The Chemical Age, Vol. 52, No. 1355

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A«r.Wtfy

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S A T U R D A Y , J U N E i 6 , 19 4 5 an. p e e Co p t

REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER POST F R E E 8D .

Abford House, W ilto n Road, London

W E T M A T E R IA L H A N D L IN G

IN THE

CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

DRUMS

These dru m s are welded th ro u gh o u t and are m anufactured in large quantities. They can be supplied painted, gal-

o r tinned.

A ls o manufactured In stainless steel. Capaci­

ties ranging from 20 to 150 gallons.

' Everything for Safety Everywhere”

G A S M A S K S

- A L L T Y P E S

Self-Contained Breathing

Apparatus

" P r o t o , ”

“ S a lv u s , ” 44 F i r e o x , " etc.

Short-D istan ce Breathing Ap paratus

A n t l p o y s , ” a n d o t h e r t y p e * O X Y G E N O X Y G E N + C O ,

Resuscitation Apparatus

" N o v o x , ”

" N o v l t a , ” a n d o t h e r t y p e s D U S T M A S K S and G O G G L E S of all patterns A S B E S T O S F IR E P R O O F C L O T H I N G , A C I D P R O O F

G A R M E N T S , etc.

S IE B E , GORMAN & CO. LTD., LONDON

Telegrams : Telephone :

Siebe. Lamb. London W aterloo 6071

W L A R G E U S E R S O F W A T E R

Berkefeld L A R G E S U P P L Y Filters are reliable . . . endurable . . . sim ple to operate. In pattern T the Im purities, trapped by the cylinders, can be cleaned away in a few m inutes— w ith ou t having to open o r take the filters apart. Just im agine how this can be of service to you w ith all

to -d a y’s l a b o u r difficulties. And, f u r t h e r m o r e , these filters gu a r­

antee a constant supply, w ith an hourly o u tp u t of 250 gallons to 550 gallons according to the size of the filter.

For full inform a­

tion o n s i z e s , c a p a c i t i e s and prices, w rite to

BERKEFELD FILTERS

B E -R K EF E L D F IL T E R S L T D . (D e p t . 61), Sardinia H ouse, K ingsw ay, London.

Ju n e i6, 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E

AN ANNOUNCEMENT

The K estner Evaporator & Engineering Co., advertisements, K e stn e r's make a speciality Ltd., wish to advise all their pre-war clients, of C O M P L E T E P R O C E S S P L A N T for the and those whose business they have had to Chemical and Allied Industries. N e w p ro ­ refuse, during the busy w ar years, that they cesses have been developed and perfected hope soon to be able to deal w ith all during the w ar years by the C o m p a n y’s enquiries for C O M P L E T E P R O C E S S P L A N T staff of experienced Chemists, Physicists,

and unit processes. Metallurgists and Engineers. The C om -

In all post-war w o rk the K estner C om pany pany’s W o r k s also have been specially will be able to apply the information and rebuilt and equipped to manufacture experience they have gained whilst em- K E E B U S H , the acid resisting material that ployed on urgent w ar problems. is essential in the construction of Chemical A s you may know if you have read o u r Plant.

Do you wont to be first on the World Market, with newly developed war-time processes— If so consult:

K E S T N E R ’ S

C H E M IC A L E N G IN E E R S

5, G R O S V E N O R G ARD EN S, L O N D O N , S.W .I.

“ The Kestner Organisation— always at your service ”

June, 1945.

“ ^b . ^b ; ^{phosphor bronze tubes}

SHEETS AND S T R I P

Copper Tubes: “Dona” W elding Copper

ii T HE C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e i6, 1 9 4 5

W Ä L L Ä C H

F. W. PO T T E R &SOAR l t d

49 • T A B E R N A C L E ST • L O N D O N • E ' C ’ 2 C L E rk c n w c ll 1 « 8 /9

S a f e t y F i r s t

S A F E T Y F I R S T

PROTECT WORKERS HANDS AGAINST IRRITANT SUBSTANCES T H E " O L D B U R Y ” P A T E N T

C A R B O Y D I S C H A R G E R w ill em pty and elevate up to 50 feet the contents of any carboy, bottle o r vessel, and com piles w ith all the con­

d ition s of the Factory A c t of 1937.

Applied before work keeps hands healthy ROZALEX LTD., 10 NORFOLK ST., MANCHESTER, : KESTNER EVAPORATOR & ENGINEERING

--- CO., LT D .--- 5, Grosvenor Gardens, W estm inster, London, S.W.

— P O T T E R ’S --- Machinery Guards

# D E S IG N E D F O R S A FE T Y I I 1 U I I . Ï FO R SE R V IC E

Potter's guards are installed In works through­

out the country and are dlstln- guishablebythelr sound construc­

tion, good fitting and m any exclu­

sive features.

P H I P P S T R E E T . L O N D O N . E C . 2 T r leo h c n et ■ f./S F epsfote 2177 I J l . w )

B E L T I N G

A N D

E N D L E S S V E E R O P E S Superlative Quality Large Stocks - Prompt Despatch

F R A N C IS W . H A R R IS & Co. Ltd.

B U R S L E M - Stoke-on-Trent

’Phone: Sto k e -o n -T re n t 7181.

'G r a m s : Belting, Burslem

Ju n e i6, 1 9 4 5 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E

M O R A L :

THE IGNITION IMI>

w ith tkeTH C O N fafety factor

W henever workers are using steel tools in the presence of highly inflammable liquids, gases or m aterials, beware of the tool spark, alias the ignition Im p ! In such circumstances this destructive little demon is a constant danger to life and property. For, remember, the accidental striking of a spark by a steel tool— the dropping of a -spanner for example

— m ay easily cause a serious fire or an explosion. End this risk now by installing

% TELCO N 3NON-SPARKING SAFETY TOOLS. Made from Beryllium-Copper — a non-ferrous alloy of exceptional strength and hardness— they give service comparable with steel tools, and are immune from dangerous sparking. W rite for details.

T H E S A f E T Y TIP IS

M anufactured b y :

THE TELEGRAPH CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE CO. LTD.

H ead Office : 22 O L D B R O A D ST REET, L O N D O N , E.C.2 Tel: LONdon W all 3141

Sole D istributors:

B E R Y L L IU M & C O P P E R A LLO Y S LTD.

3 9 -V icto riaS t.,L o n d o n ,S .W .L Tel: A B B c y 6259

S oí

c £ S o í

There’s money \ in the air

W h erev er so lv en ts a re u sed m oney \ \ w h e th er a n activ e c a rb o n recovery p lan t literally tak es to the a ir as th e resu lt ift w ould be a w orth -w h ile p ro p o sitio n , o u r v \

o f e v ap o ra tio n a n d in m an y in d u stria l Y\ ad v iso ry d e p a rtm e n t can c le ar th e a ir by p la n ts this w astage c a n b e v ery serio u s. Y \ sup p ly in g y o u w ith the necessary details

T h e re isn ’t th e sp a ce h ere to list all

the in d u strie s w hich c a n benefit fro m

SPEAKMAN

AND COMPANY LTD ■ LEIGH, LANCASHIRE solv en t recovery b u t, if you use sol- V \ \ London Office : 82 King William Street, E.C .4 .

\ \ \ Tel. : M A N sian House 1285/6 . vents a t all, a n d a re in an y d o u b t

M e l b o u r n e A g e n t s — M e s s r s . H . R. H i l l & S o n , P ty . L td ., 350 K i n g S t r e e t .

O By Edwin D anks & Co. (O ldbury) Ltd., 18' 6 ' long overall x 4 ' 0 " dia. ; hemis­

pherical ends ; shell in one ring of plate. I J " thick, double butt strapped and treble riveted on the longitudinal seam, circular seams double riveted ; man- 11 hole 15" x 12" in one end; inlet and outlet connections; drain valve.

' ... '... — IN FIRST-CLASS C O N D IT IO N = 0

________________________________________ready for immediate despatch_______________________________________

THO? W . W ARD LTD.

^Phone: 26311 (1 5 l i n e s ) .

A L B I O N W O R K S , S H E F F I E L D .

G ra m s;-F o rw a rd , Sheffield.”

L O N D O N O F F IC E : B R E T T E N H A M H O U S E , L A N C A S T E R P L A C E , S T R A N D , W .C .2 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e 1 6 , 1 9 4 5

STEEL RECEIVERS

= Worki ng Pressure 625 lbs. per sq. inch =

Ju n e i 6, 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E V

all my own work

Y ou c a n d o a lljth e c o m b in a tio n s o f fla n g e s, b e a d s a n d h e m s illu s tr a te d , o n th is o n e s im p le m a c h in e . S ta n d a r d m o d e ls ta k e u p to 12J", 15J"

a n d 18" a n d s p e c ia l m o d e ls c a n b e s u p p lie d to ta k e a n y w id th . F o r flex ib ility , h ig h o u tp u t a n d e c o n o m y in o u tlay , o p e r a tio n a n d s p a c e , th is M O O N m a c h in e c a n n o t b e b e a te n .

É S i s

h i m

m a c n i n e s

W e make a wide range of machines for sheet metal w ork, metal cap, box and drum making. If you use this type of plant send for o u r catalogue, it is available on request.

M O O N B R O T H E R S LT D . • Beaufort Road • B IR K E N H E A D

Makers o f Tin Box and Drum Making Machinery

dm 1232

v i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E ^{Ju n e} 1 6 , 1 9 4 5

A. ^{J .} RILEY & SON, ^{L td .}

BATLEY, YOR KS

Telegrams: " B O ILERS, B A T L E Y ." Telephone: 657JBATLEY (3 lines) E S T A B L IS H E D 1888

M akers of

M IL D S T E E L R IV E T E D A N D W E L D E D V E S S E L S J A C K E T E D P A N S C O M P L E T E

W IT H A G IT A T O R S S H E E T L E A D O R H O M O G E N E O U S

L IN E D V E S SE L S T A R , B E N Z O L E & O IL ST ILL S C O N D E N S E R S , E V A P O R A T O R S

A N D D IS T IL L IN G P L A N T S M IL D ST E E L PIPES

A L L P R E S S U R E S L A N C A S H IR E , C O R N IS H E C O N O M I C & W .T . B O IL E R S

N o r th e r n O ff ic e a n d F u e l E n g in e e r : ’P h o n e : H o r s h a m 9 6 5

T, C. FEGAN, GANNONFIELD, HATHERSAGE, nr. SHEFFIELD

^. ’G r a m s E v a p o r a to r

M A I N T A I N

S T E A M

W IT H

L O W G R A D E F U E L S

IN STAL

F O R C E D D R A U G H T F U R N A C E S

THE CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & WILTON’S

PATENT FURNACE CO., LTD., HORSHAM, SUSSEX

Ju n k i6, 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E

A t u b a n d a s t i c k

A wit once described a chem ical m an u factu rer as an individual w ho “ m akes up weed killer w ith a tub an d a stick.” T h ere was a n elem ent o f tru th in this a h u n d re d years ago, w hen T h o m as T yrer

& C o. L td. w ere established. Chem ical plant as we know it to d ay was u n th o u g h t o f — stainless steel, filter presses, vacuum ovens, high speed mills, centrifugals, sp ray driers, all w ere yet to com e. But even w ith th e tu b a n d stick, chem icals m ade by T y re r’s gained fo r “ Sterling B rand ” a rep u tatio n fo r reliability an d pu rity w hich it holds to this day. T h e h igh degree o f p u rity a n d exacting stan d ard s re q u ired now adays dem and highly specialised a n d close scientific c o n tro l. T his control is exercised to-day to p ro d u ce chem icals which m aintain w ith u n tarn ish e d brilliance the rep u ta­

tion gained by “ Sterling B rand " so long ago.

STERLING’" CHEMICALS

THOMAS TYR ER & CO. LTD.

STRA TFO R D • LONDON • E -I5

^

TEL. C L E C K H E A T O N 7 9 0 ( 5 L I N E S )

YORKSHIRE TAR DISTILLERS Dc CLECKHEATON .YORKS.

T E L E G R A M S T O * YOTAR CLECKHEATON

FLU O R S P A R

0 ^{H IG H G R AD E 0}

97-98%

0 Ca F2 C O N T E N T

is now available 0

f r o m ... ...

THE GLEBE LEAD MINE

E Y A M • D E R B Y S H IR E

Telephone : Eyam 41

T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e i6, 1 9 4 5

Ju n e i6, 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E ix

T . D AVIES LIM ITED , Steel Drum and Keg Manufacturers W i d n e s I r o n W o r k s , W I D N E S .

Grams : “ DAVEE ” ’ Phone : Widnes 2463

B

X T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e 1 6 , 1 9 4 5

A M o n u m e n t to Q u a l i t y

B rillian t filtrates fro m all types o f chem ical liquids p ro d u c e d th ro u g h th e M e tafilte r are a m o n u m e n t to th e h ig h -q u ality filtration w hich it en su res. I n a d d itio n to chem ical liq u id s, th e M e ta filte r h an d les w ith equal facility an d success sy n th e tic d ru g s, b io­

chem ical p ro d u c ts , g elatine, sy ru p s, and e x tr a c ts ; a n d it w ith stan d s th e actio n o f acids, alkalis, oils, a n d o rg an ic liq u id s.

T H E M E T A F I L T R A T I O N C O . L T D ., B E L G R A V E R O A D , H O U N S L O W ,

M I D D L E S E X . T elep h o n e: T elegram s:

Hounslow 1 1 3 1 /2/3 M etafilter, Hounslow.

B A R B I T O N E

B A R B I T O N E S O L U B L E A L L O B A R B I T O N E

C Y C L O B A R B 1 T O N E

FINEST QUALITY.

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

= b y ...

P IE R S O N , M O R R E L L & CO., LTD.

(T H E O R IG IN A L B R IT IS H A S P IR IN M A K E R S )

Q U E E N ’S RO AD - B A R N ET - HERTS

Gram s : Pierson, Morrell, Barnet

Ju n e i6, 1 9 4 5 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E x i

Corrosion resistant

There are p le n ty o f M organ carbon bear­

ings ru n n in g to-day that are lubricated solely by the strong acids in w hich they are subm erged, a n d m a n y carbon parts are used in contact w ith other pow erful chemicals and corrosive gases.

The resistance to corrosion o f carbon is o n ly one o f its valuable attributes : it has a high o xidising tem perature, it can be su p p lied in intricate shapes, it resists wear, a n d in fa c t its variety o f qualities is unique a n d almost bewildering.

Those who have problems where the mechanical, electrical or chemical properties o f carbon may be useful, are therefore invited to discuss them with our engineers,

whose extensive experience is available for that purpose.

A f f l M R G A N

product

THE MORGAN CRUCIBLE COMPANY, LTD., LONDON, S .W .ll

T i n e C h e m i c a l s F o r E v e r y

’’ u r p o s e

T H E C H E M I C A L . A G E Ju n e. 1 6 , 1 9 4 5

B A K E L A Q U E

Synthetic Resin Lam inated Boards, Tubes, Rods, and

Mouldings

B A K E L A Q U E

Resins, Varnishes and M oulding Powders

M ICA and M IC A N IT E

in all forms

Vulcanised Fibre and Leatheroid

Varnished Cloth, Tape and Tubing

Presspahn, Fullerboard Ebonite and all Insulating M aterial for

Electrical Engineers

The Research Chemist

The interest aroused in the public mind by the achievements o f the Research Chemist is based primarily on the practical value of 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 dramatic 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 Hash o f 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 of May &

Baker have had their share of war­

time difficulties to overcome.

W ithout their efforts many 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 o f their experience?

If so, \yc should be pleased to attem pt to solve them. Telephone:

Ilford 3060. Extensions 71 or 72.

May&BakcrLUl

D A G E N H A M

LO N D O N ENGLAND

'S1. . .O

A I & B Industrial Chemicals Series (N o . 2a).

ATTWATER ł SONSL™

P R E S T O N

E S T A B L IS H E D 1868

r

Steam or Power Driven Pumps. R Dry Vacuum Pumps. W et Vacuum ' Pumps. Air Compressors. Steam Jet Air Ejectors and Surface Condensers

for Operating with Vacuum Pans.

l Heat Exchangers. ,

W e offer accumulated experience of 50 years’ specialization.

O U R W O R K S , the largest in the United K ingdom devoted especi­

ally to D R Y IN G M A C H IN E R Y , are laid out and equipped w ith the latest plant for this particular purpose.

M A N Y S T A N D A R D S IZ E S includ­

ing L A B O R A T O R Y M O D E L S . W e have test plants on a commercial

scale always available

R IC H A R D S IM O N & S O N S , LT D

PHΠNIX W O RKS. BASFORD, N O T T IN G H A M

WORTHINGTON—SIMPSON

c , C H E M I C A L INDUSTRY

^ u o u o J 0 W Ê S Ê Ë È Ê È È Ë È .

T

n

}''

h a n d l e d

f t f K , u M H â É & M t t É

A n Installation of twelve electrically-driven H o ri­

zontal Split C asing Centrifugal Pumps at an im ­ portant Chemical W o r k s in the Midlands. These units handle a variety of Chemical Solutions used in various manufacturing processes.

Ju n e 1 6 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E

M U L T I T U B U L A R D R I E R S

R O L L E R F I L M D R I E R S

F L A K E R S A N D C O O L E R S

R o ta r y o r R e c ip r o c a tin g

for Factory o r Labo ratory

V a c u a o b t a i n a b l e ’;

S in g le S t a g e —u p t o *005 m m ; D u p le x — u p t o

•OÓOOI m / m off p e r f e c t .

A ll S iz e s & T y p o s fo r

High Vacua Displacement Dessication

Distillation j Moist Air

Circuits

S 3 ?

Pulsometets

Pumps

Pulsometer engineering C! U?..

ftin e e im s Ironw orks. R e a d i n g

A L L D U T IE S For Food and Chem ical Industries

and Processes

L IS T No. 3086

T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e 1 6 , 1 9 4 5

P A T E R S O N D R Y C H E M IC A L

Extensively used f o r the \ application of

POWDERED REAGENTS

f o r W ater Treatment purposes and f o r measur­

ing and proportioning powdered or Granular

Substances.

F E E D E R

r E E D CONTROL

Technical details from

PATERSON ENGINEERING CO.,

L im ite d

83, K I N G S W A Y , L O N D O N

The Chemical Age

A W eekly Journal Devoted to Industrial and E ngineering C hem istry

B O U V E R IE H O U S E , 154 F L E E T S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E .C .4 Telegram s: ALLANGAS F L E E T LONDON

GLASGOW : 1 16 Hope Street (Central 3970)

Telephone: CENTRAL 3 2 12 (10 lines) BIRM INGHAM : Daimler House, Paradise Street (Midland 0784-3 ) T H E CHEMICAL AGE offices are closed on Saturdays in accordance w ith the adopti<

Benn Brothers Limited

week by

VOL. LI I

No. 1 3 5 5 .

June 16, 1945

Industrial D evelopm en ts in the Em pire

T

^{W O} c o n tr a s t i n g p ic tu r e s h a v e l a t e ly b e e n g iv e n o f th e i n d u s tr ia l d e v e lo p m e n ts , a c t u a l o r p r o je c te d , w ith in B r itis h D o m in io n s . T h e te n d ­ e n c y to w a r d s in d u s t r ia l is a t i o n is lik e ly to b e a c c e n tu a te d a s a r e s u l t o f th e w a r , f o r i t w ill be c le a r by n o w to t h e p o l it i ­ c a l le a d e r s o f th e c o u n tr ie s c o n c e rn e d t h a t w a r fo r th e f u t u r e is l ik e ly to b e m e c h a n is e d a n d t h a t s a f e ty d ic ta te s s o m e m e a s u r e o f i n d u s t r ia l is a t i o n fo r a n y c o u n tr y t h a t is n o t c lo s e to a p o w e r f u l a lly . T h e c o u n tr ie s o f th e B r i ti s h E m p i r e k n o w w e ll t h a t th e y c a n r e ly o n th e r e s t o f th e E m p i r e fo r h e lp in tim e o f n e e d , b u t th e g r e a t d is ta n c e s to b e tr a v e r s e d m a y w e ll h a v e a d e c is iv e in f lu e n c e in c a u s in g th e e s t a b ­ lis h m e n t o f so m e i n d u s tr ie s fo r w h ic h th e r e w o u ld n o t n o r m a l l v be e c o n o m ic ju s tif ic a tio n . A p a r t

f ro m th is q u e s tio n of p o lic y , it is c le a r th a t u n r e s t r ic te d in d u s ­ t r ia l is a t i o n is u n d e s i r ­ a b le . I t s h o u ld be tie d u p w ith th e g e n e r a l e c o n o m ic b a c k g r o u n d o f th e c o u n tr y . T h e r e a r e ty p e s o f in d u s tr y s u ite d to th e ra w m a t e r i a l s a n d to th e i n t e r n a l m a r k e ts o f t h e c o u n tr y , a n d th e r e a r e o th e r s w h ic h c a n o n ly be p u r s u e d a t th e e x ­ p e n s e o f ’ . th e c o u n ­ t r y ’s m a in i n d u s tr ie s . T h e z e a l s h o w n in

On Other P ages

N o tes and C o m m en ts ...

Itaw M a teria ls fo r P la stic s and S y n th e tic R u b b ers— I I Oil o f P a tc h o u li ...

P o lyvin yl A lc o h o l in C eram ics ...

illu m in a tio n and A c c id e n ts In d u s tr ia l S a fe ty G leanings L e tte r to th e E d ito r : D V T and

G a m m e xa n e ...

Rayon in F in la n d ...

N ew C ontrol O rders : C adm ium

— Z in c and L ea d — E x p o r t C on­

tro l— M a c h in ery ...

N on-F errous M eta l P rices P a rlia m e n ta ry T o p ics ...

P ersonal N o tes

G en era l N ew s fro m W e ek to W e e k 527 C om pany N ew s ... 530 C om m ercial In te llig e n c e ... 530 S to c k s and S h a res ... ... 530 B ritish C hem ical P rices ... 532

5 i i

s o m e d ir e c tio n s a p p e a r s to b e n o t u n l ik e t h a t o f th e d o g in Æ s o p ’s f a b le w h o d r o p p e d h is b o n e in th e s tr e a m b e c a u s e h e m is to o k th e r e fle c tio n o f it f o r a b i g g e r a n d b e tte r one,

T h e S o u th A fr ic a n M i n in g a n d E n g i n ­ e e r in g J o u r n a l h a s a c o m m e n t o n th is s o r t o f d e v e lo p m e n t w h ic h h a s b e en w id e ly q u o te d , a n d w h ic h is w o rth g i v in g in f u l l :

“ S o u th A frica lias gone in d u stry -cra zy in th e p a st tw o y e a rs, to th e e x te n t t h a t i t h as in dulged in w ishful th in k in g and d re am in g on an u n p re c e d e n te d scale. T h e in sisten c e on d ev elo p in g in d u s try a p p e a rs to h av e o v e r­

shadow ed all c o n sid e ra tio n s of p ru d e n ce a n d com m onsensc, an d sig h t has been lost of th e significance of th e c o u n try ’s p rim a ry in d u strie s. G o ld , d iam o n d s, an d wool held th e ir place in th e w o rld ’s m a rk e ts w ith o u t a s s is ta n c e ; m ost of th e r e s t o f S o u th A fric a ’s in d u s tria l p ro d u c ts h a v e yet to show th a t th ey a re c a p a b le of c o m p e t­

ing, in n orm al tim es, w ith th e p ro d u c ts of o th e r c o u n tries. T h e re a re n o tab le e x ce p tio n s, of co u rse, b u t th ey a re n o t m any. A nd it seem s to be g ro w in g m o re a n d m ore a p p a r ­ e n t t h a t p ro tec tiv e m ea su re s, w illy n illy , w ill be im posed to bol­

s te r ■ up th e flimsy façad e of se co n d ary in ­ d u stry to m ak e it as im posing as p o ssib le in th e w o rld ’s sig h t. F in e , b u t w ho is g o ing to pay th e co st of p ro te c tio n ? T h e p e o p le ? P rim a ry in d u s try ? T h e people 513

515 520 520 521 522 523 523

524 525 525 520

512 ^{T H E} C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e 1 6 , 1 9 4 5 can p ay , u p to a p o in t, b u t n o t indefinitely.

P r im a r y in d u s try can pay, b u t ag ain only up to a p o in t. A nd of th e c o u n try ’s p rim ­ ary in d u strie s, o n ly .g o ld is c a p a b le of p a y ­ ing in w ortli-w liile m e a s u re .”

C o n tr a s tin g ’ w ith th is is a p a p e r re a d by M r. G. B . G r e s f o r d to th e R o y a l S o c ie ty o f A r ts o n “ S c ie n tific A s p e c ts o f A u s t r a l i a ’s I n d u s t r i a l D e v e l o p m e n t ,”

in w h ic h th e c o n d itio n s f o r s u c c e s s fu l s e t ti n g u p o f n e w i n d u s t r ie s a r e e x a m ­ in e d in th e l i g h t o f w h a t h a s a lr e a d y b e e n a c c o m p lis h e d in t h a t c o u n tr y . T h e b a s is o f th e p a p e r is t h a t th e d e v e l o p ­ m e n t o f n e w i n d u s tr ie s a n d th e r e ­ e s t a b l i s h m e n t a n d im p r o v e m e n t of e x is ti n g o n e s w ill d e m a n d th e a p p l i c a ­ tio n o f s c ie n tific r e s e a r c h o n a s c a le h i t h e r t o u n d r e a m e d of. T h e p r i m a r y i n d u s t r y o f A u s tr a l ia is w o o l. T h e p a s t o r a l i n d u s t r y is s t i l l b y f a r th e g r e a t e s t in t h e c o u n tr y . T h e m a r k e t v a lu e o f a ll A u s tr a l ia n p a s t o r a l p r o d u c ts d u r i n g 19 39 -4 0 w a s a p p r o x im a t e ly ^ 8 1 m il l io n , o f w h ic h £(>2 m il l io n w a s f ro m w o o l. A u s tr a l ia n flo c k s , w h ic h in 19 4 1 n u m b e r e d 12 5 m il l io n s h e e p , p r o d u c e m o r e t h a n o n e - q u a r te r o f th e w o r l d ’s w h o le r e q u ir e m e n t s o f w o o l, a n d m a i n ­

t a in a n i n d u s t r y w ith a c a p i t a l v a lu e e s tim a te d a t ¿ 7 5 0 m illio n .

N e x t in im p o r ta n c e to th e A u s tr a lia n p a s t o r a l i n d u s t r y is t h a t o f m in in g , w h ic h , s in c e it i n v o lv e s th e w i n n i n g of p r o d u c ts d i r e c tl y f r o m N a t u r e , m a y s t i l l b e c o n s id e r e d a s a p r i m a r y in d u s ­ tr y . I n th e y e a r e n d in g J u n e , 19 4 0, th e v a lu e o f m in e r a l p r o d u c tio n f r o m a ll s o u r c e s in th e C o m m o n w e a lth w a s a b o u t

^ 4 0 m illio n . A b o u t £ 17% m illio n is r e p r e s e n te d b y g o ld , a m a t e r i a l fo r w h ic h th e s c ie n tis t h a s fo u n d l i t t l e u se a n d a b o u t w h ic h e v e n th e e c o n o m is t is d o u b tf u l. T h e r e m a in d e r o f th e s u n i is m a d e u p m a i n l y b y c o a l, l e a d , s ilv e r , ir o n , z in c , a n d c o p p e r — a ll s u b s ta n c e s o f

e s ta b lis h e d i n d u s t r i a l s ig n if ic a n c e .

"W hat m a y b e te r m e d th e s e c o n d a iy i n d u s t r ie s o f A u s tr a l ia a r e b a s e d u p o n th e s e tw o p r i m a r y in d u s t r ie s , m a k i n g u s e o f th e p r o d u c ts o b ta in e d f ro m th e m . T h e n e e d f o r f e r t i l is e r s h a s c a u s e d th e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f th e m a n u f a c t u r e of f e r t i l is e r s , a n d t h e r e f o r e o f s u l p h u r i c a c id . C o tto n , to b a c c o , s u g a r , a n d d a i r y ­ i n g a r e p a r t o f t h e p a s t o r a l in d u s tr ie s . A r i s i n g f r o m m in i n g th e r e a r e th e p r o ­ d u c tio n o f c o k e a n d p o w e r , a n i m p o r t a n t f e a t u r e b e in g th e u t il i s a ti o n o f th e e x ­

te n s iv e b r o w n c o a l d e p o s i ts ' o f V ic to r ia . L e a d - s ilv e r - z in c o re s a r e p r o d u c e d a n d , t o g e t h e r w ith ir o n , a r e th e basis- o f a n i m p o r t a n t m e t a l l u r g i c a l i n d u s tr y . In th e s e i n d u s t r ie s th e r e h a v e b e e n so m e s c ie n tific a d v a n c e s o f th e h i g h e s t o r d e r w h ic h , h a v e h a d t h e i r r e p e r c u s ­ s io n s a l l o v e r th e w o r ld .

I n 1 9 1 5 d e v e lo p m e n t w a s s t a r te d w h e re b y a t th e p r e s e n t tim e p r a c t ic a ll y th e w h o le o f th e l e a d c o n c e n tr a t e p r o ­ d u c e d is r e d u c e d to m e ta l. A b o u t 60 p e r c e n t, o f th e z in c c o n c e n tr a te is r e d u c e d i a A u s tr a l ia lik e w is e . T h e p r o b le m o f th e s e p a r a t io n o f th e le a d f ro m th e z in c h a s b e e n s o lv e d in A u s tr a l ia , a n d th e w o r k is th u s d e s c rib e d b y M r. G r e s f o r d . A t th e b e g in n i n g o f th e w a r th e m a i n p ro c e s s u se d w a s th e M i n e r a l s S e p a r a t io n C o m ­ p a n y ’s p r o c e s s w h ic h w a s d e v e lo p e d f r o n t th e A m e r ic a n p a te n t o f K e l le r a n d L e w is in 19 2 3. T h i s p a te n t w a s ta k e n o u t fo r th e u s e o f a lk y l s u l p h u r d e r iv a ti v e s o f c a r b o n ic a c id k n o w n a s x a n th a te s . I t w a s fo u n d t h a t p o ta s s iu m e th y l x a n th a t e has. p r o n o u n c e d c o ll e c t in g p r o p e r tie s f o r th e s u l p h i d e m in e r a l s , a n d th e p r e s e n t h i g h le a d a n d s i l v e r r e c o v e r ie s in th e flo ta tio n s e c tio n s o f th e m in e s a r e d u e to th is r e a g e n t. W it h n e w p r o b le m s a lw a y s a r is in g , c o n tin u o u s e x p e r i m e n t a l w o rk h a s s t i ll to b e u n d e r ­ t a k e n . I t is i n te r e s t in g to n o te t h a t fo r th e te n y e a r s b e f o re th e w a r a g r o u p o f A u s tr a l ia n m in in g c o m p a n ie s fin a n c e d a s m a ll te a m w o r k in g a t th e U n iv e r s ity o f M e lb o u r n e o n th e f u n d a m e n ta l p h y s ic a l c h e m is tr y o f th e flo ta tio n p ro c e s s . I r o n o re h o l d s o n ly f o u r t h p la c e a m o n g th e m in e r a ls m in e d in A u s tr a l ia , b u t is th e b a s is o f a c o n s id e r a b le ir o n a n d s te e l i n d u s tr y . T h e a u th o r m e n tio n s a p o in t n e w to u s t h a t s te e l is p r o d u c e d in th e C o m m o n w e a lth p r o b a b ly c h e a p e r th a n a n y w h e r e e ls e in th e w o r ld — a tr ib u t e to th e s u c c e s s a c h ie v e d b y A u s tr a l ia n e n g in e e r s .

M r. G r e s f o r d ’s p a p e r sh o w s t h a t n a tio n s w h o d e s ir e to b e c o m e in d u s ­ t r ia l is e d m u s t s t a r t w ith a s c ie n tific b a s is . H e p o in ts o u t t h a t it is w e ll k n o w n t h a t m o d e r n s e c o n d a r y i n d u s t r y d e p e n d s l a r g e l y o n s c ie n tific c o n tr o l fo r i ts m a i n t e n a n c e a n d o n s c ie n tific r e s e a r c h f o r i ts d e v e lo p m e n t. T h i s h a s b e e n p a r t i c u l a r l y w e ll p r o v e d in , A u s tr a l ia w h e r e , e s p e c ia lly d u r i n g t h e 'w a r , th e r e h a s b e e n a d a n g e r o f b e in g c u t off f ro m

J u n e i6, 1 945 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 5 1 3 c o n ta c t w ith o v e r s e a s p r a c tic e , w ith th e

c o n s e q u e n t d e p e n d e n c e o n n a ti v e s c ie n ti­

fic a n d te c h n ic a l re s o u r c e s . T h e m a n u ­ f a c t u r e o f m u n itio n s , th e m a in te n a n c e of t r a n s p o r t s e r v ic e s , th e p r o d u c tio n o f te x tile s fro m w o o l a n d c o tto n , th e m a n u ­ f a c t u r e o f e le c tr ic a l e q u ip m e n t, le n s e s a n d o p tic a l i n s t r u m e n t s , p a p e r , p h o to ­ g r a p h ic m a t e r i a ls , o r g a n ic c h e m ic a ls , p a in t s , r u b b e r p r o d u c ts , a n d p l a s ti c s —ra il th e s e i n d u s tr ie s r e q u ir e th e c lo s e s t s c ie n tific c o n tr o l, a n d t h e i r e s ta b lis h m e n t a n d s u c c e s s fu l d e v e lo p m e n t in A u s tr a l ia h a v e b e e n d u e in n o s m a ll p a r t to a r e a l is a t i o n o f th is .

T h e r e a r e e n d le s s p o s s ib ilitie s s u c h as

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E c a n n o t h e lp f e e l in g t h a t M r.

B e v in w a s ill- a d v is e d to s i n g l e o u t th e B r itis h s te e l i n d u s t r y f o r a tt a c k o n th e g r o u n d o f g e n e r a l in e ffic ie n c y . A d ­ m itte d ly , m o s t p u b lic p o l it i c a l s ta te m e n ts m a d e a t th e p r e s e n t tim e a r e c o lo u r e d by th e d e s ir e to m a k e e le c tio n e e r in g c a p i t a l ; b u t w e c o n te n d t h a t th e r e a re m a n y o t h e r m a jo r i n d u s t r ie s in th is c o u n tr y w h ic h a r e m o r e o p e n to c r itic is m th a n is th e s te e l i n d u s tr y . T h e B r itis h I r o n a n d S te e l F e d e r a t io n h a s is s u e d a r e jo i n d e r .to M r. B e v in w h ic h p u ts u p a r e a s o n e d c a s e f o r t h e i r c r a f t. T h e r e is a ty p e o f m in d w h ic h i n s t in c t iv e l y r e ­ g a r d s th e w o r d s “ p r ic e a r r a n g e m e n t s ” a s n e c e s s a r ily s a v o u r i n g o f a p l o t to o v e r c h a r g e th e c o n s u m e r in th e in te r e s ts o f t h e “ b i g ” p r o d u c e r . T h e F e d e r a ­ tio n p o i n ts o u t t h a t th e p r ic e a r r a n g e ­ m e n ts to w h ic h M r. B e v in m a d e r e f e r ­ e n c e w e r e se t u p a t th e G o v e r n m e n t’s r e q u e s t w ith a v ie w to r e s t r ic ti n g p ro fits a n d to e n s u r i n g t h a t th e S teel n e c e s s a r y f o r th e w a r e ffo rt w o u ld b e f o r th c o m in g . A s w e h a v e s e e n , q u ite a n a p p r e c ia b le a m o u n t o f s te e l h a s b e e n f o r th c o m in g

f r o m th is “ in e ffic ie n t ” i n d u s tr y .

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S fo r c o m p a r is o n s w ith A m e ric a n i n d u s t r y , i t is p o in te d o u t t h a t th e r e q u ir e m e n t s o f th e B r itis h a n d th e A m e r ic a n s te e l t r a d e a r e tw o v e ry d if f e r e n t t h i n g s ; a n d a s to t h e p r ic e s c h a r g e d , th e r e h a v e b e e n f a c to r s a ffe c t­

i n g B r i ti s h i n d u s t r y f r o m w h ic h A m e r i­

c a n i n d u s t r y h a s b e e n q u ite fre e .

w o o l r e s e a r c h , a n d th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f c h e m ic a l i n d u s tr ie s b a s e d o n f a r m p r o ­ d u c ts a rid o n th e fis h e rie s . T h e m a n u ­ f a c t u r e o f m e t a ll i c m a g n e s iu m h a s b e g u n , a n d a f t e r m u c h s c ie n tific in v e s ti ­ g a tio n d e fin ite p l a n s h a v e b e e n d r a w n u p f o r s t a r t i n g a n a lu m in iu m in d u s tr y . T h e d e v e lo p m e n t a n d u s e o f r a r e r m e ta ls lik e t a n t a l u m , c o lu m b iu m , b e r y ll i u m , a n d z ir c o n iu m is a p r o m is in g fie ld . O r g a n ic c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y o n a l a r g e s c a le h a s h a r d l y b e e n s t a r te d , a n d t h e in v e s tig a tio n , a n d i n d u s t r ia l d e v e l o p ­ m e n t o f A u s tr a l ia n p l a n t p r o d u c ts s u c h a s a lk a l o id s a n d e s s e n tia l o ils is a n o th e r field t h a t h a s s c a rc e ly b e e n to u c h e d .

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I n c i d e n t a l l y , d o e s M r. B e v in r e a l ly s u g g e s t t h a t th e m e th o d s o f A m e r ic a n

“ b ig b u s in e s s w o u ld b e a c c e p ta b le o v e r h e r e ? I t is t r u e t h a t m o d e r n is a tio n h a s b e e n h e ld u p in th e B r itis h s te e l i n ­ d u s tr y f o r o b v io u s r e a s o n s ; i t d o e s n o t f o llo w t h a t its d ir e c to r s w i l l b e c o n te n t to le t t e c h n ic a l m e th o d s s ta y a s th e y a r e n o w t h a t th e o p p o r t u n it y to im p r o v e is a t h a n d . W e h a v e n o te d th e a p p o i n t ­ m e n t o f s e v e r a l te c h n ic a l d i r e c to r s o n th e b o a r d s o f i m p o r t a n t s te e l c o m p a n i e s ; it is, d iffic u lt to b e lie v e t h a t th e s e a p p o i n t ­ m e n ts w e r e m a d e w ith o u t o b je c t.

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E A f o r 10 ,0 0 0 w o r k e r s r e a d y in S m in u te s — a 5000-to n p r e s s fo r m a k i n g a 20-to n to r p e d o tu b e . T h e s e c o n tr a s t i n g p r o d u c tio n f e a ts a r e b u t tw o a m o n g m a n y in B r i t a i n ’s w a r e f fo r t m a d e p o s s ib le b y th e i n d u s t r i a l a p p li c a t io n o f g a s . A f te r six y e a r s o f c e n s o r s h ip th e s e r e m a r k a b l e f a c ts w e re d is c lo s e d b y M r.

H . R . H e m s , o f th e B i r m i n g h a m G a s D e p a r t m e n t , a t th e a n n u a l m e e t in g of th e I n s t i tu t i o n o f G a s E n g in e e r s in L o n d o n o n T u e s d a y . I n th e S h e ffield a r e a a lo n e ,, w h e r e g a s p l a y e d a k e y p a r t in p r o d u c in g g u n f o r g i n g s , a r m o u r p l a t e f o r b a tt l e s h ip s , a n d s ta in l e s s ste e l fo r s u r g i c a l e q u ip m e n t, 12 t h o u s a n d m illio n f e e t o r 6o-J m illio n t h e r m s w e re u s e d in th e p e a k y e a r o f 19 4 2. S o m e o f th e l a r g e s t u s e r s o f a l l w e re firm s u n d e r c o n tr a c t to th e A d m i r a l t y w h o , to m e e t th e u r g e n t d e m a n d f o r s h ip s a n d s till m o r e s h ip s , w e r e u s i n g g a s a t th e r a te o f 3A m illio n f e e t p e r h o u r . O n e o f th e

T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e 1 6 , 1 9 4 5 s t r a n g e r p r o d u c ts d e m a n d e d f o r w a r p u r ­

p o se s w e r e m a m m o th b e a r i n g s w e ig h in g 4 to n s — so m e o f th e l a r g e s t o f t h e i r k in d in E u r o p e . A s e r ie s o f h i g h ly a c c u r a te - t e m p e r a t u r e - c o n tr o l o p e r a tio n s , a ll o f w h ic h w e re c o n d u c te d in s p e c ia l g a s f u r n a c e s , w e re e s s e n tia l in t h e i r m a n u ­ f a c tu r e . M r. S. E . W h it e h e a d , p r e s id e n t o f th e I n s t i tu t i o n , r e v ie w in g th e w a r ­ tim e p r o b le m s o f g a s u n d e r ta k in g s , p o in te d o u t t h a t s in c e 19 39 th e a n n u a l s a le s o f g a s " h a d in c r e a s e d fro m 3 1 4,200,000 ft. to 3 7 9,10 0 ,0 0 0 ft. in 1944 a n d th e o u t p u t o f b e n z o l h a d b e en d o u b le d . B u t t h is a d d it i o n a l o u t p u t of g a s w a s b y n o m e a n s e v e n ly s p r e a d o v e r th e c o u n tr y . M a n y u n d e r ta k in g s h a d s u ffe re d s e v e re lo s s o f o u t p u t o w in g to e v a c u a tio n a n d b o m b in g , so t h a t it w a s e a s y to i m a g in e th e e n o r m o u s in c r e a s e s e x p e r ie n c e d b y o th e r s . A ll th e s e t h in g s a d d e d u p to a v e r y s e v e re1 h a n d ic a p a n d p r o m p te d th e q u e s tio n , “ H o w h a v e w e g o t t h r o u g h ?” T h e a n s w e r lie s m a in ly in th e h a r d w o rk a n d d e te r m i n a ti o n , a n d f r e q u e n t ly in th e g a l l a n t r y , o f g a s e n g in e e r s , t h e i r t e c h n ic a l s ta ffs, a n d e m p lo y e e s .

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T U D I E S o f c h e m is tr y , a m o n g o th e r s u b je c ts , h a v e r e lie v e d th e s o rd id m o n o to n y o f c o n f in e m e n t in p r is o n c a m p s , a n d w e a r e in d e b te d to M r.

F . I.. W J te le n , th e w e ll- k n o w n l e c t u r e r o n i n te r n a t i o n a l r e la ti o n s , f o r a p l e a s i n g a n e c d o te o f lif e in in te r n m e n t w h ic h is s o m e w h a t o u t o f th e o r d i n a r y r u n . ' M r.

W h e le n w a s c a u g h t in P a r i s b y th e G e r ­ m a n o n r u s h in 194 0, a n d b e in g d is tin c tly p e r s o n a n o n g r a ta to th e N a z i a u t h o r i ­ tie s o n a c c o u n t o f h is L ib e r a l o p in io n s , w a s d u ly i n te r n e d , w ith o th e r h o l d e r s o f B r itis h p a s s p o r ts , in th e F o r t d e R o m a in - v ille a n d l a t e r in th e S t a l a g a t D r a n c y , e a s t o f P a r is . H e r e th e B r itis h E m p i r e w a s r e p r e s e n te d b y m e n o f a ll r a c e s — b la c k , w h ite , b r o w n , a n d y e llo w — fro m e v e r y q u a r t e r o f th e g lo b e , b u t th e t a l l e s t a n d fin e s t p h y s ic a l s p e c im e n in th e c a m p w a s a b la c k m a n fro m th e G a m b ia . F ie w a s a ls o a c le v e r a n d c u lt u r e d m a n , a n d s o m e w h a t s u r p r is e d h is f c llo w - p r is o n e r s o n e e v e n i n g by d e li v e r i n g a l e c t u r e in E n g l i s h ' on

“ M o d e rn D e v e lo p m e n ts in C h e m i s t r y .”

T h is is a s h r e w d b lo w f o r th o s e w h o , e v e n to - d a y , s t i ll g o a b o u t c o m p l a in i n g th a t th e B r itis h E m p i r e is a p itile s s

m a c h in e f o r e x p lo i t in g th e “ s u b je c t r a c e s .” I t is a r e a l t e s ti m o n ia l to th e s p r e a d o f u s e f u l e d u c a tio n t h r o u g h th e E m p i r e t h a t a n a ti v e o f th e G a m b ia , w h ic h h a s lo n g b e e n r e g a r d e d a s o n e o f th e “ C i n d e r e l la s ” o f th e C o lo n ia l O ffice, s h o u ld h a v e e n li g h t e n e d h is b r o th e r s in m is f o r tu n e a b o u t w h a t is g o in g on in th e c h e m ic a l w o r ld . E x A fr ic a s e m p e r a l iq u i d n o v i.

A u stralian M etals

I

T is p r o b a b le t h a t , o u ts id e th e c ir c le s im m e d ia te ly c o n c e r n e d , to o l i t t l e a c ­ k n o w le d g e m e n t h a s b e e n m a d e o f th e e ffo rt o n th e p a r t o f A u s tr a l ia to r e p la c e f ro m h e r le s s e r -k n o w n m in e r a l w e a lth s o m e o f th e s u p p l i e s o f w h ic h A x is s e iz u re ro b b e d th e A llie d p o w e rs . A c tu ­ a ll y , it w a s a n e a r th in g . T h e r e h a d fo r so m e y e a r s b e e n a te n d e n c y in A u s tr a l ia fo r th e “ s m a ll a c t i v it i e s ” in m in in g to b e a b a n d o n e d , a n d f o r m a n ­ p o w e r to d r i f t to m a n u f a c t u r i n g c e n tr e s . T h is te n d e n c y w a s a r r e s t e d b y G o v e r n ­ m e n t a c tio n , a n d so m e o f th e r e s u l ts o f th is a c tio n a r e s u m m a r is e d in a n o te in a r e c e n t is s u e o f C h e m ic a l E n g in e e r i n g a n d M i n in g R e v ie w . F o r e x a m p le , t u n g s t e n e x p o r ts to B r i ta i n h a v e r e a c h e d o v e r 2000 to n s s in c e th e w a r b e g a n , a n d a r c v a lu e d a t a b o u t ( ¿7 50,0 0 0, a n d s in c e th e J a p a n e s e in v a s io n o f B u r m a , A u s tr a l ia n p r o d u c tio n h a s • in c r e a s e d f o u r f o ld . T a n t a l u m c o n c e n tr a te s , u p to 60 p e r c e n t, g r a d e , a r e b e in g e x te n s iv e ly e x p o r te d , a n d h a v e p la y e d a b ig p a r t in th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f r a d a r . D u r i n g th e w a r y e a r s , A u s tr a l ia n o u t p u t o f zinc h a s i n c r e a s e d b y 27 p e r c e n t., w h ile tin p r o d u c tio n h a s b e e n r a is e d to a p itc h su ffic ie n t to m e e t th e n e e d s o f b o th A u s tr a l ia a n d N e w Z e a la n d . O n e o f th e few r e la ti v e ly i m p o r t a n t o r e -b o d ie s o f b a s e m e t a ls lo c a te d s in c e th e w a r is a t M o u n t I s a , in Q u e e n s la n d , w h e r e a c o p p e r d e p o s it w a s d is c o v e r e d w ith a re s e r v e a m o u n t i n g to n e a r l y te n tim e s th e a v e r a g e p r e - w a r o u t p u t o f 17 ,0 0 0 to n s a y e a r . B a u x ite p r o d u c tio n is s t i ll in its in f a n c y , b u t th e C o m m o n w e a lth G o v e r n m e n t h a s p r o p o s e d to d e v o te / 3>000>0° 0 u p to th e e n d o f 19 4 5, to w a r d s th e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a n A u s tr a l ia n a lu m i n iu m in d u s t r y . I t w ill b e i n t e r e s t ­ in g to s e e w h e t h e r th e s e a d v a n c e s c a n b e m a i n t a i n e d w h e n , e v e n t u a l l y , th e p r e ­ w a r c h a n n e ls o f s u p p l y a r e o n c e a g a in u n d a m m e d .

Ju n e i6 , 1 9 4 5 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E

Raw M aterials for Plastics and Synthetic R ubbers—II

Som e Econom ic Points — Calcium Carbide

by D . D . H O W A T , B .S c ., P h .D ., F .R .I .C ., A '.M .I.C h e m .E . (C ontinued fr o m T h e C h e m i c a l A g e , Ju n e 9, 19 4 5, p . 50 2) R O M th ese c o n sid era tio n s one conclusion

is in ev itab le, a p lan n e d a n d scientific utilisatio n of our coal resources is absolutely essential in providing a t least a s u b s ta n tia l p art of th e raw m aterials for th e p lastics and sy n th e tic ru b b e r in d u stries. No reasonable case m ay be advanced th a t it is essential to provide all raw m aterials from our own in ­ digenous resources, b ut th e best u tilisa tio n of o u r resources is an inescapable responsibility.

A ssum ing th at 40,000,000 tons of coal arc carbonised yearly' both in re to rts and coke ovens; S c o tt10 e stim ates th a t the m axim um a v a ilab ility of chem ical pro d u cts from th a t to n n ag e of coal to be as fo llo w s:—

B enzene ... 280,000 tons T oluene ... 69,000 tons Styrl-ne ... 4,000 tons In d en e ... 9,500 tons N a p h th alen e ... 80,000 tons T a r acids ... 65,000 tons' E ach new developm ent in p lastic s, sy n ­ th etic ru b b ers, dyes, p harm aceutical p rep ara, tions, and sy n th e tic d ru g s h as underlined th e key im portance of benzene, phenol, crcsylic acid, toluene, and n ap h th alen e, some of the by-products of coal carb o n isatio n . Y et in actual fact a com bination of several factors h as h ith e rto lim ited the q u a n titie s of arom atic hydrocarbons u tilised by the chem ical in d u stry .

B en zo l R e c o v e ry

U n til ju st before th e w ar q u ite a su b s ta n ­ tia l percentage of the benzol, from which pure benzene m ay be obtained by azeotropic d is ­ tilla tio n “ , w’as not recovered from tow n gas.

C a p ita l'e x p e n d itu re on th e scru b b in g plan t and on th e c arb n retted w ater-gas p la n t, im ­ perative to m ain tain th e legal calorific value of the strip p ed gas, m ade benzol recovery an u n a ttra c tiv e proposition in sm aller p lan ts. In 1936. th e F a ln io n th C om m ittee” estim ated th a t a fu rth e r 35,000,000 gallons of crude benzol could h av e been recovered. D u rin g th a t sam e year 32.000,000 out of th e 80,000,000 gallons a ctu ally recovered were exported, m ainly ro th e U .S.A . T herefore, of a p o ten ­ tial total of 115,000.000 gallons of crude ben­

zol av ailab le only 48,000,000, o r 41 p e r c en t., w ere actu ally utilised in th is co u n try .

F u r th e r , ow ing to its “ a n ti knock ” value, the benzol produced found a ready m ark et a s a b len d in g c o n s titu e n t fo r- m otor fuel..

In th is field th e am o u n t of refining nece.ssary is considerably reduced, w hile th e price com ­ m anded by th e product is reg u la te d by th a t

of im ported m otor sp irit on w hich d u ty is paid. As a re su lt, th e prices charged to the chem ical in d u stry for supplies of this im p o rtan t raw m aterial are enhanced by app ro x im ately th e am ount of th e d u ty 011 im ported fuel (9d. per gallon a t p re sen t).

A ccording to th e report of th e H ydrocarbon Oil D uties C om m ittee,1'' th e effect of th is procedure is to increase the average price of deriv a tiv es from benzol by I d . per lb., a n increase {significant and often serious in the export m ark et.

As a re su lt, th e to ta l consum ption of ben­

zol by th e chem ical in d u stry in th e years im m ediately preceding th e w ar w as a re la ­ tively sm all proportion of th e to ta l produc­

tion. F ig u res given in the H ydrocarbon Oil D u ties R e p o rt13 show th a t, in 1928, 84,000,009 gallons of crude benzol were refined to pro­

duce 54,700,000 gallons of m otor benzol.

5,000,000 gallons of in d u strial grades of b en ­ zol, 3,400,000 gallons of toluol and 1,000,000 gallo n s of xylol. In a d d itio n , a p ro p o rtio n of co al-tar n a p h th a s w as used in chem ical m an u fa ctu re, m aking an an n u al to ta l of some 1 0,000,000 gallons of refined arom atic hydrocarbons used in th e chem ical in d u stry .

T o illu s tra te th e leew ay we have to m ake up h ere in B rita in , our to ta l consum ption of about 30,000 tons (10,000,000 gallons) of aro m a tic hydrocarbons in the chem ical in ­ d u stry (th is presum ably includes th e q u a n ­ titie s used for th e m an u factu re of phenol) m ay be com pared w ith a consum ption of 100,000 tons of benzene and phenol in th e m a n u fa c tu re of p h en o lic p las tic s a lone in th e U .S.A . in 1943. O bviously, such a, posi­

tion is com pletely unsound and au g u rs ill for th e large-scale developm ent of plastics and sy n th e tic ru b b e r in d u strie s in th is co u n try .

A M o re H o p e fu l O u tlo o k Tw o factors m ake for a more hopeful o u t­

look : first, th e q u a n titie s of benzol being recovered are steadily increasing (since 1940 th ere h as been a 20 per cen t, increase in benzol recovery in th is c o u n try ). In add itio n to recovery at coke-oven p lan ts, 95 p e r cent, of the tow n gas produced at p la n ts carb o n isin g over 5000 tons of coal an n u ally is no'w being tre a te d for the recovery of benzol. Second, th e H ydrocarbon Oil D uties C om m ittee13 has recom m ended th e p a y m e n t to chem ical m an u factu rers of an allow ance of 9d. p e r gallon in respect of indigenous hydrocarbon oils used by them

T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e 1 6 , 1 9 4 5 a s raw m ate ria ls in chem ical sy n th esis. Such

a concession w ill surely a c t a s a stim u lu s to th e chem ical in d u stry in th e n e ar fu tu re to em bark on a planned program m e of developing a large-scale p lastics in d u stry , to say n o th in g of o th er possibilities in dye p ro ­ duction, ph arm aceu ticals, an d sy n th e tic drugs.

In o th er resp ects, th e raw m aterial posi­

tio n is unsound for th e expansion of sy n th e tic chem ical in d u strie s. N a p h th alen e , p a rtic u ­ larly v aluable for th e m an u factu re of p h th alic a n h y d rid e for th e alk y d resins, is an o th e r extrem ely im p o rta n t raw m a te ria l. S c o tt1"

has predicted a w orld sh o rtag e of n a p h th a ­ lene unless yields from coal arc im proved and oil a ro m atisatio n developed. A pparen tly th e value of th is chem ical is n ot fully recog­

nised in B rita in , a s J o n e s11 re p o rts th a t only one-third of th e n a p h th a len e present in coal t a r is being ex tracted by c u rre n t processing m ethods. F u rth e r, considerable q u a n titie s w ere exported, $350,000 w orth going to the U .S.A . in 1937. Cresylic acid is firm ly e s ta b ­ lished as a plastics raw m ate ria l, over 9000 tons of cresols and cresylic acid being a b sorbed in th e m an u fa ctu re of phenolic p lastics alone in th e U .S.A . in 1913. E x p o rts of cresylic acid from th is co u n try to the U .S.A . in 1937 w ere w orth alm ost $1.000,000, rep resen tin g pro b ab ly one to one-and-a-half m illion gallons.

A S y n th e tic C h e m ic a l I n d u s tr y A lthough such ex p o rts are probably of v alu e in th e sum to ta l of o u r foreign trad e , th ey rep resen t th e loss of v aluable raw m aterials. T h ere a p p ea rs to be no very good reason w hy the raw m ate ria ls could n ot be absorbed in a sy n th e tic chemieq) in d u stry estab lish ed in th is c o u n try . T h e e stab lish ­ m en t of a large-scale in d u stry of th is type in B rita in would re su lt in a n u m b er of very w orth-w hile a d v an tag es. B riefly, these a r e : increased em ploym ent, th e sup p lj' of th e hom e m ark e t, a su rp lu s of goods available for ex p o rt, a stim u lu s to th e engineering in d u stry in th e design and execution of the p lan t, an d , finally, th e provision of a train in g -g ro u n d for younger chem ists and engineers in a com pletely new in d u stry .

So fa r as th e im m ed iate fu tu re is con- cerned, the u rg en t need is for th e expansion of th e sy n th e tic chem ical in d u stry in th is co u n try to ensure th e a d eq u ate u tilisa tio n of those raw m a te ria ls at p resen t a v ailab le.

A ssum ing th a t th e recom m endations of th e H y d ro carb o n Oil D u ties C om m ittee are accepted and th e necessary allow ance of 9d.

per gallon g ra n te d to th e chem ical m an u ­ fa ctu rer, a very stro n g case m ay be m ade for controlling th e disposal of th e available supplies of these essential a rom atics and hydrocarbon oil m aterials. I f m a rk e ts are com peting fo r th e supplies a vailable— and th is would a p p ear to be mor? th a n likely—

th en th e only solution w ill be, first, to for­

m u la te a schem e for allocation of th e e x is t­

ing supplies and th e n to provide m eans of a u g m en tin g these supplies.

I f th e U nited S ta te s an d G erm an produc­

tion of benzene is a b o u t 1,000,000 tons a n n u ally , th en our supplies, even a t th e p re ­ sent m axim um av ailab ility , a re not ad eq u a te for th e in d u stria l expansion we hope for in ;

! the n e a r fu tu re . A ugm ented supplies of m eth a n e, benzene, phenol, and n a p h th a len e |i w ill become im p erativ e and plans should Le i

fo rm u lated now an d set on foot a t th e e arlie s tj possible m om ent to effect th e expansion.

M o re C a r b o n is a tio n

In crea sed carb o n isatio n of coal is th e m ost obvious m eans of raisin g the yield of these com pounds. W hile th e adoption in th is c o u n try of a policy of full em ploym ent will undoubtedly stim u la te th e dem and for both coal gas and m etallurgical coke for the iron and steel trad es, th e possible expansion along those lines is n o t u n lim ited . A lth o u g h , u n fo rtu n ately , low -tem perature carb o n isatio n does not produce an y s u b s ta n tia l q u a n titie s of benzol, a very stro n g case m ay be m ade for th e adoption of th is process 011 a really large scale both as a source of chem ical raw m aterials an d lo provide a sm okeless dom estic fuel. All the av ailab le evidence show s th a t smoke and soot from th e dom estic fire is responsible for 65 to 80 p er cent, of th e a tm o sp h e ric p o llu tio n in cities.

Of th e to tal of 40,000,000 tons of coal burned for dom estic purposes, probably a b o u t half is consum ed in the large cities. To provide th e e q u iv alen t q u a n tity of sm okeless semi-coke would involve tre a tin g 24 to 28 m illion to n s of coal in low -tem perature c a r­

bonisation p lan ts. T o o b v iate h ard sh ip a m ong th e low er-incom e g ro u p s of th e p o p u ­ lation, provision w ould re q u ire -to be m ade to allow a ll householders to purchase an agreed m inim um q u a n tity of th is fuel a t th e price of coal. Any q u a n titie s b o u g h t in excess of th is am o u n t would be charged a t m ark e t prices. A G overnm ent subsidy of pro b ab ly a b o u t £8,000,000 w ould be neces­

sary for th e successful operation of th is schem e. W h en com pared w ith th e annual loss of £50,000,000 caused bv atm o sp h e ric pollution (given by the report of th e P a r ­ liam en tary and Scientific C om m ittee), th is subsidy would c a m high dividends n o t only financially b ut in im proved h e alth and am enities.

D etailed figures for th e yields of o th er p ro ­ du cts of low -tem p eratu re carb o n isatio n a re not available, b u t on th e p u blished re su lts of a n A m erican p lan t w ith an o u tp u t of over -500,000 tons of coke a n n u ally , a yield of 400,000 tons of m otor sp irit w ould be o b tain ed , to g eth er w ith 1,500,000 tons of t a r an d lig h t oils. T a rs produced by th is p ro ­ cess h av e a h ig h er co n ten t of tar-acid s th a n h ig h -te m p e ra tu re by-p ro d u ct ta r s and m ig h t yield 10,000 to 15,000 to n s of phenol a n d