d it i o n , a l l t h is m u s t b e d o n e in a m a n n e r c o m p a tib le w ith c a r e f u l r e g a r d to th e n a ti o n a l c o a l r e s o u r c e s . ”
T h e b a s ic f a c ts o f th e s i t u a t i o n a r e t h a t t h e r e a r e m in e s o n th e p o in t o f e x
h a u s t in g t h e i r r e s e r v e s ; m in e s w h ic h s h o u ld b e c lo s e d d o w n a l t o g e t h e r a n d t h e i r r e s e r v e s w o r k e d f r o m a d jo i n i n g c o l l i e r i e s ; m in e s w h e r e th e r e m a in i n g r e s e r v e s c a n , u n d e r n o s c h e m e o f r e c o n s t r u c ti o n , b e w o rk e d p r o f i ta b l y ; m in e s b e tw e e n w h ic h v a lu a b l e c o a l h a s b e e n s t e r il i s e d to f o r m b a r r i e r s ; a n d m in e s w h ic h f o r a p e r io d o f t h e i r r e c o n s t r u c tio n , w ill h a v e to b e c o m p le te ly c lo s e d d o w n . T h e r e a r e u n d e r tS k in g s w h ic h h a v e a le a s e o f c o a l t h a t c o u ld b e ,1 w o rk e d to b e t t e r a d v a n t a g e b y a n o th e r u n d e r t a k i n g ; a n d u n d e r t a k i n g s w h o s e m in e s a r e w id e ly s p r e a d t h r o u g h a d is t r ic t , a n d e v e n a m o n g s e v e r a l d is tr ic ts . T h e r e a r e n e w s i n k i n g s r e q u ir e d w h e r e th e r e s e r v e s w h ic h s h o u ld b e w o rk e d f r o m th e m a r e l e a s e d to tw o o r m o re u n d e r t a k i n g s ; a n d n e w s i n k i n g s w h e r e , by r e a s o n o f th e d e p th to b e r e a c h e d , so l o n g a v ie w h a s to b e ta k e n a n d s u c h h e a v y i n te r e s t p a y m e n ts i n c u r r e d , t h a t th e c o s t o f th e s h a f ts , p l a n t a n d d e v e l o p m e n t is l ik e l y to b e b e y o n d th e r e s o u r c e s o f th e u n d e r t a k i n g o w n in g t h e le a s e h o ld . T h e r e a r e s u r f a c e p l a n t s to b e e r e c te d w h ic h s h o u ld g e rv e a n u m b e r o f m in e s , w h ic h m a y b e u n d e r d if f e r e n t o w n e r s h ip . T h e r e a r e d i s t r ic t s w h e r e th e r e c o n s t r u c tio n o f c e r t a i n m in e s w o u ld e n a b l e th e o u t p u t r e q u ir e d to b e m a i n t a i n e d , l e a v i n g n o p la c e f o r th e r e m a i n i n g m in e s in th e s e d is tr ic ts .
“ In th e s e c ir c u m s t a n c e s ,” s a y s th e c o m m itte e , “ it is e v id e n t to u s t h a t it is n o t p o s s ib le to p r o v id e f o r th e s o u n d e s t a n d m o s t e ffic ie n t d e v e lo p m e n t a n d w o r k in g o f a n a r e a u n le s s th e c o n f lic tin g i n te r e s t s o f th e i n d iv i d u a l c o ll i e r y c o m p a n ie s w o r k i n g t h e a r e a a r e m e r g e d to g e th e r in to o n e c o m p a c t a n d u n ifie d c o m m a n d o f m a n a g e a b l e siz e , w ith f u ll r e s p o n s i b i li t y f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f th e a r e a . . . . I t is e s s e n tia l t h a t g e o lo g i c a l , g e o g r a p h i c a l a n d o th e r t e c h n ic a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s s h o u ld b e t h e d e te r m i n i n g f a c t o r s . ” I t is f u r t h e r c o n s id e r e d t h a t a n a u t h o r i t y m u s t b e e s t a b l i s h e d to p u t th e s e p l a n s in to e ffe c t, a n d “ to s t i m u l a t e th e p r e p a r a t i o n a n d e x e c u tio n o f th e b r o a d p l a n s o f r e c o n s t r u c ti o n m a d e b y t h e s e u n i ts , a n d o f c o n s e r v i n g t h e c o a l r e s o u r c e s o f th e c o u n tr y . ” T h is is p e r h a p s th e firs t tim e t h a t th e m in i n g i n d u s t r y h a s o f f ic i a l l y 'r e c o g n i s e d t h a t i ts d u ty is n o t o n ly to b r i n g c o a l to th e s u r f a c e , b u t “ to c o n s e r v e th e c o a l r e s o u r c e s o f t h e c o u n t r y .”
Ma y 5, 19 4 5 TH E CHEM ICA L AGE 393
N O T E S A N D C O M M E N T S
The Two Coal Plans
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C A N N I N G o u r l e a d i n g a r ti c l e , th e o b s e r v a n t r e a d e r w i l l n o te t h a t th e R e id p l a n is s o m e w h a t d i f f e r e n t f ro m th e F o o t p l a n , if' o n ly in d e ta i l. T h e d e t a i l , h o w e v e r , is a n i m p o r t a n t o n e , fo r w h e r e a s th e F o o t p l a n v i s u a lis e s th e m a in te n a n c e o f i n d i v i d u a l o w m e rsh ip , w ith a t e n d e n c y to w a r d s a m a l g a m a t i o n s b u t w ith o u t i n te r f e r e n c e w ith th e a u to n o m y o f i n d iv i d u a l u n d e r t a k i n g s , th e R e id p l a n w o u ld s w e e p a w a y m u c h o f th e i n d iv i d u a l o w n e r s h ip w h ic h is a t p r e s e n t h a n d ic a p p i n g th e in d u s t r y , a n d w o u ld s u b s ti t u te f o r i t l a r g e c o n c e r n s b a s e d o n a g e o g r a p h i c a l a r e a . B o th p l a n s r e je c t n a ti o n a li s a ti o n . I t is. i n t e r e s t i n g to n o tic e t h a t th is a p p e a r s to b e th e g e n e r a l w a y in w h ic h B r itis h i n d u s t r y is r e o r g a n i s i n g i ts e l f to m e e t p o s t- w a r c o n d itio n s . T h e r e is to b e a m e r g i n g of s i m il a r c o n c e r n s in to l a r g e r , c o n tin u e d p r i v a t e o w n e r s h ip , b u t a s e lf - g o v e r n in g o f e a c h i n d u s t r y b y e le c te d r e p r e s e n t a tiv e s in c lo s e c o - o p e r a tio n w ith th e G o v e r n m e n t. B r i ti s h g e n iu s f o r c o m p r o m is e s e e m s to b e p r o d u c in g s o m e t h i n g w h ic h is n e it h e r c o m p le te p r i v a t e e n te r p r is e n o r c o m p le te n a ti o n a li s a ti o n , b u t w h ic h w ill g iv e th e G o v e r n m e n t a s u ffic ie n t s a y in i n d u s t r y to c h a n g e th e c h a r a c t e r o f i n d u s t r i a l m a n a g e m e n t b a s i c a ll y a s c o m p a r e d w ith t h a t k n o w n to o u r V i c to r i a n f o r e b e a r s .W orkers’ Responsibility
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H I L E t h e r e is m u c h w o r k to be d o n e b y th e c o a l o w n e r s a n d th e i r e n g in e e r s , t h e R e id C o m m itte e r e c o g n is e s t h a t o n th e w o r k m e n a n d th e i r le a d e r s , to o , f a l l s a g r a v e r e s p o n s ib ility . T h e y m u s t c o m b in e w ith th e m in in g e n g in e e r in a n e n ti r e l y n e w s p i r i t f o r a u n ite d e ffo rt to r a is e th e p r o d u c ti v i ty of th e i n d u s t r y to th e h i g h e s t l e v e l , a n d b e r e a d y to a c c e p t o b l ig a t io n s , a s w e ll a s to c la im r i g h ts . I n p a r t i c u l a r , th e y m u s t a c c e p t th e n e e d fo r a h i g h s t a n d a r d of w o r k m a n s h ip , w e lc o m e th e i n tr o d u c t io n o f m a c h in e r y , a n d d o t h e i r u tm o s t to se e t h a t it is m a d e to g iv e th e g r e a t e s t p o s s ib le y ie ld . T h e y m u s t r e c o g n is e t h a t th e e x i s t i n g le v e l o f w a g e s c a n n o t b e m a i n t a i n e d w i t h o u t a l a r g e in c r e a s e in o u t p u t p e r m a n - s h if t f o r a l l e m p lo y e d ; t h a t m e nw ill h a v e to b e t r a n s f e r r e d f r o m o n e m in e to a n o th e r , a n d , in s o m e c a s e s , e v e n f r o m o n e d i s t r i c t to a n o t h e r ; t h a t d o u b le - s h if t w o i k i n g w ill v e r y g e n e r a l l y b e e s s e n t i a l ; a n d , f in a lly , t h a t a n i n d u s t r y , r e b u il t in th e w a y w e h a v e s u g g e s te d , c a n n o t b e e x p e c te d to p r o v id e e m p lo y m e n t f o r a n y t h i n g a p p r o a c h i n g th e n u m b e r o f u n s k i l le d m e n w h o a r e , a t p r e s e n t , d e p e n d e n t u p o n it. T h e R e id r e p o r t e n d s o n a n o te o f u r g e n c y . I ts f in a l w o r d s a r e : “ T h e r e is n o tim e to be l o s t . ” I n d u s t r y b u r d e n e d b y c o a l a t im p o s s ib ly h i g h p r ic e s w ill a g r e e f u l ly w ith th is s t a te m e n t . T h e m in e o w n e rs h a v e a ls o p u t f o r w a r d t h e i r p l a n . T h e y h a v e n o t y e t e x p r e s s e d p u b lic ly t h e i r v ie w o f th e R e id C o m m itte e ’s r e p o r t.
T h e b a l l s e e m s to h a v e b e e n p a s s e d to th e M i n i s t e r o f F u e l a n d P o w e r a n d h e w ill n o d o u b t p a s s i t in t u r n to th e C a b in e t.
Letting in the Light
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H O U G H th e r e is e v e r y r e a s o n f o r c o n g r a t u la t io n t h a t , th a n k s to o u r m il i t a r y a n d i n d u s t r i a l s u p e r i o r it y , w e a n d o u r a ll i e s h a v e b e a t e n th e G e r m a n b e a s t in to s u b m is s io n ; a n d t h o u g h t h e r e is p r o b a b ly n o h a r m in t a k i n g a c o u p le o f d a y s off to p a t o u r s e lv e s o n th e b a c k ; n e v e r t h e l e s s , w e m u s t a v o id th e d a n g e r o f r e l a x i n g a s y e t b e y o n d th e p o in t o f e a s y re c o v e r y . E v e n w h ile w e a r e c e l e b r a t in g , a s w e so o n s h a l l b e , th e s u r r e n d e r o f G e r m a n y , l e t u s n o t f o r g e t t h a t T npa n e se b u l le t s a n d j u n g l e d is e a s e s a r e s t i ll k i l l i n g o u r y o u n g m e n in th e E a s t , a n d t h a t m o s t o f E u r o p e r e m a in s a h a lf - s ta r v e d c h a o s . I n m an y , d ir e c tio n s , a n d th o s e th e m o s t i m p o r t a n t, s u p p l i e s w ill b e e v e n m o re s c a n ty in th e n e x t tw e lv e m o n th s t h a n th e y h a v e b e e n d u r i n g th e p a s t y e a r , a n d it w ill b e a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f th e c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y ’s ta s k to see t h a t th e s h o r t a g e is r e lie v e d a s so o n a s m a y b e. T h e r e can. t h u s b e n o s la c k in g - o f f o f o u r e ffo rt to - m o r r o w o r t h e n e x t d a y . N e v e r t h e le s s , t h e r e is p l e n t y o f r o o m f o r s a t is f a c ti o n in th e r e m o v a l o f ir k s o m e r e s t r ic ti o n s . I n th is office, p r o b a b ly n o t h in g h a s b r o u g h t h o m e th e a p p r o a c h o f v ic to r y s o v i v id l y a s th e r e m o v a l o f th e s e m i- p e r m a n e n t b la c k - o u t a r r a n g e m e n t s , a n d w e h o p e t h a t s i m il a r in c i d e n ts h a v e l i g h t e n e d c o n d itio n s o f w o r k in p l a n t s a n d f a c to r ie s t h r o u g h o u t39* T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y 5 , 1 9 4 5 th e c o u n tr y . W i t h fa c to ry ', b la c k - o u t
c le a r e d a w a y , i t w i l l ' h e " a ll" th e i e a s ie r" to w o r k w ith a g o o d w ill to fin is h off th e j o b ; a n d w e t r u s t t h a t th e r e m o v a l o f th is b la c k - o u t w ill s ig n if y a ls o , th e a p p r o a c h i n g e n d o f th e b la c k - o u t t h a t has.
b e e n im p o s e d ( f o r m o r e , o r le s s g o o d re a s o n ) o n th e r e v e l a t i o n o f th e w o r k o u r c h e m is ts h a v e b e e n d o in g in a id o f th e n a t i o n a l e ffo rt.
Chemicals from Petroleum
S
I R F R A N K S M I T H , w h o h a s j u s t c o n c lu d e d h is s e r ie s o f th r e e C a n to r L e c tu r e s b e f o r e . th e R o y a l S o c ie ty o f A r ts , is to b e c o n g r a t u la t e d o n h is l u c id a n d b r i l l i a n t i n tr o d u c t io n o f t h e v a s t s u b je c t o f S y n th e tic C h e m ic a ls f r o m P e t r o le u m , d e liv e re d ; e n ti r e l y w ith o u t n o te s , C l e a r l y , it is im p o s s ib le to do j u s t ic e to t h e c o n te n ts of-.-hife l e c t u r e s in a g e n e r a l c o m m e n t a n d p u r ¿ u tte rly in a d e q u a te p a p e r a ll o c a t io n p r e v e n t s u s f r o m g i v i n g a n y le n g t h y e x tr a c ts . S u ffice it to s a y t h a t th e l e c t u r e r to o k h i s a u d ie n c e o n a to u r w h ic h s t a r te d w ith m e th a n e a n d e n d e d w ith s o m e o f th e h i g h l y c o m p le x h y d r o c a r b o n c o p o ly m e r s w h ic h h a v e , in th e f o r m o f “ t a i l o r - m a d e p l a s t i c s , ” p la y e d s u c h a t r e m e n d o u s ly i m p o r t a n t p a r t in th e l a t e r s t a g e s o f th e w a r — f o r i n s t a n c e , a s d i e l e c t r ic s — a n d w h ic h a r e , a f t e r a l l , o n l y a t th e b e g i n n i n g , o f t h e i r p r o m is in g c a r e e r . T h e n e x t d e c a d e , S i r F ra n k - a s s e r t e d , w ill see th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f m a n y n e w c h e m ic a ls b a s e d o n h y d r o c a r b o n s , i p c l u d i n g n o t o n ly f u e ls , b u t s p e c ia l r u b b e r s , a n d p la s tic : m a t e r i a ls w ith n e w p r o p e r t i e s a n d g r e a t e r m e c h a n ic a l s t r e n g th . I n a . p a r t i c u l a r l y s t r i k i n g p a s s a g e , S ir F r a n k p a id h i g h tr ib u t e to th e b a c k - r o o m b o y s w h o w e re g iv e n th e ta s k o f r a i s i n g th e o c ta n e n u m b e r o f a v ia t io n f u e l f r o m 87 to 100 b y th e p r o d u c ti o n o f is o -o c ta n e s . T h e l a r g e - s c a l e o u t p u t o f h i g h - g r a d e a v ia tio n f u e l, b o th in t h is c o u n tr y a n d a c r o s s th e A t l a n t i c , h a s , it is w e ll to r e c a ll j u s t n o w , e n a b le d o u r b o m b e r s to c a r r y th e h e a v y lo a d s w h ic h h a v e b r o u g h t N a z i G e r m a n y to i t s d o o m .An o u tstan d in g ev en t of t h e . C anadian Chem ical C onference, to be held in Quebec C ity on J u n e 4-6, w ill be a sym posium on research , on J u n e 6 , concerning th e 11 co
o rd in atio n of chem ical research .w ith th e n a tio n a l w elfare.” t
W ar A g a in s t M a la ria
A W e e k ’s D o s e P a c k e d I n P o l y t h e n e
I
L L U S T R A T E D h e re w ith is a sam p le of th e 'w a y th e ahti.-nialari.al d r.u g ,.m ep acrin e, is p ack ed in p o ly th e n e fo r use b y -B ritish an d A llied tro o p s in th e ju n g le s a n d sw am ps of th e F a r E a s t. T h e d r u g ' arid its' p a ek iq g re p re s e n t a d o u b le triu m p h fo r B ritis h ch em ica l re s e a rc h 'a n d 'm a n u fa c tu re .M e2)a crin e w as p ro d u c ed by L C .I . to r e p la c e q u in in e ,. from , .w hich B r ita in w as c u t oft by.: th e J a p a n e s e cap tu re, of th e E a s t In d ie s . I t w as fo u n d , h ow ever, t h a t m epa- c rin e ta b le ts dissolved o r d e te rio ra te d in th e dam p h e a t of tro p ic a l ju n g le s. Aii e n tire ly new" m eth o d of p a ck in g th e re fo re h a d to be devised a n d p a c k in g e x p e rts tr ie d a ll o rd in a ry m a te ria ls w ith o u t success. T h en som e
o n e th o u g h t o f th e re c e n tly disco v ered poly
th e n e . P o ly th e n e is th e flexible p la s tic w hose discovery b y L G .I . is one of th e m a jo r scientific ach iev em en ts . of th e p a s t ten y e a rs. .It c an be p ro d u c ed in th in flexible sh e e ts w hich a re b o th w a te rp ro o f a n d re ta in th e ir flex ib ility over te m p e ra tu re s v a ry in g from t h a t of ice on th e one h a n d to: b o ilin g w a te r o n th e o th e r. P o ly th e n e h ad nev er b e fo re b e e n used as a p a ck in g m a te ria l,¿ b u t th e m o st rig o ro u s te s ts show ed t h a t n o t only w as it u n a ffected by tro p ic a l h e a t, b u t th a t th e m ep a crin e ta b le ts w ra p p e d in it could be le f t lying even in s a lt w a te r fo r m o n th s a n d em erg e as fre s h as w hen p ack ed .
T h e tw o n e x t im p o rta n t p ro b lem s w ere how to g e t th e t a b l e t in to its in d iv id u a lly se a le d c o m p a rtm e n t in th e rib b o n of p o ly th e n e , a n d how m any m illio n s of ta b le ts a w eek co u ld b e th u s w ra p p ed . T h is is w here
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G e n a to s a n , L td ., cam e in . T h is firm h a d th e only su ita b le m ac h in ery fo r th e w ork a v a ila b le in th e c o u n try , a n d i t w a s fou n d t h a t a f te r slig h t a d a p ta tio n s th ese could ta k e a sp e c ia l fine g ra d e o f p o ly th e n e film.
A. w e ek ’s su p p ly a t a tim e , a s trip of seven p o c k ets, is issu ed to th e m en on th e B u rm a fro n t. E a c h d a y o n e p o c k e t c o n ta in in g th e d aily dose c a n b e to rn off th e s tr ip , leav in g th e re s t safely p ro te c te d .
Ma y 5 , . 1 3 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 395
Food Yeast
A V a lu a b le E m p ir e P r o d u c t
T
H E sto ry o f a “ v e n tu re in n u tr itio n ,”th e re s e a rc h an d d e v elo p m en t w o rk c o n n ected w ith th e p ro d u c tio n , of food y e a s t, w as given in a p a p e r, e n title d “ F o o d ire a s t : .its N u tr itiv e V alu e a n d its P r o d u c tio n fro m E m p ire S o u rc e s ,” re a d by D r.
A , G. T h ay s en , of th e D .S .I .R ., b e fo re th e R o y a l S o ciety of A r ts 011 M a rch 20. T h is p a p e r p ro v id es a b a c k g ro u n d fo r th e te c h n ica l d e ta ils re c e n tly p u b lis h e d , b o th a b o u t th e T ed d in g to n p ilo t p la n t a n d 'th e J a m a ic a p r o j e c t o f th e W e s t In d ie s S u g a r C o., L td ., in T h e C h e m i c a l A c e (1944, 61, 125).
F o o d y e a s t, D ri T h ay sen p o in te d o u t, signifies a sp ecial ty p e of y e a s t w hich c a n b e u sed in h u m an n u tr itio n a n d w hich co n form s to a certain s ta n d a rd b o th in a p p e a ra n c e , ta s te , v ita m in co n te n t,, a n d p ro te in c o n te n t. I t w as no new d e p a rtu re to em p lo y m icro -o rg an ism s—y e a s t, b a c te ria , and fu n g i—in h u m an an d an im a l n u tr itio n . In fa c t, n a tu re h a d show n th e w ay in th is field, fo r th e re w as little d o u b t t h a t all ru m in a n ts a n d o th e r species o f h e rb iv o ro u s a n im a ls h a d in th e ir in te s tin a l tr a c t lo c a tio n s of activ e b a c te ria l g ro w th w h ic h s u p p lied th e h o st w ith b o th p ro te in a n d v ita m ins such as rib o flav in a n d th e o th e r m em b e rs of th e B g ro u p . A m o re conscious m ic ro b ial d ie t h a d b een devised by t e r m ites an d c e rta in a n ts in t h e ir s u b te rra n e a n fu n g u s g a rd e n s , w h e re th ey grow fungi as food on w ood a n d leaves.
R o le o f M i c r o - o r g a n i s m s T u rn in g to h u m an d ie t, D r. T h ay s en sa id t h a t m icro -o rg an ism s w ere u se d in th e p r e p a r a tio n o f b re a d , b e e r, cheese, soya sauce, a n d c e rta in m ilk p r e p a ra tio n s su ch as ko u m iss an d y o g h o u rt. . In th e e a rly m id d le ag es, b e e r, w hich w as th e n m u ch m o re e x ten siv ely consum ed th a n it is to -d ay , m ay well h av e p ro v id ed th e co n su m er w ith G to 10 g. of d rv y e ast p e r d ay . F o r th e beer of th o se d a y s w as n o t th e c ry sta l c le a r b e v era g e w e now d rin k , b u t a tu r b id liq u id c o n ta in in g an a p p re c ia b le p e rc e n ta g e of th e y e a s t w hich h a d gone to its m ak in g . A s in E u ro p e d u rin g th e M id d le A ges, so in m ost tro p ic a l an d s u b -tro p ic a l c o u n trie s u n til a m u ch m o re r e c e n t .tim e, la rg e q u a n titie s of y e ast a n d b a c te ria w ere consum ed in b e e r a n d p alm -w ines. T h e c o n ta c t of th e se p e o p les w ith w e ste rn c iv ilis atio n fre q u e n tly d e p riv e d th em of th is v a lu a b le source of p ro te in a n d B v ita m in s w hich p la y an essen tia l p a r t in th e d ig es tio n of c a rb o h y d ra te s . A s is so o fte n th e case, th e w o rk w hich led to a n a p p re c ia tio n of th e d ie te tic v alu e of m icro -o rg an ism s, t h a t is of b a c te ria , y e a s t, a n d fu n g i, h a d its ro o ts in a n econo
m ic p ro b lem , th e d isp o sal of th e s u rp lu s
q u a n titie s o f y e a s t w hich y e a r b y y e a r issu e fro m th e b rew in g p la n ts of E u ro p e a n d A m e ric a. B y th e end o f th e 19th c e n tu ry , ch em ical a n aly ses h a d d isclo sed th a t th is y e as t, w h en d rie d , c o n ta in s as m u ch a s 50 p e r c en t, of p ro te in . A tte m p ts w e re m ade to use it fo r th e fe ed in g of c a ttle in p lac e of o th e r p ro te in c o n c e n tra te s , and sm all q u a n titie s w ere also consum ed m ed i
c in a lly in th e tr e a tm e n t of c e r ta in inflam m a to ry c o n d itio n s of m an . W h e re it w as co n su m ed , fa v o u ra b le re p o rts o n its v alu e .w ere n o t la c k in g , b u t 011 th e w hole little p ro g re s s w as m ad e in th e d isp o sa l of s u r
p lu s b re w e rs ’ y east.
G e r m a n W a r I n v e s t i g a t i o n s W h e n th e las t w a r b ro k e o u t G e rm an y a n d h e r A llies, c u t off- fro m o v ersea s s u p p lie s of p ro te in c o n c e n tra te s fo r stock- feed in g , tu r n e d to th e u tilis a tio n of b re w e rs’
y e a st. A n tic ip a tin g g re a tly in cre as e d d e m an d fo r p ro te in c o n c e n tra te s , in v e s tig a tio n s w ere s ta r te d by th e C e n tra l P o w ers to e x p lo re th e p o ssib ility of a p p ly in g th e o b se rv atio n s of P a s te u r a n d D u c lau x to th e effect t h a t p ro te in c a n be sy n th e sised by y east from in o rg a n ic so u rces of n itro g e n su ch a s s u lp h a te of am m o n ia. By 1915, G e rm a n w o rk e rs h a d dev ised a tec h n ica l p ro cess in w hich a c e r ta in ty p e of y east could be p ro d u c ed fro m in o rg an ic n itro g e n , p ro v id ed su g a r w as s u p p lied e ith e r in th e fo rm of m olasses o r any o th e r ch ea p form . L a rg e -se a le p ro d u c tio n , h o w ev er, w as n ev er p ro c ee d ed w ith , p re su m ab ly b e ca u se of the s h o rta g e of s u g a rs in G e rm an y a t th e tim e.
I n th is c o u n try , d u rin g th e sam e p e rio d , a n o th e r ty p e of p ro te in from a m ic ro b ial so u rce w as tr ie d o u t su ccessfu lly in th e re a rin g of pigs. T h e m a te ria l w as o b ta in e d fro m th e b a c te ria l re sid u e s a cc u m u la tin g d u rin g th e m a n u fa c tu re of a c e to n e a n d b u ty l alcohol by th e fe rm e n ta tio n of c ere als. A t the" tim e no a tte m p ts w ere m ad e to disco v er th e re a so n fo r th e b e n e ficial effect as re g a rd s g ro w th , b u t su b se q u e n t w o rk h as show n th is re sid u e to be ric h b o th in p ro te in a n d in B v ita m in s.
S in ce th e en d of th e la s t w a r g re a t in te r e s t h a s been ta k e n in th e d ie te tic .v a lu e of m icro -o rg an ism s b o th fro m th e p o in t of view of th e ir p ro te in a n d of th e ir v ita m in c o n te n ts. M ost of th is w o rk h a s b e en done on y e as t, s ta r tin g w ith th e p u b lic a tio n of th e A m e ric an w o rk e rs O sb o rn e a n d M endel in 1919. O f sp ecial in te r e s t a re th e o b se r
v a tio n s of M a c ra e a n d h is c o lla b o ra to rs (1942) w ho n o t only confirm ed th e e a rlie r o b se rv atio n s on th e v a lu e of y ea9t in n u tr i
tio n , b u t show ed t h a t a sm a ll a d d itio n of y e as t p ro te in to a d ie t, c o n ta in in g only
396 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y 5, 1 9 4 5 c e re a l (m aize) p ro te in of low d ie te tic v a lu e,
ra is e d th e n u tr itio n a l level of th e m aize p ro te in to a m u ch h ig h e r level.
Som e m icro -o rg an ism s c o n s titu te th e m o st p o te n t so u rce o f w ater-so lu b le B v ita m in s kn o w n , ric h e r th a n any a n im al so u rce, an d a re a c tu a lly ab le to sy n th e sise B v ita m in s from in o rg an ic m a te ria ls p ro v id ed they a re su p p lied w ith th e n e ce ssa ry e n erg y in th e form of s u g a r o r s ta rc h . A n o th e r in te r- e stin g a sp e ct of m icro b ial p ro te in an d of B v ita m in s is th e speed w ith w hich th e y can be sy n th esised . H a lf a to n of liv in g y e as t, fo r in s ta n c e , th e a p p ro x im a te live w eig h t of a b u llo ck , w ill p ro d u c e 2048 to n s of fresh y e a s t in 24 h o u rs, if it be assum ed th a t each y e ast cell re p ro d u c e s its elf once in tw o h o u rs, a m o d e ra te e s tim a te . T h is m ean s t h a t from h a lf a ton o f living y e a s t 24D to n s of p ro te in c a n b e sy n th esise d in 24 h o u rs.
I t is of m ore th a n to p ic a l in te r e s t t h a t in eases o f u rg e n cy , w here an im a l h u s b a n d ry is d islo ca ted , as in w a r-s tric k e n c o u n trie s , a r a p id m eth o d is a v ailab le fo r th e p ro d u c tio n of n u tritio n a lly v a lu a b le p ro te in and of B v ita m in s w hich m ig h t well su p p lem en t th e m u ch slow er r a te of sy n th e sis by farm a n im als. A p o u n d of d rie d y e a st w ill n o t re p la ce a larg e ju ic y ste ak w ith th e n e ce s
s a ry trim m in g s ; b u t it is po ssib le to devise m an y w ays in w hich food y e as t, a d d e d to th e d ie t, w ill g re a tly en h an c e th e flavour.
B re a d to w hich 2 p e r c en t, of food yeast h as b e en ad d ed h a s a m o st a ttr a c tiv e fla v o u r an d is m o st p leasin g to th e eye w ith its g o ld en b ro w n c ru s t. G iv en in th is w ay, it su p p le m e n ts, in a m o st re m a rk a b le w ay, th e n u tritiv e v alu e of w hite b re a d to w hich m an y n u tr itio n a l a u th o ritie s a re opposed.
A d d ed to sou p s a n d stew s in p ro p e r p ro p o r
tio n s food y e ast im p a r ts a p leasin g flavour.
F o o d ' y east can be in c o rp o ra te d in m an y o th e r d ish es, fo r in s ta n c e , in s p a g h e tti, in d u m p lin g s, in c u rrie s , in p ie s an d in g ra v ie s. I t h a s ev en been used in ch o co la te s a n d toffees, an d c h ild re n e a tin g th ese h av e re lish e d th em ,
S o u r c e s o f S u g a r
R e tu rn in g to th e su b je c t of food yeast p ro d u c tio n , th e le c tu re r Said t h a t w hile th e su p p ly of n itro g e n , e ith e r in th e fo rm of su lp h a te of am m onia o r am m o n ia g a s, b o th re a d ily a v a ilab le, w as easy of so lu tio n , it w as th e p ro v isio n of an a b u n d a n t su p p ly of s u g a r t h a t led to difficulties in p la n n in g larg e -sc ale p ro d u c tio n of food y e a s t, fo r ea c h to n of food yeast r e q u ire d th e p ro v i
sion of a b o u t 1.7 to n s of s u g a r, o r its e q u iv a len t in s ta rc h . B efo re th e w a r, th e re w ould h av e b e en no difficulty in s e c u r
ing such q u a n titie s , fo r m o lasses w a s th e n o fte n d u m p ed in to th e sea o r- p u t on th e la n d as a m an u re . I t w as a v a ila b le alm ost an y w h ere in su g a r-p ro d u c in g c o u n trie s a t a p rice little h ig h e r th a n its co st of t r a n s p o rt, a n d m o st c o u n trie s h a d so u rc es of
w a ste s u g a r o r s ta r c h w hich co u ld b e used
— r o tte n b a n a n a s a n d c itru s f r u i t o r a p p le s, s u rp lu s m aize, o r o th e r g ra in s , w aste p o ta to e s a n d a h o st of o th e r p ro d u ce a ll of w hich m ig h t h av e serv ed th e p u rp o se . T o -d ay , th e choice w as m o re r e s tr ic te d and m ig h t re m a in so fo r som e y e ars to com e.
F o r tu n a te ly , th e B ritis h E m p ire offered a choice of se v e ra l so u rces of c h e a p c a r b o h y d ra te s , th e W e s t In d ie s , m o la sses; th e A fric a n c o n tin e n t, m aize an d o th e r g r a in s ; th e M id d le E a s t, w aste c itru s f r u it o r c aro b b e an s . In d ia offered larg e q u a n titie s of m olasses, w hile C a n a d a a n d N e w fo u n d lan d h a d w aste su lp h ite liq u o r fro m p a p e r m a n u fa c tu re .
T h e se lectio n of a s u ita b le a n d p a la ta b le y e a s t, D r. T h ay sen c o n tin u e d , w hich gave high y ie ld s fro m su g a r w as fa irly easily a c co m p lish ed , fo r se v e ra l such ty p es w ere a lre a d y k n o w n a n d o th e rs p o ssessin g spec ia l c h a ra c te rs , n o tab ly good gro w in g p r o p e r tie s a t te m p e ra tu re s p re v a ilin g in tro p ic a l c o u n trie s , m ig h t be iso late d .
H e th e n p ro ceed ed to d e sc rib e th e diffi
c u ltie s of p la n n in g a r a p id r a te o f con- tin o u s p ro d u c tio n , d e ta ils of w hich we a re u n a b le to give on a cc o u n t of c o n sid e ra tio n s of space. I t is sufficient to say t h a t th e T e d d in g to n p la n t a n d th e J a m a ic a p ro je c t a r e p ro o f of t h e ir h a v in g b e e n solved suc
cessfully.
Y e a s t a n d t h e N a t i o n ’s F o o d R e fe rrin g briefly to a d isp u te w h ic h h a d . a ris e n a b o u t th e p lace food y e a s t is lik ely to h av e in th e n o rm al h u m a n d ie t as d is t in c t from its use in th e tr e a tm e n t of c e r ta in a ilm en ts in w hich it is a n tic ip a te d to be ben eficial, D r. T h ay s en sa id t h a t i t w as claim ed by c e rta in a u th o ritie s t h a t , in E u ro p e an d in th e U n ite d S ta te s a t any r a te , th e d ie t, in n o rm a l tim e s, w a s suffi
cien tly b a la n c e d to ta k e c a re of its e lf w ith o u t th e in tro d u c tio n of food y e a s t, an d w h ere, fo r econom ic re a so n s , th e b a la n c e w as u p se t, th e p ro p e r ste p to ta k e w as to ra is e th e p u rc h a sin g p o w er of th e affected se ctio n s of th e com m u n ity to su ch a level th a t th e h ig h -g rad e foods, m ea t, m ilk , eggs, a n d cheese, co u ld be p a rta k e n of in sufficient q u a n titie s .
T h e re w as a g re a t d e a l to b e said fo r th is a rg u m e n t, b u t th e p o o re r se ctio n s of th e co m m u n ity m ig h t h av e to w a it a lo n g tim e fo r such a rise in incom e w h ich , w h en it cam e, m ig h t n o t b e s p e n t o n a d d itio n a l foods. A nd f u r th e r , u n d e r th e p re se n t d is tu rb ed w orld conditions, it w as likely .to be a long tim e b e fo re a sufficiency o f m e a t, eggs, a n d m ilk w ould b e a v a ila b le to give ev ery b o d y —even in G re a t B rita in a n d in th e U n ite d S ta te s —th e ir full sh a re . In co n se q u en ce, a p ro d u c t sh o u ld b e m ad e a v aila b le fo rth w ith w hich w as k n o w n to su p p ly th e m issin g in g re d ie n ts o f a n nn-
