Industrial and Engineering Chemistry : industrial edition, Vol. 38, No. 1

J A N U A R Y 1 9 4 6

V ic to r y r e g a r d le s s , full p ro d u ctio n n o w w a its on v a rio u s n ç e d s in m a n y p la n ts. O fte n the n e e d is a t th e filte r statio n — a n d w h ile D ic a lite filt e r a id s a r e not c u re - a lls , th e y c a n m a k e up in p a rt fo r la c k in g e q u ip m e n t a n d tim e. N e e d fa ster filtration ? T h e h ig h e r flo w ra te s th e y g iv e m ean m ore g a llo n s p e r h o u r p e r s q u a r e fo o t of filter a r e a . N e e d m o re c a p a c i t y ? T h e fa s te r flo w ra te s p lus lo n g e r c y c le s g iv e g r e a t e r th ro u g h -p u t of liq u o r p e r sh ift. N e e d b e t t e r c la r ity ? B e c a u se of the d ia to m fo rm a tio n of D ic a lit e filt e r a id s , p lus m odern p ro d u ctio n m eth o d s, th e y g iv e b r illia n t c la r ity a n d p o sitive re m o v a l of s u s p e n d e d so lid s fo r im p ro v e m e n t a n d lo w e r cost o f fu rth e r p ro c e ss in g . C a ll in a D ic a lite F iltra tio n E n g in e e r —fo r in fo rm a tio n o r fo r m o re

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DICALITE FILTERAIDS

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I N D U S T R I A L

E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y •

V O L U M E 38, N U M B E R 1 ISSU E D J A N U A R Y 16, 1946 C O N S E C U T IV E N U M B E R 1

E D IT O R : W A L T E R J . M U R P H Y A ssistan t to E d ito r: N . A . PARKINSON M a n a g in g E d ito r: F. J . V A N ANTWERPEN Associate Editors

W a s h in g to n : JA M E S M . C R O W E N e w Y o rk : HARRY STENERSON

RICHARD L. DEMMERLE C h ic a g o : ROBERT F. G O U L D Assistant Editors

M a k e -u p : BERTHA REYNOLDS

M a n u s c r ip t E d itin g : HELEN K. N E W T O N M a n u s c r ip t R e v ie w in g : STELLA A N D ER S O N

C o n trib u tin g Editors CHARLES O W E N BROW N

RALPH H. M U N C H H AR O LD R. MURDOCK WALTER V O N P E C H M A N N

A d viso ry Board W . L. BADGER

H . E. BARNARD W . H . D O W G A S T O N DUBOIS GUSTAVUS J. ESSELEN PER K. FROLICH C. F. KETTERING O . E. M A Y C. S. MINER

J. M .

H . R. MURDOCK C . F. PRUTTON A . S. RICHARDSON W . A . SCHMIDT R. N . SHREVE L. V . STECK C. M . A . STEIN E. C. S U LL IV A N E. R. WEIDLEIN WEISS

The American Chemical Society assumes no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced by contributors to its publications. V ie w s expressed in the editorials and reports are those o f the editors and do not neces­

sarily represent the o fficia l position o f the American Chemical Society.

Copyright 1946 by American Chemical Society 37,600 copies of this issue printed

We acknowledge with thanks the action of J. T._ Baker Chemical Company in releasing the front cover o f this issue

for editorial purposes.

The photograph reproduced on the cover of this issue was taken by Robert Yarnall Richie in a piant o f the American

Cyanamid Company.

jb& p& itm etitl

E d i t o r i a l s ...

H e a d l i n e s ... 3 2 1 I. & E. C . R e p o r t s ...

A s W e S e e It. F. J . V a n A n t w e r p e n ... * 6 7

E q u ip m e n t a n d D e s ig n . Charles O w e n B r o w n ... 73

In s tru m e n ta tio n . Ralph H . M u n ch ... 79

W a s te U t iliz a tio n . Harold R. M u r d o c k ... *85

P la n t M a n a g e m e n t. W alter von P ech m an n ... *91

From th e E d ito r's D e s k ... *142

+.indicates page number in the advertising section. *7

'ecluucol Articled.

E v a p o ra tio n . W . L. Badger and R. A . L i n d s a y ... F lu id D y n a m ic s . Wheaton W . K r a f t ... H ig h T e m p e ra tu re D is tilla tio n . T. J . W a ls h... 8

H e a t T ransfer. George T. S k a p e r d a s ... M i x i n g . J . Henry R u s h t o n ... 32

A b s o r p tio n a n d H u m id ific a tio n . Harrison C . C a r l s o n... Sedimentation and H ydraulic Classification. R. P. Kite and A . J . Fischer . 16 C ry s ta lliz a tio n . Warren L. M c C a b e ... F lo ta tio n . Fred D. D e V a n e y ... • 20

D r y in g . Samuel J . F rie d m a n ... ... C e n trifu g a tio n . James O . M a lo n e y ... S o lv e n t E x tra c tio n . Joseph C . E lg in ... M o le c u la r D is tilla tio n . K. C . D. Hickman and G . C . M e e s ... 28

M odifying the Visco sity of Sulfur. Rocco F a n e l l i ... 39

N ew Catalysts for Friedel-Crafts Type Reactions . . . . . . . . . A . N . Sachanen and P. D. Caesar 43 Im p ro v e d S y n th e tic Io n E x c h a n g e R e s in . W . C . B a u m a n ... 46

K in e tic s o f S ucrose C ry s ta lliz a tio n . A n d re w Van H o o k ... 50

Production of Isoprene from Turpentine Derivatives . . . . . . . . B. L. Davis, L. A . Goldblatt, and S. Palkin 53 E ffe c t o f M o is tu r e on G R -S . Ian C . Rush ... 58

C a ta ly tic C o n v e rs io n o f H y d r o c a r b o n s ...■ ■ • • • • • • • F. E. Fisher, H . C . Watts, G . E. Harris, and C . M . H ollenbeck 61 Pure Hydrocarbons from Petroleum : John G risw o ld , D. Andres, C . F. V an Berg, and J . E. Kasch 65 O x id a t io n o f G R - S V u lc a n iz a te s . J . Reid Shelton and Hugh W inn . . . 7 1 Preparation of Cellulose A cetate . . . . • . . • • • ■ • •. • Carl J . Malm, Leo J . Tanghe, and Barbara C . Laird 77 C o n tr o llin g O r a n g e D e c a y . J . F. L. Childs and E. A . S i e g l e r ... 82 Vitam in Retention in Processed M eat . . . •

J . F. Feaster, J . M . Jackson, D. A . G reen w o o d , and H . R. Kraybill 87 W a te r A b s o r p tio n o f P lastics M o l d e d fro m A c y la t e d C a s ein . . . .

William G . G ordon, A lfred E. Brow n, and C lare M . M cG ro ry 90 Nitrogenous Constituents of Flaxseed. Edgar Page Painter and L. L. Nesbitt . 95 Storage of Dr,e^ R^Stadtman, H . A . Barker, E. M . M rak, and G . M ackinney 99 Water Resistance of Proteins. Harold S . O lco tt and H ein z Fraenkel-Conrat . 104 Specific Heats of H evea, G R -S , and G R -I Stocks . . . .

W . H . Hamill, B. A . M ro w ca, and R. L. Anthony 106 Correlating Viscosities of Gases with Temperature and Pressure . . . .

Donald F. Othmer and Samuel Josefow itz 111 Vapor-Liquid Equilibria of Binary Hydrocarbon Systems . . . .

J . M . Harrison and Lloyd Berg 117

Published by the American Chemical Society at Easton, Pa. Editorial Head­

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I N D U S T

T

of the many sizes and shapes of Celite C a ta ly st Carriers co m m ercia lly p rod u ced from diatomaceous earth.

These Celite Catalyst Carriers offer impor­

tant advantages for wartime processes. Tech­

nical control in the production of proper size, shape, strength, porosity and surface charac­

teristic provides a valuable tool in the art of surface catalysis.

Celite technical service and research facili­

ties offer unequalled opportunity for catalyst carrier and complete catalyst development for a specific job. Confidential manufacture and evaluation of a wide range of complete cata-

V ol. 38, No. 1

lvsts, whether for use in fixed 01 moving bed type reactors, is well within the scope of Celite research and manufacturing facilities.

1 -< 1

W e welcom e inquiries for data on Celite.

Catalyst Carriers for specific current applica­

tions. Address Johns-Manville, 22 East 40th Street, N ew York 16, N ew York.

j o h n s - M a n v i l l e

C E L I T E *

f i l l e r s T R Y

R e g . U. S. Pat. Off.

I N D U S T R I A L a n d E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y

N u c le a t U o i

W e Too. Essentially, the development of the atomic bomb depended upon knowledge from every science and profession, specialized and . general, but unfortunately the public has come to credit the development almost entirely to the physi­

cists. This is fine for the physicists, but it rankles, somewhat, the other professions that had to cope with problems, the solution of which were vital to the project’s success. The slowly moving course of history will correct the misunder­

standing, but the enormity of the undertaking leaves room for credit to all. Chemists and chemical engineers have ex­

pressed wonder at the proportion of their profession in the Manhattan project, and the Army has supplied us with a general breakdown that is of considerable interest. Of some 3500 top personnel in research, development, and operation, 35 to 40% were chemists or chemical engineers, and the largest single group in the research end was from the chemical profession.

There were 12,000 college graduates on the job, 125,000 people were employed at the peak (including the construc­

tion crews), and a total of about 400,000 persons had at one time or another worked on this huge secret. F. J. V. A.

Elements 95 and 96. Repeatedly it has been pointed out that fundamental research has suffered during the war, that the tremendous acceleration of research activity during the past four years has been concerned almost solely with the application of already existing knowledge. In support of this view the Manhattan Project is cited as an example.

Most of the fundamental principles on which the atomic b.ombs are based were known before the war; the problems were largely those of an industrial operation. Yet out of this immense project in applied science have come numerous ad­

vances of a fundamental character, not the least of which is the discovery of two new elements beyond neptunium and plutonium.

The nature of the project, based on the use of uranium and other heavy elements, required that the chemical and radio­

active properties of these elements at the end of the Periodic Table, heretofore largely unexplored, be exhaustively studied.

It has been said that the chemistry of these elements, particu­

larly that of plutonium, is now better understood as a result

of this work than that of many of the more familiar elements.

The scanty prewar knowledge of the chemistry of elements above atomic number 88 had led to the supposition that they form a transition group. The rapid development of this region soon indicated, however, that they probably form the beginning of a second rare-earth group; they are similar in chemical properties and have a tendency toward increased stability of the + 3 valence state in going toward plutonium.

As a result of this hypothesis the properties of elements 95 and 96 were predicted. The Manhattan Project made avail­

able working quantities of U™ and P11239, from which the new elements are derived by bombardment with high speed alpha particles; their discovery was recently announced by Glenn T . Seaborg.

Seaborg, a member of the research team at the University of California which discovered plutonium in 1940, cherished the notion that still other transuranium elements beyond 94 were to be found. About this time, however, he was brought into the Manhattan Project at the Metallurgical Laboratory, University of Chicago. Responsibilities of a more practical aspect, principally that of getting the Hanford, Wash., chemical plant into operation, interrupted this work. By early 1944 the major problems of the Planford plutonium operation were solved. It was thought that some effort could be diverted toward resumption of this investigation, and a systematic search for new transuranium elements was begun.

The work on this project was unique in many ways. It started with a man-made element, plutonium, in a field that was entirely new. Furthermore, the investigators sometimes worked for as long as a month on false leads due to contamina­

tion from other radioactive materials in the laboratory. The principal offender was plutonium. Actually, element 96 was found first. Accurate prediction of its properties en­

abled chemical methods to be devised for handling it, and the first interpretation of experimental results (assignment of mass and periodic number) proved to be correct.

Working'with Seaborg in the discovery of both elements was Ralph A. James of the University of California. His third co-worker on element 96 was Albert Ghiorso, also

{Conlinued. on page 8)

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&4cecutLo& L ¿h tlte d te s n ic a l a*tcL ch& **uc& l u v iu A t'u & i.

5

6 I N D U S T R I - A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y V ol. 38, No. 1

„MIMS«»**

A s n ew valves have been designed th rough the years, m any o f them have been added to our Standard Line. Included are many unusual types and sizes — in steel, iron and bronze alloys.

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THE

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T h ere are m any types o f screw con veyors in the L in k-B elt line, because just any screw co n v eyor cannot do an efficient job. In specifying the con veyor, a Link-B elt M aterials H andling E ngineer considers the kind o f m aterial to b e carried; the volu m e required;

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Link-B elt, as M aterials H andling H eadquarters, offers the m ost progressive engineering service, and is always abreast o f the latest developm en ts and im provem ents in con veyin g methods.

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CAST FLIGHT

Shaft and flights are cast in one piece for each length, assuring a true spiral and sm ooth flight surface. A vailable in cast iron, or in cast steel which can be heat treated for resistance to abrasion.

S E C TIO N A L FLIGHT

Individual flights are riveted to ­ gether, and secured to pipe or shaft with forged steel lugs.

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D egree o f m ixing can b e con ­ trolled b y paddle design and setting.

R IB B O N

F o r sticky materials, such as m olasses, sugar, hot tar, asphalt, etc. C lear space betw een ribbon flights and shaft prevents b u ild­

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January, 1946 I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y

I. & E. C.

Reports on the N s u d e jc u u c A

Chemical World Today

of the University of California, and the third member of the team on element 95 was Leon 0 . Morgan from the Univer­

sity of Texas. The ages of these men are worthy of at­

tention. Seaborg, leader and oldest member of the group, is now 33; James is 25, Morgan is 26, and Ghiorso is 3 0 - all within the draft limits of wartime Selective Service regulations. Here is further corroboration of the oft-repeated statement that work on the frontiers of science and tech­

nology so essential to winning the war was conducted almost entirely by young men.

Because it was suspected that the half-life period of some of the products would be so short that they would be lost, the men frequently worked 48 hours at a stretch without sleep.

As a relief from this intense concentration, Seaborg insisted that his men play golf with him every Sunday. But dis­

cussions of the work were inevitable, and in a different en­

vironment new ideas were produced. Seaborg estimates that thirty-six holes of golf were roughly equivalent to one good idea.

Deserving of special credit for their participation in this work are Joseph G. Hamilton and his group at the University of California. They rebuilt Ernest 0 . Lawrence’s 60-inch cyclotron during late 1944 and early 1945, and performed the bombardments with the high energy particles it produced.

The high neutron sources, made available by the Clinton and Hanford production units, were also of invaluable aid in this research.

Unique in the annals of science was the manner in which elements 95 and 96 were announced—over the radio on the Quiz Kids program. It had been intended to make the first announcement at the symposium on nuclear chemistry, held in conjunction with the one-day technical conference of the Chicago Section of the ^Am e r i c a n Ch e m i c a l So c i e t y,

November 16, at Northwestern University. Seaborg had prepared his manuscript and cleared it through the censor with this purpose in mind. .On the Sunday preceding the meeting, however, he appeared as a guest on the Quiz Kids program.

One of the Kids asked him if any new elements other than neptunium and plutonium had been produced as a result of work on the Manhattan Project, and Seaborg, unmindful that five million people were listening, answered yes— ele­

ments 95 and 96. The next morning, he realized the enor­

mity of his audience when he began to receive calls from news­

papers, both local and long distance. But press coverage of the announcement was localized, confined to those wTho had called. The national press did not catch the significance of the news until the formal announcement was made the follow­

ing Friday and publicized with the assistance of the Am e r i c a n Ch e m i c a l So c i e t y and University of Chicago news services.

The research group is currently considering names for the new elements. Recalling the difficulties involved in the investigation, Leon 0 . Morgan has suggested the names delirium and pandemonium, and is intrigued by the names of salts which would result, such as delirious nitrate. So far, he has been unable to convince his colleagues that these

names would be appropriate. R- F. G.

(’Continued on page 10) S. B LIC K M A N , IN C . • 1 2 0 1 G R IG O R Y A V E ., W E E H A W K E N . N . J.

S E N D F O * T H I S V A L U A B L E B O O K A on y out U n « f.

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engineers know how to translate those requirements into stainless steel vessels which w ill ivork best in your processing operations. Let’s pool this double engineering skill.

W e have specialized in the fab rication of stainless steel processing equipm ent since the a llo y became a fa cto r in the process industries. O u r experience w ith this alloy is most useful to you when backed by your know ledge o f the job to be done by the finished vessel. In th a t w a y you get proc­

essing equipm ent which lasts longer and works a t low er operating cost. M a y we tell you more about our facilities and experience?

January, 1946 I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y

One Hundred Wartime Projects involving 153 plants completed by GIRDLER'S Gas Processes Division:

CARBON DIOXIDE MANUFACTURE... 27 Plants CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL... 3 Plants

HYDROGEN MANUFACTURE... ■ 37 Plants

HYDROGEN SULPHIDE REMOVAL FROM G A S E S 21 Plants HYDROGEN SULPHIDE REMOVAL FROM LIQUIDS 3 Plants NITROGEN MANUFACTURE... 13 Plants GAS DEHYDRATION... . 17 Plants BUTADIENE MANUFACTURE... 3 Plants OTHER CONSTRUCTION J O B S ...13 Plants ENGINEERING D ES I G N ... 13 Plants CATALYST FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES... 3 Plants Tot a l 153 Plants

HHMIH s

m

m

j g I I ; jjj S H |

I I ■ i n i

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U t S Ä Ä l P * '

"Proof of the pudding

Work done is the best evidence o f ability to do. So we give you a can­

did list o f som e o f the projects com ­ p leted b y G ird le r’ s G A S P R O C ­ ESSES D IV IS IO N during the war period.

O n e h u n d r e d a n d f i f t y - t h r e e plants, engineered, constructed or supplied b y Girdler for the United States government, for Allied na­

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ENGINEERS

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constructors, / Gas Processes Division, Dept. IE-1 Louisville 1, Ky.

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W E D O N ’ T G U E S S A B O U T G A S

[ o m p n n v

, T E X A S __________

S X M i S i

Today

Formaldehyde vs. Sulfide Corrosion. In view of the surplus capacity of by-product formaldehyde now avail­

able, to the extent that its disposal at some of the new plants producing oxidized compounds from petroleum products is becoming a problem, any new process or appli­

cation that promises to utilize some of this output is of interest. One application, recently announced by the Stanolind Oil and Gas Company, is the use of formaldehyde as an inhibitor of sulfide corrosion.

Damage to oil field equipment from sulfide corrosion in wells pumping sour brines has cost fortunes in equipment and labor.

Tubing in such wells has been known to perforate in twelve or thirteen months and thus require expensive and repeated replacement. In an especially bad area in West Texas, pump rods have begun to fail after being in service only thirty-six days. Fishing up and repairing a broken rod takes three or four men at least one day if all goes well. The average life of pump balls in some wells is fourteen to twenty-one days.

Eventually the cost of maintenance makes further operation of such wells uneconomical.

Kemedies and attempts to prevent sulfide corrosion, such as special alloys, paints, galvanized equipment, and treatment of wells with alkalies, had not proved satisfactory. Nickel alloy pump rods resist corrosion well, but their cost is high, and they induce galvanic corrosion in the iron well tubes. If the well brines arc made sufficiently alkaline to suppress sulfide corro­

sion (above pH 9), objectionable scale is formed. During a search for inhibitors of sulfide corrosion, Paul L. Menaul, of Stanolind, found that carbon monoxide, potassium cyanide, and aldehydes are effective. The first two of these were re­

jected for obvious reasons, but development was continued with formaldehyde. Field tests, started more than a year ago, showed that formaldehyde was almost 100% effective in pre­

venting sulfide corrosion on new equipment when other causes were excluded. Where corrosion and pitting have started, however, formaldehyde treatment is less effective.

The effect of oxygen in this type of corrosion was indicated by the fact that in the laboratory investigation, during which the anaerobic conditions of the well could not be strictly reproduced, formaldehyde had appeared to be only 80%

effective.

The action of this inhibiting effect is currently being investi­

gated. Formaldehyde will react with hydrogen sulfide to form mercaptanlike compounds, but since these will not inhibit corrosion by sulfide brines, it is suspected that iron enters into the reaction to form a complex. The protective film which forms has a bluish, gun-metal appearance.

In practice, a 40% solution of formaldehyde is dripped into the annulus between casing and tubing. Initial treatment was at the rate of 1 quart per 25 barrels of sulfide brine pro­

duced, but it was found that 1 quart per 100 barrels is suffi­

cient. At this rate many wells need only 1 quart of formalde­

hyde per day, but others require as much as 4 quarts, with an average of 2 quarts. It is estimated that there are 25,000 wells, mostly in West Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, West Kan­

sas, and New Mexico, that need formaldehyde treatment now.

(Continued on page H )

QUICK OPENING OR

CLOSING IN ANY SER V IC E

R e e d V a l v e s a r e a l w a y s e a s y t o o p e r a t e . T h e d is c s c a n n o t b e c o m e w e d g e d i n t o t h e s e a t , a s l i n e p r e s s u r e , r a t h e r t h a n m e c h a n i c a l t i g h t e n i n g , h o l d s t h e d is c s a g a i n s t t h e s e a t s . T h e d is c s a r e n o t s u b j e c t t o e x p a n s i o n o r c o n t r a c t i o n o f t h e v a l v e b o d y , a n d f l u i d t e m p e r a t u r e s c a n v a r y w i d e l y w i t h o u t s t i c k i n g t h e v a l v e .

F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n w r i t e t h e c o m p a n y o r t h e f o l l o w i n g d i s t r i b u t o r s :

REPUBLIC SUPPLY C O . FRICK & LIN D S A Y C O .

LOS ANGELES, C ALIF. PITTSBURGH, PA.

SOUTHERN SUPPLY C O . TAYLO R SUPPLY C O .

W IC H IT A , K A N S A S DETROIT, M IC H . CULBERT PIPE & FITTIN G C O .,

JERSEY C ITY, N . J. " *

W AR C O N TRACTS H AVE BEEN T A K IN G A M AJO R P O R T I O N O F R E E D VALV E P R O D U C T I O N , BUT DUE TO GREATLY E X P A N D E D FA C ILITIES

i n

January, 1946 I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y

Keeping high temperatures from running wild . . . that’ s the problem for many a heat processor! It confronted this big manu­

facturer eight years ago, in conjunction with "French-frying” a food product . . . a delicate operation, absolutely dependent upon careful temperature control.

His solution? A Dowtherm vapor heating unit . . . still in dependable operation today . . . still giving the even, "disciplined” heat (375°- 400° F.) necessary to prevent ruining o f batches from overheating or underheating. One o f the company officials says this about Dow therm:

" W e put it in because it was the only process which ivould give us the control in our cooking oil that ive required. Since that time, ive have been more than pleased with its operation; and i f and when additional expansion on this particular unit is con­

templated, it most certainly b ill be Dowtherm'heated.'''1

Dowtherm is handling difficult jobs like this for many industries.

Hundreds o f user's depend on D ovtherm ’s precise, low-pressure operation for greater product uniformity . . . reduced upkeep costs

■ • . increased safety in h^i-tem perature processing up to 725° F.

Check Dowtherm against your heating problems! Dovr will be glad to send you full details.

T H E D O W C H E M I C A L C O M P A N Y , M I D L A N D , M I C H I G A N New York • Boston • Philadelphia • Washington • Cleveland • Detroit Chicago • St. Louis • Houston • San Francisco • Los Angeles • Seattle

C H E M IC A L S

IN D IS P E N S A B L E TO IN D U S T R Y

K. VAPOR tStSo/'

VEL. 120 FR /SL <

S T O R A G E

LCVCL IV TU/} T, VORM A L tV ¿OH TO RAVE S T il RA AVAILABLE WH.

ORATORS HAVE DO WH FOR C IE

c o iu c i

OVERFLOW S A L i OVER TU E P L A U T

T O S E W E H

SLUDGE T O ee S H O V E L E D o u r O C C A S l O H A l l V

Ätiäs

5 ^{W E N} 5 ^{D N}

F I L T E R S • C R Y S T A L L I Z E R S

S P R A Y D R Y E R S J m ë jÊ

E V A P O R A T O R S

A m e r ic a ’ s m agn esiu m develop m ent du ring the past few years has not o n ly supplied the vast quantities required fo r w a r, but it has prep ared the w a y fo r to m o r r o w ’ s extensive use o f this lig h t m etal in recon version products.

T h e need for m agn esiu m fo r aircraft, flares, incendiary b o m b s , and oth er critical w a r uses w a s so urgent that there w a s no tim e fo r the usual p erio d o f . experim ent, testing, and p ilo t plant runs. In stead, m a ss prod uction plan ts h a d to be set up fo r im m ediate o p era tio n .

LEGENP - X - VALVE NORM

A T M O / r t * £ H I C

- f t enecK valve

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I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y V ol. 38, No. 1

Januaiy, 1946 I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y 13

YAPOK 11,Ofo'/HA. V C L fZ .I n / l t c

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S W E N S O N VACUUM C O O tE ti

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Wot»» Ig Æ E E iç i

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Xtt'f If A/OK

PRE-COAT

niTf r

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Conloining S W E N S O N

EVAPORATORS SPRAY

DRYtRS , (Rftiduol

Biin» fiem Poioth Plonll

CARNAUITE MTIRS

BRIO VIUlNG klEACH ROUS

' TANK

EVAPORATORS

< Swbmoryrd

Combuitionl

S W E N S O N E V APO R ATO R CO

H A R V E Y , I L L . , U . S . A .

Re.,.

#869$

Scale X z " = oxtfr.

Analysis o f ’ D esign and M anufacture o f T est P e r io d ic

jS R equ irem en ts Layout E quipm ent O p era tion C h e ck -U p s

( J it U / S W E N S O N P R O V I D E S T H I S F I V E - W A Y S E R V I C E

|gp Preparing for large scale evaporation, crystallization, and filtration o f highly corrosive magnesium chloride involved special problem s that required engineering judgment, skill, and "k n o w how .” Under these circumstances, magnesium producers naturally turned to Swenson, whose 6 0 years’ experi­

ence with similarly difficult assignments enables them to design and fabricate the special equipment required for each individual process.

9 Swenson engineers applied the principle o f multiple effect evaporation to magnesium chloride for the first tim e! They designed m ajor commercial units o f equipment for a number o f different processes— evaporators with brick lining, rubber lining, carbon tubes, high nickel-chrom e alloy, and other corrosion-resistant constructions. They designed and built vacuum crys- tallizers, rotary vacuum filters, settlers, and coolers— all carefully designed for efficiency and dependability in w orking with magnesium chloride solutions.

U p It is a matter o f record that the majority o f all plants set up to produce magnesium by the electrolytic process were Swenson-equipped. T he engineers who made these important contributions to speeding Am erica’s war produc­

tion w ill be glad to assist you with your problems in Process Engineering.

S W E N S O N E V A P O R A T O R C O M P A N Y

1 5 6 7 1 L a th rop A ve. Division of Whiting Corporation H arvey, Illin o is

C A i T W tk K U u a a r < / r r ^ j

w i l t b y

men who know EAT TRA N SFER

t a l e n t a n d « I " " " “ , Í í l / Í r f » ™ ” " " r ”

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Potentially, however, there are many more. Sulfide corrosion apparently does not occur in the absence of water, but in many fields there is brine just below the oil. Thus as oil is pumped out and brine rises to these wells, corrosion will take place unless treatment is started. Also, many wells which have been abandoned as a result of upkeep in consequence of sulfide corrosion may be returned' to production. In a few years these additions may double the number of wells in which formaldehyde will be needed. Further, it may be applied to reduce corrosion in pipe lines carrying sour prod­

ucts. Sulfide corrosion has been giving trouble in Diesel engines which drive pipe-line pumps and particularly in the fuel pumps and injection nozzles of these engines when using fuel diverted from the line. The use of formaldehyde at these points has minimized replacements and reduced shutdowns.

An added benefit of this treatment has been in the re­

duction of oil well emulsion formation. A producer who had installed formaldehyde injection equipment reported that it broke his emulsion and asked why. Investigation of parts that had been replaced when he installed the system showed that the emulsion had been caused by homogenizing action of the well pump in which the balls and seats had been pitted by

sulfide corrosion. R. F. G

Swords and Plowshares. Early in the war, it was noticed that brushes which bear on copper commutators in airplanes had a phenomenally short life— sometimes, when altitudes of 30,000 feet, lasting only one hour. Re­

search showed that the oxide film on the commutator was rapidly destroyed at high altitudes, and since the film normally acts as a lubricant, the brushes were promptly ground to dust.

The problem was solved, but for a while secrecy pre­

vented the cure from becoming common knowledge.

Now it can be told. The problem was adjudged to be that of impregnating the brushes with a lubricant which would prevent the abrasive effect when the natural film was destroyed. Organic materials did not do the trick, as they became too volatile when the brushes were highly loaded. The next step was to try an inorganic material.

Molybdenum sulfide proved partially successful until heat and electrical conditions transformed it to molyb­

denum carbide, which probably caused an even worse abrasive action than that experienced under the original adverse conditions. Finally lead iodide was incorporated in the brushes. This maintained on the commutator a film which appeared to be the same as the normal film providing the necessary lubrication. Other halides have the same properties, but the iodide is the one that was ultimately chosen. In fact, under simulated high altitude test conditions, brush wear was inhibited merely by the introduction of iodine vapors.

This chemical compound has increased the life of air­

plane brushes to 100 hours in some cases, and the dis­

covery holds promise for postwar installations in chemical plants where reducing atmospheres destroy electrical

equipment. F. J. V. A.

(iContinued on -page 18) 14

FO R TH E C H E M IC A L * P E T R O L E U M • G A S A N D P O W E R IN D USTRIES

m t n m n m m a : m f n r r u n m » * m w m a * « ^

E Q U I P M E N T D I V I S I O N

th a t contribute to th e econom y an d

efficien cy of

Here are a few o f the reasons why Pritchard F E A T H E R W E I G H T Fans are acclaimed by operators as the optimum answer to cooling tower fan problems:

1. Light Weight for low starting torque, minimum vi*

brational reaction and low loading on fan shaft bearings.

2. Monel Metal Blades for corrosion resistance and maximum delivery o f air in ratio to horsepower.

3. An t i-Ba ck-Dr a ft Hub for streamlined flow o f air;

no turbulence or air return.

4. True Air-foil Section o f blade equalizes air propul­

sion over full length o f each blade. Practically noiseless in operation, with high efficiency at low tip speeds.

5. Adjustable Blade Pitch permits selection o f most desirable setting for any tower loading.

6.. Hub Sleeve (see lower left) permits easy removal o f fan for winter operation and also makes quick work o f removing the gear unit for servicing.

Continuous trouble-free performance over more than five years demonstrates the advantages o f Pritchard’s patented design and features, the result of comprehensive research to minimize power requirements, reduce maintenance and extend the life o f mechanical draft equipment. These proven units are easily installed as replacements for obsolete, inefficient fan assemblies. They will pay for themselves quickly in savings o f power, maintenance and down-time.

FIDELITY BUILDING, KANSAS CITY 6. MO.

NEW YORK - PITTSBURGH - HOUSTON - ATLANTA - TULSA DENVER - SALT LAKE CITY - EL PASO - OM AHA D Y N A M I C B A L A N C I N G is standard procedure in the

' production o f Pritchard Featherweight Fans. Test apparatus includes this rig using an electronic balance indicator.

J IG F O R M E D for strict uniform ity, blades are shaped from a single heavy w rought monel sheet with the trailing edge electric-welded. N ote the welded-in "w in g spar" and stiffening webs for staunch rigidity and endurance.

HUB SL E E V E on fan shaft provides key and set screw locking, yet permits removal o f the fan assembly without driving the sleeve o ff the fan shaft.

I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y V ol. 38, No. 1

B O ILIN G W A T E R A T 3 8 ° F.

IN A R O SS D E C A LO R A TO R

IS A CASE IN POINT

FOR THE CHEM ICAL INDUSTRIES

1 4 2 3 WEST AVENUE BUFFALO 1 3 , N . Y.

Ross equipment Is. monufactured and sold in Canada by Hotlon Steel Works, Ltd., Fori Erie, Ont.

•»"/* # '* -

ROSS HEATER & MFG. CO., INC.

OltMn O« fiMmCAK & ¿W<U»ci ¿»BtUfJ CO*ro»ATtO"<

steam or water need be available for efficient opera­

tion. Little or 110 supervision and maintenance are required.

Consult Ross’ engineers about the particular ad­

vantages o f Steam Jet Ejectors in: Vacuum D is­

tillation o f chemicals, pharmaceuticals, oils and dye intermediates; Deodorization o f edible oils; D e ­ aeration o f clay and food products; Degasification * o f medicinal greases; Dehydration in drying kettles;

Evaporation in concentrating and distilling equip­

ment; Impregnation in creosoting or wood preser­

vation; Vacuum Cooling in mash cooling process.

Y ou will be furnished with information and recommendations based on long experience in this specialized field.

W h y does water boil at 38°F. in a Ross Decalorator?

It boils because o f the extremely low absolute pres­

sure maintained by a Ross Three-Stage Steam Jet Ejector.

This low absolute pressure is maintained more dependably and economically than with any other type o f vacuum pump.

It’s a case ¡11 point for the chemical industries, because this same Ross Ejector (single or multi­

stage, operating with or without Ross inter and after condensers o f the surface or barometric type) is one o f the most simple, efficient and economical vacuum pumps for removing air, vapors or gases.

This applies to the handling o f many types o f mixtures: wet.or dry, slightly sticky or solid. Only

1. PERMANENCE: qqjg extrem ely low volatility o f Pa r a p l e x G -25 approxim ates that o f p o ly v in y l chloride itself. Because softness and th erm oplasticity o f this . syn th etic resin are n ot affected b y aging o r exposure, Pa r a p l e x G -25 plasticized com pou n ds are truly p er­

m anent, even under m ost rigorous con ditions.

6 . NON-MIGRATABILITY: Pa r a p l e x G -25 does n ot spue or m igrate from vin yl resin com position s at either high o r low tem peratures, an im portan t consideration where freedom fro m lifting and the ultim ate in adhesion are required.

2 . LOW FLAMMABILITY: p lastics o r plastic coatings m a d e w ith Pa r a p l e x G -25 d o n o t su p p ort com bu stion ...a re th erefore p a rticu la rly w ell su ited fo r fa b rics and electrical insulation where fire-resistance is a prime requisite.

7 . FREEDOM FROM ODOR AND TASTE: Because this resinous plasticizer im parts n o o d o r o r taste to coating com p ou n d s, it is em inen tly suitable fo r fo o d packaging, processing equip m en t, rainwear and wearing apparel, as w ell as oth er special applications w here these qualities are essential.

3 . FLEXIBILITY AT LOW TEMPERATURE: V in yl resins plasticized w ith Pa r a p l e x G -25 show low tem perature flexibility adequ ate fo r all uses excep t the m ost highly specialized applications. T h e b en d -b rittle p oin t o f such stocks com pares fa v ora b ly w ith m ost ester type plastieized com pou nds.

8 . RESISTANCE TO WEATHERING: Pa r a p l e x G -25- v in v l com pou n ds are u naffected b y h eat, co ld , sunlight o r ultra violet. E v e n after lon g exposure, flexibility rem ains unim paired.

4 , HEAT STABILITY: Pa r a p l e x G -25 com p ou n d s show unusually low heat d eform a tion and excellent retention o f original flexib ility...w ill n o t degrade the v in y l resins even a t high tem peratures.

9 . EASE OF COMPOUNDING AND PROCESSING:

Pa r a p l e x G -25 m a y b e com p ou n d ed readily in a B anbu ry or on a ru bber m ill at m illing tem perat ures on ly sligh t ly higher tha n for m on om eric es ter type plas ticizers.

E xtru d in g and calendering operation s p rod u ce stock s with particu larly sm ooth finish, and high gloss surfaces.

5 . NON-EXTRACTABILITY: Pa r a p l e x G -25 is insoluble in oils, fats, w ater and aliph atic h yd roca rb on s, m aking it possible fo r th e first tim e t o com p ou n d s o ft, flexible p oly v in y l ch loride slo ck s w ith excellent oil resistance. JKSr

.a'

■ ... ...— --- — ■— --- ---— ---

N o oth er plasticizer or plasticizer com bin a tion produces the ou tsta n din g effects ob ta in ed w ith Pa r a p l e x G -25.

B e sure to investigate the m erits o f this radically new vin y l plasticizer. D eta iled in form a tion w ill b e 6ent wrvy, p ro m p tly u pon request. Send y o u r inquiries t o — T h e R u b b e r C h em icals D ep a rtm en t, T h e R esin ous P roducts

* • , »]]& C h em ical C om pa n y .

£ 7 /

7— --- --- --- ---*--- --- — --- --

Pa r a p l e xis a trae^tj^h^m ^fSfG . S. Pat. Off.

T H E R U B B E R C H E M I C A L S D E P A R T M E N T

THE RESINOUS PRODUCTS

& CHEMICAL COMPANY

W A S n iS H T O X >Q t~ARE. P t t t L A M l L M n .t 5 . P I .

5 ,0 0 0 R efrigerated Food Lockers

Frick Compressor, 1 o f 8 , w ith Engine

n i S S S E B i

CO M M UN ITY REFRIGERATION CENTER Serves Over 15,000 Customers

P at D e n h a m 's m o d e l p la n t c o v e rs an e n tire b lo c k a t O k la h o m a C it y , O k la ., a n d p ro v id e s a t o t a l o f te n d is ­ t in c t se rvice s t o th e p u b lic . I t has th e w o rld 's la rg e s t r e fr ig e r a te d fo o d lo c k e r sys­

te m ; i t s afe keep s 10,000 fu rs u n d e r c o ld te m p e ra tu re s ; i t o p e ra te s a b ig g e n e ra l fre e z e r s to ra g e .

The p la n t makes 14 to n s o f c ry s ta l-c le a r ic e d a ily ; chills, ages, a n d processes all kinds o f fo o d s ; d o e s q u ic k - fre e z in g in tw o c o ld -a ir-b la s t fre e z e rs . It sells q u a n titie s o f fro z e n fo o d s ;, runs a g o o d sized re s ta u ra n t; has a p o p u ­ la r gas s ta tio n ; a n d in clu d e s a b ig la u n d ry .

A ll th e c o o lin g lo a d s a re c a rrie d b y F rick r e fr ig e r a tin g , ic e -m a k in g , an d a ir c o n d itio n ­ in g e q u ip m e n t.

O u r B u lle tin 126 te lls h o w a n y to w n o r c it y can p r o f it fro m a s im ila r C O M M U N IT Y R E F R IG E R A T IO N C E N T E R . G e t y o u r c o p y n o w ; see w h a t m o d e rn c o o lin g an d fre e z in g fa c ilitie s a re d o in g f o r o th e r S B B W W l K E q p p places.

A ir C onditioned Sales Room

jU B H H

4 8 ,0 0 0 Cu. Ft. Freezer Storage

14-Ton Ice-M aking System

Processing & Quick Freezing Foods

I. & E* C.

Reports on the Chemical World

Today

C om m ence

a*uL

Restaurant Service

r fe ü m

DDT, Flies, and Polio. Well established evidence that the common housefly is a carrier of the poliomyelitis virus naturally led to the conclusion that D D T , wholesale murderer of the fly, would indirectly curb epidemics of this crippling disease. The Rockford, 111., area was selected for a trial, and the idea received more publicity than its pro­

moters desired. From the National Research Foundation we learn that there is no evidence to date that D D T spray­

ing reduces polio infection. This will prove disappointing to those who expected too much from the experiment.

There are, notwithstanding, some grounds for belief that the test was not adequate, and that other epidemic areas should be given a similar trial with D D T to determine the real value of organic insecticides in fighting polio infection.

It is reported, for example, that spraying in the Rockford test area was not sufficient. If this is so, it would be de­

plorable to write off the D D T project as a failure without further trials.

It is definitely known that flies carry the polio virus. It is not so well established that they are responsible for epi­

demics. The fly, therefore, is part of the general polio infection picture, even if it is not the specific poliomyelitis vector. Chemistry is eager to play its part in the control of polio infection and in the treatment of the disease as it has in the treatment and cure of other dangerous infections through chemotherapeutics and drugs.

The poliomyelitis virus is one of the baffling group which up to a short while ago could not be seen with a microscope. Now the much shorter light waves of ultra­

violet, employed in conjunction with quartz crystal, permit partial detection. Literature on the subject, issued as recently as 1944, said that virus studies up to that time did not yet answer positively whether or not all vira are living microorganisms. Up to now, many bacterial infections have yielded to chemotherapeutic administration, while virus diseases appear to resist such treatment. Thus the sulfonamides and penicillin are successfully used to control many types of pneumonia although these same chemo­

therapeutic agents are ineffective in treating virus pneu­

monia.

Some progress has been achieved in the'use of drugs to relieve the suffering of polio victims, to minimize deformi­

ties, and to retard the extent of paralysis. Over the past year medical workers in this field have been able to relieve muscle spasm through administration of neostigmine methyl sulfate. The compound is a simpler synthetic structure than physostigmine, and is the dimethyl car- bamie ester of 3-hydroxyphenyldimethylamine. Neostig- minphas been used in the past to slow down the pulse rate, reduce blood pressure, and relieve local spasms of the blood vessels. It is administered orally or subcutaneously.

One group of polio workers reports that continued medi­

cation with neostigmine requires further proof, bid such proof is definitely warranted. The technique.ofjthe Kenny packs, or hot foments, has been used by the same research group who have found that, used alone or with neostig­

mine, it is “ an effective method (Continued, on page 23)