S A T U R D A Y , J U L Y 28, 1945
R E G IS T E R E D AS A N EW SPA PER
0d. Pe r Copt Post Fr k h8d.
T . i 5 I / H 5 7 S 3
T O W E R S
There is a wide range of Towers Laboratory Apparatus and Towers A n a l y t i c a l R e a g e n t s available to meet your requirements.
i n g g j i j Illustrated is the Towers Model 75 Analytical
Balance.
* Price - £27-10-0
M a y we have your enquiries for general laboratory supplies ?
J. W . T O W E R S & C O . L T D . H ead Office and W o rks : W IDNES
LIVERPOOL : 134 B row n low Hill MANCHESTER : 44 Chapel St., Salford, 3
A.C. WELLS
& CO. LTD
P R O V I D E N C E M I L L S * H Y D I ' C H E S H I R E
WELLS OIL FILTERS
NEW LIFE
W ith W e lls’ W a ste- Oil Filter you can use you r oil several tim es
over and change It m ore often . A th orou ghly reliab le supply o f oil Is assured w ith th e u se of W e lls’
Special Filter Pads w hich w ork In con junction w ith W e lls ’ Patent Syphon Feed.
Write .or luiler particulars of these oil filters.
Telephone : Hyde 953 Telegrams : Un
breakable Hyde.
| BAKELAQUE PHENOLIC RESINS
for acid-proof coatings for abrasive wheels for electrical insulation
ATTWATER & SONS, Ltd.
Est. 1868
HOPWOOD STREET PRESTON, ENG.
MI LL,
G en eral
T h e M O N O p u m p is w id ely u sed in m o st industries in nearly every country in th e w orld, and has proved th e solution to m any difficult p um p ing problem s. It w ill handle a small seepage and a fu ll or an in term itten t flow , it is equally at h om e w ith viscou s, gritty or clear liquids a n d ,w ill take u p to 4 solid s in th e larger sizes.
Design
V ersatility is a d irect result o f the unusual design o f the M O N O p u m p , w hich consists o f a sin gle rotor usually o f a hardened alloy, rollin g in a fixed stator o f natural or synth etic rubber.
T h e m ovem en t is sim p le, w ear and m aintenance are reduced t o a m in im u m .
A p p lica tio n
T h e M O N O pum p is g iv in g sound service in th e C hem ical In d u stry and m any m an ufacturers, w h o se nam es are h ouseh old w ord s, fin d it a satisfactory answ er to m any p rev io u sly in so lu b le p rob lem s.
M O N O P U M P S L I M I T E D
G R A N I T E H O U S E , C A N N O N S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E . C . 4 .
’Phone : Mansion House 6101
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju l y s S , 1 9 4 5
I n f o r m a t i o n about the
pump
dm 1158
Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E i
40 years’ experience enables us to supply
B E L T I N G
and
ENDLESS VEE ROPES
o{ ----
S u p e r l a t i v e Q u a l i t y
L A R G E S T O C K S . . . P R O M P T D I S P A T C H
FRANCIS W.
HARRIS & Co. Ltd.
B U R S L E M -S to k e -o n -T r e n t Phone: Stoke-on-T ren t 7181-2
W lr et: B elting, Burslem
ROYAL WORCESTER
o r a f o r ii J a in
th e larg est m ak ers in th e C o u n try o f L a b o ra to ry , S cientific a n d T ec h n ic a l P o rc elain . . . W e are m ak in g a su p rem e effo rt to m a in ta in a d eq u a te supp lies to m eet th e e v er-g ro w in g needs o i th e L ab o ra to rie s a n d R esearch S tatio n s o f w ar-tim e B rita in . . . S u p p lies c an be o b tain e d f r o m a ll r e p u t a b l e L a b o r a t o r y F u rn ish e rs.
THE WORCESTER ROYAL PORCELAIN C O ., L T D .,
W O R C E S T E R .
A
• Plants su p p lie d fro m I t o 3,500 c.f.m. and la rg e r if req uired .
Illustration le f t : D ry in g Unit.
Illustration .below : Close-up of thi Automatic Regenerator and Change over Valves.
C o n t in u o u s o p e ra tio n achieved b y —
KESTNER D u a l A b s o r b e r unit
w ith fully automatic r e g e n e r a t i o n and ch a n ge -ov e r valves.
D r y n e s s d o w n t o d e w p o in t— o f m in u s 60°C.
W R IT E F O R L E A FL E T 245,
we can su btract a smelt
In many industrial processes it’s im portant to have your substance m inus its sm ell or m inus its im purities, since it may be goin g into a fo o d or drink or a beauty preparation.
Our A ctive C arbon can d o m ore than deodorise, o f course.
It can d e-colourise. It can sim plify crystallisation. It can im prove co lo u r and increase concentration. It can rem ove detrim ental flavours.
It can clean precious liquids and gases. In other w ords it can rem ove the ob stacles in th e w ay o f im proving the quality and attractiveness o f m any products in every day use, and our advisory departm ent will be on ly to o pleased to assist the process.
M e lb o u r n e A g e n t s — M e ss r s . H . R. H i l l & S o n , P ty . L td ., 350 K in g S t r e e t .
S U T C L I F F E S P E A K M A N
A N D C O M P A N Y L T D L E IG H ■ L A N C A S H IR E L ondon Office : 82 K in g W illiam S tree t, B .C .4 . M A N s io n H ouse 12 8 5/6.
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5
Chemical Engineers
Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E iii
I M M E R S I O N H E A T I N G with
V I T R E O S I L H E A T E R S
W hen other methods are inapplicable the contents] of non-metallic tanks, tiled or of synthetic materials, can safely be heated by VITREOSIL electric immersion heaters.
THE THERMAL SYNDICATE LIMITED
H ead O ffice: L o n d o n D e p o t :
W a llse n d , N o r t h u m b e r la n d 12-14, O ld P/e Street, W e s t m in s t e r , S . W J
F i n e C h e m i c a l s F o r E v e r y P u r p o s e
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5
The Research Chemist
The interest aroused in the public mind by the achievements o f the Research Chem ist is based prim arily on the practical value o f his discoveries, but the lay m ind has little understanding o f the difficul
ties and the problem s encountered ncfore laboratory synthesis can be translated into factory production.
After the dram atic discovery comes the generally far m ore difficult task o f meeting the demand occasioned by it, and such problem s have been accentuated durin g the last few years by the w orry o f wartime scarcities. Patience, resource and unrem itting effort are just as necessary in research and develop
ment w ork as the occasional flash o f inspiration, and these qualities have helped the chemist to deal successfully with the m any trouble
som e situations w hich the w ar has brought.
The research w orkers o f M a y &
Baker have had their share o f w ar
time difficulties to overcome.
W ithout their efforts m any o f our custom ers w ould have been less satisfied with the service we have been able to give them. Perhaps the problem s w hich face yo u fall within the scope o f their experience?
If so, we should be pleased to attempt to solve them. Telephone:
Ilford 3060. Extensions 71 or 72.
Ma.v&BakerLtd
D A G E N H A M
M & B Industrial Chemicals Stries (No. 2a).
N E W C H E M I C A L D E V E L O P M E N T S
to get to the heart o f the matter
In a m u ltitu d e o f in d u strie s arises a m u ltitu d e o f w idely diverse p ro b lem s in fo rm u latio n , processing, co m p o u n d in g , finishing. F o r one it m ay be a m a tte r of red u cin g surface o r interfacial ten sio n ; for an o th e r, a m a tte r o f dispersion o f solids in a liq u id base ; for yet an o th e r, th e angle m ay be one o f d eterg cn cy or degreasing . . .
B u t to th e chem ists associated w ith these in d u stries, m an y o f these p ro b lem s resolve them selves into a single p ro b lem only : how to secure effective wetting.
I n the range o f T P synthetics w e can provide an alm ost universally applicable answ er. T h es e new p ro d u c ts are p rim arily first-class w etters. B u t th eir value lies in th eir “ congeniality ” to a w ide varie ty o f m o d ern in d u strial processes. T h e y d o th e ir w ork equally w ell an d m ain tain stab ility in acid, n e u tra l o r alkaline conditions. T h e y are readily soluble in w ater o f any local degree o f h ard n ess, o r any tem p e ratu re.
T h e y are in n o cu o u s to th e g re at m ajo rity of m aterials processed. T h e y c o n trib u te no colour, n o ran cid ity effects. A n d it’s a u seful p o in t to -d ay th a t th ey are available in bulk.
O u r technical service w ill be glad to discuss th e ir ap p licatio n to y o u r p articu la r in d u stry o r process.
T E C H N I C A L P R O D U C T S L T D S T . H E L E N ’S C O U R T , G R E A T S T . H E L E N ’S
L O N D O N , E .C .3 T E L E P H O N E : A V E N U E 4321
J ULV 28, I945 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E V
v i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E J U LY 28, 1 9 4 5
B A R B I T O N E
BARBITON E SO LU B LE ALLOBARBITO N E
CYCLOBARBITONE
"
f i n e s t q u a l i t y.
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 ■■ — — - ...
PIERSON, MORRELL & CO., LTD.
( T H E O R I G I N A L B R IT IS H A S P I R I N M A K E R S )
Q U E E N 'S ROAD - B A R N E T - HERTS
P h o n e : B a rn e t 0723 G ra m s : P ierson , M o r re ll, B arn e t
A. J. RILEY & SON, L td .
BATLEY, Y O R K S
Telegrams: '• BO ILER S. B A T L E Y ." ’ Teiep/ione: 6S7 B A T LEY (3 lines) M a k e r s of
M I L 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 I T H A G I T 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 I N E D V E S S E L S
T A R , B E N Z O L E & O I L S T IL L 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 I S T I L L I N G P L A N T S
M I L D S T E E L P IP E S A L L P R E S S U R E S
L A N C A S H I R E , C O R N I S H E C O N O M I C & W . T . B O IL E R S
E S T A B L IS H E D 1888
Ju l y 28, 1 945 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
R E G D .
L aboratory Glassware
used w h erever GLASS a n d HEAT m eet
m a d e b y
CHANCE BROTHERS LTD.
J THEAD OFFICE A N D W ORKS, SMETHWICK. BIRMINGHAM
L O N D O N OFFICE: 10. PRINCES STREET. WESTMINSTER. S.W .I ‘iiiV iV . :
Stocks held by all recognised Laboratory Furnishers
A t th e m o m e n t o n ly hall th e s to r y c a n b e to ld . N o t un til th e p e a c e h a s b e e n w o n c a n w e tell you o f th e w a r d e v e lo p m e n ts w h ic h w ill b e in c o r p o r a te d in th e p o s t- w a r d e s ig n a n d m a n u fa c tu re o f o u r O p t i c a l - M e c h a n i c a l - E l e c t r i c a l I n s t r u m e n t s a n d A irc ra ft E q u ip m e n t.
aV X M O L T D ., TA UN TO N S o m e r s e t ( E n g l a n d )
Approved under Air Navigation R u lu for Civil Aviation.
Testing under pressure!
Y o u ’ve less tim e fo r It, b u t the u rg e n t need fo r sa v in g fuel and p re v e n tin g b r e a k d o w n s m ak e s the testin g of w a t e r supp lies, b o th before and after treatm ent, m o re vital than ever. T h a t 's w h y w e ask y o u to c o n sid e r h o w w a te r testin g can be m ade quick, accurate, and so sim p le that the rou tin e job can be d o n e by a jun io r. S ofn o l A p p a ra tu s and R e a ge n ts have b e e n d e ve lop e d by w a te r testin g specialists and g iv e the in fo rm a tio n yo u need w ith an ab solute m in im u m of trou b le . W r i t e to-d a y for b o o k le t A .3 " W a t e r T e s t in g . "
s © p i m i L
A P P A R A T U S & R E A G E N T S for W A T E R T E S I I N G
T I M E S A V E D — T R O U B L E P R E V E N T E D
Telephone : GREenwich
1600
Sofnol Ltd.. Westcombe Hill, Greenwich, S.E. 10 Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
TAS/SL.C.l 10
A
F T E R the s t o rm s of w in t e r the R O O K ’ rep airs its h o m e — re -a rra n g in g old m aterial, b rin g in g in th e new. T h e r e ’s even an e x te n sio n to the r o o k e ry , b u t the re su lt is n ’t q u ite the sam e as hith e rto.A ft e r the d isa stro u s in roa d s of w a r th ere is an u rg e n t need fo r r e c o n stru c tio n . . . m e rg in g the best o f the old facilities w ith n e w d e v e lo p m e n ts . . . ge ttin g up-to-date.
In fab ricating P L A N T fo r the C H E M I C A L T R A D E S , w e co m b in e the w isd o m o f lo n g e x p e rie n c e w ith all that Is n e w in research and practice.
O u r technical staff are ready N O W t o handle y o u r e n q u iry.
Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5 THE C H E M I C A L A G E i x
S e r ie s 2—
R e c o n s t r u c t io n
•' Rooks—
N e st-R e p a irin g."
illustrated book and survey of our organization is sent on request. Please men
tion this Journal in your application.
T H E L O N D O N A L U M I N I U M C O M P A N Y , L T D W I T T O N , B I R M I N G H A M , 6
X T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5
ENSURE THE MAXIMUM OF EFFICIENCY TOGETHER WITH LONG LIFE UNDER
A LL WORKING CONDITIONS AIso S A N D C A S T IN G S IN ALL N O N -F E R R O U S M E T A L S I N C L U D I N G H IG H T E N S IL E B R O N Z E S & A L U M IN IU M
Trionite Ltd., Cliffe Vale, Stoke-on-Trent
P H O N S > S T O K E - O N - T R E N T 9 1 7 1 - 9
S T E A M t i W A TER. F IT T IN G S FOR.ALL P U R P O S E S
T f i „
—V A L L E Z
R o t a r y P re ssu re
F I L T E R
For clarifying cloudy liquors to brilliant filtrates
L o w attend ance and m aintenance costs.
S lo w ly ro ta tin g e le m e n t e n su re s u n ifo rm cakes and efficient cake w ash.
C o m p le t e In sta lla tio n s w ith C e n trifu g a l Pu m p s, M ix in g T a n k s, etc.
u n its available fo r trials u n d e r
MIRRLEES WATSON
iiiiiiniiiiiiiuiiiimil>*>>^ c 0 >^ p ^ ^ j y | i ^ ^ j t p ^ ^ ^ iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiENGINEERS GLASGOW
alum ina m agnesia p h o sp h o ric
acid abrasives caustic sod a cem ent
for
L IQ U ID -SO L ID SU SP EN SIO N S in the
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
pigm ents fertilisers general
chem icals p u lp & pap er petroleum
sugar
Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E x i
A COMPLETE INDUSTRIAL RUBBER SERVICE
D U N L O P R U B B E R C O . L T D . ( G E N E R A L R U B B E R G O O D S D I V I S I O N ) . W O R K S A N D H E A D O F F IC E C A M B R I D G E S T R E E T , M A N C H E S T E R . LO N D O N : C L E R K E N W E L L H O U S E , LIVERPOOL :-24 C O R N H IL L , P A R K ’ C L E R K E N W E L L G R E E N , E.C.I L A N E , I
B IR M IN G H A M : D U N L O P H O U S E , G LA SG O W : 48-60 A N D 70-78 L IV E R Y S T R E E T , 3 N O R T H W A L L A C E ST R EE T , C.4
RUBBER LINED PLANT
Illustration shows interior o f a rubber-lined tank for the storage of chemicals.
T h e value of r u b b e r as an a n t i-c o rr o siv e m aterial has been w e ll tested and a p p ro v e d by in d u stry.
D u n lo p r u b b e r-lin e d plant is d e signed and co n stru c te d w ith th e help of lo n g e x p e rie n c e in r u b b e r t e c h n o lo g y and a full u n d e rsta n d in g of
» th e exact needs of in d u stry.
‘ ’ ' D U N L O P
45/GRG/8B
xii T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5
BURGESS
D a s e n ir a i
BURGESS ZEOLITE COMPANY LIMITED
68-7J,H0RSfFERRT ROAD , WESTMINSTER,S.W.I. Tel: ABBey 1868
C H E M I C A L L E A D W O R K
TANKS — VATS — COILS — PIPEWORK
W T G lENKINSON Ltd. ' S r
156-160, A R U N D E L S T R E E T , SH E FF IE L D
The N O T T I N G H A M THERMOMETER
: C O . L T D .:
PY R O M E T R IC E Q U IP M E N T
I N D I C A T O R S — W a ll T y p e , Portable, M u lti-p o in t, Panel M o u n tin g .
T H E R M O - C O U P L E S — Base & R a re Metals.
R E S I S T A N C E T H E R M O M E T E R S . C O M P E N S A T I N G C A B L E S .
S H E A T H S — R efractory, Steel, A llo y , etc.
S P A R E S — W ir e s , Elem ents, Insula tors, T h e r m o - C o u p le H ead s, etc., etc.
T H E R M O M E T E R S
G L A S S S T E M D I V I D E D — R a nges up to 550° C . o r 1,000° F.
G L A S S I N V A R I O U S M E T A L F IT T I N G S — Pipe T y p e , Jam, V a rn ish , M o lt e n M etal, Q u e n c h in g Bath, B akers, D y e rs , Flue Gas, etc.
D I A L V A P O U R P R E S S U R E — Flexible C a p illa ry and R igid Ste m Patterns, etc
M A N S F I E L D R O A D
N O T T I N G H A M ,
E n g l a n dPhone: 45815
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
AMMONIUM BIFLUORIDE ACCUMULATOR ACID
SODIUM FLUORIDE FLUORIDES
Also S pecially Pure H y d r o chloric, N itric and Sulphuric A C I D S F O R A N A L Y S I S
JAMES WILKINSON & SON, Ltd.
TINSLEY PARK ROAD, SHEFFIELD
T e lo fr tm t: **Ch«mlcalt, Sheffield'* Phone: 41208-9
M A Y W E Q U O T E for
STEEL PLATE W O RK?
gives longer runs between regeneration
Let us try to please you!
LEEDS & BRADFORD BOILER Co. Ltd.
S T A N N I N G L E Y - - • N e a r LE E D S O u r lo n g e x p e rie n c e
and e xc e lle n t facili
ties he lp us to m ake first class Jacketted Pans, Stills, A u t o claves, etc., w h ic h please o u r cu sto m e rs
Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E xiii
Y esta m in is p u r e , d rie d , d e -b itte re d Y east— ric h e s t in V itam in s B1 a n d B 2 — w ith a 40 p e r c e n t P ro te in c o n te n t. I t a d d s g reatly to F o o d V alu e, a n d im p a rts a n a p p etisin g , p iq u a n t flavour th a t re s u lts in in cre ased d e m a n d fo r y o u r P ro c essed F o o d s.
YES
YESTAMIN
B R A N D OF P U R E D R I E D Y E A S T
T H E E N G L I S H G R A I N S C O . L T D . , B U R T O N - O N - T R E N T
GENATOSAN LABORATORIES SPECIALISE IN RESEARCH ON
T h e fo llo w in g a re available on a p la n t p ro d u c tio n b a s is :
Uric acid, Alloxan, Alloxamin, Allantoin, Acid Sodium urate.
L im ite d sm all q u a n titie s o f th e fo llo w in g a re available fo r re sea rc h p u rp o se s :
Violuric acid, Uracil, Thiouracil, Dialuric acid, Triaminopjrimidinc, Murcxidc.
PURINES &
P Y R I M I D I N E S
Enquiries to
GENATOSAN LTD., LOUGHBOROUGH, LEICS.
Telephone: Loughborough 2292
x i v T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5
Descriptive Literature and Advice free on request
LODGE CO TTRELL
C ^ ELECTROFILTERS
TOT C L E A N G A S
BROTHERHOOD
AIR AND GAS COMPRESSORS
■ Also ■...
R E F R I G E R A T I N G A N D W A T E R C O O L I N G P L A N T ;
H O M O G E N I S E R S ; S T E A M E N G I N E S A N D
5-STAGE COMPRESSOR * T U R B I N E S
H IG H EFFIC IEN C Y R E C O V E R Y OF DU STS A N D FUMES FROM I N D U S T R I A L G A S E S TH E O N L Y M A N U F A C T U R E R S IN T H IS C O U N T R Y P R O D U C IN G E X C L U S IV E L Y E L E C T R IC A L
PRECIPITATO RS
PETER BROTHERHOOD LTD. ■ PETERBOROUGH
The Chemical Age
A Weekly Journal Devoted to Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
B O U V E R I E H O U S E , 1 54 F L E E T S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E .C .4 T elegram s: A L L A N G A S F L E E T LONDON
GLASGOW : 1 1 6 Hope Street (Central 3970)
T H E CHEM ICAL AGE offices are closed on Saturdays in accordance w ith the adoption of the, Benn Brothers Lim ited
T elep hon e: C E N T R A L 3 2 x2 (10 lines) BIR M IN G H A M : D aim ler House, Paradise S treet (Midland 0784-3) w eek by
VOL. L III
N o . 1 3 6 1 .
Ju ly 28, 1945
SubscriptionT h e Lay-out of W orki N
E W g r o u n d w a s b r o k e n b y th eI n s t i t u t i o n o f C h e m ic a l E n g i n e e r s w ith th e p a p e r b y M e s s rs . H . W . C r e m e r a n d R . L . F i t t o n th e s i t i n g a n d la y - o u t o f i n d u s t r i a l w o r k s , a n a b r i d g m e n t o f w h ic h is in c l u d e d in th e l a t e r c o lu m n s o f th is is s u e . T h o s e w h o a r e c h a r g e d w ith th e d u t y o f p r o d u c tio n o r o f b u i l d in g n e w w o r k s w ill l o n g b e g r a t e f u l to th e a u th o r s f o r t h e i r r e c i ta l o f th e p i tf a l ls , in to w h ic h e v e n th e w a r y m a y f a ll . C o n s tr u c tio n a l c o m p a n ie s a r e c o n t in u a l ly d e a l i n g w ith t h is p r o b l e m a n d it is n o t n e w to t h e m ; w o r k s e n g in e e r s r a r e l y m e e t i t s in c e th e y a r e u s u a l ly a p p o in t e d to a n e x is ti n g w o rk s . T h is p r o b le m is , o f c o u r s e , b r e a d a n d b u t te r (a n d ja m ) to th e c o n s u l ta n t . S o m e o f th e p r o b le m s c o n c e r n t h e s u p p l y o f g a s , e l e c t r i c i t y a n d c o a l, t h e p r o v is io n o f d r a i n a g e a n d o f
m e a n s f o r d is p o s a l o f e fflu e n ts , a n d th e t r a n s p o r t f a c ilitie s in to a n d o u t o f th e w o r k s in r e la ti o n to th e n a t u r e o f th e p r o d u c t a n d th e s i t u a tio n o f th e m a r k e ts .
T h o s e p r o b le m s a r e c o m m o n to a l l in d u s t r ie s a n d to e v e r y w o rk s . S u p e r i m p o s e d u p o n th e m a r e a n u m b e r o f l e g i s l a tiv e p r o b le m s c a u s e d b y lo c a l b y - la w s , a n d th e r u l i n g s , o r d e r s a n d la w s o f t h e v a r i o u s M i n i s t r ie s w h o h a v e to b e c o n s u lte d
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in th e s e m a tte r s . T h e s e d if f ic u ltie s c h a n g e f r o m tim e to tim e (w e h a d a lm o s t s a id fro m h o u r to h o u r ) b y r e a s o n o f th e is s u e o f n e w o r d e r s , so t h a t , v a lu a b l e a s th is p o r tio n o f th e p a p e r is , it w ill n e e d to be b r o u g h t u p to d a te a n n u a l l y , a t le a s t.
T h e o n u s o f k n o w in g th e l a w is o n th e c itiz e n f o r w h o s e g u i d a n c e , p r o t e c ti o n , o r r e g im e n t a ti o n th e la w w a s m a d e ; a n d a n “ o r d e r ” is e q u a l to a la w in th is r e s p e c t. T h e I n s t i t u t i o n , h a v i n g th is p a p e r a n d th e e x c e ll e n t p a p e r b y J . D a v id s o n P r a t t a n d G . S. W . M a r lo w ( “ L e g a l P i t f a l l s f o r th e E n g i n e e r ” ) to d r a w o n f o r t h e i r d a ta , m ig h t w e ll m a k e it a p r a c t ic e to is s u e a g u i d e to th e la w fo r c h e m ic a l e n g in e e r s e a c h y e a r.
I t is n o t o u r t a s k , in t h is a r t i c l e , to s u m m a r is e th e p a p e r , b u t th e r e a r e c e r t a i n a s p e c ts o f la y - o u t a n d s i t i n g u p o n
w h ic h c o m m e n t w ill n o t b e o u t o f p la c e . T h e p a p e r is m a in ly d ir e c te d to th e l a y o u t a n d s i t i n g o f n e w w o rk s . I t s e e m s to b e a s s u m e d t h a t it is p r o p o s e d to b u ild a w o r k s a n d t h a t th e e n g in e e r h a s b e e n a s k e d to s e l e c t a. s i t e ; h a v i n g s e le c te d a s ite , h e is to b u i ld th e p e r f e c t w o r k s u p o n it. T h e r e is l i t t l e c r itic is m t h a t c a n b e m a d e u p o n t h is v e ry u s e f u l p a p e r f ro m t h a t a n g le . T h e c h ie f o n e t h a t s p r i n g s to o u r m in d is t h a t th e 72
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72 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5 p e r f e c t s ite h a r d ly e v e r e x is ts , a n d if it
d o e s s o m e o n e e ls e h a s p r o b a b ly ta k e n it a lr e a d y . M r. F i t t sh o w e d a n u m b e r of l a n t e r n s lid e s o f s ite s , e a c h o n e of w h ic h a p p e a r e d p e r f e c t a t firs t g l a n c e , b u t e a c h o f w h ic h w a s fo u n d o n e x a m i n a tio n to h a v e a t le a s t o n e d e f e c t t h a t r u l e d it o u t. W h e n th e G o v e r n m e n t is l o o k in g f o r a s ite fo r a w a r f a c to r y , t h a t p r o c e d u r e is j u s t i f i e d ; i ts c o n s u l ta n t s c a n g o o n l o o k in g f o r th e p e r f e c t s ite u n t il it is f o u n d , a n d th e n if th e o w n e r d o e s n o t w a n t to c o m e to th e G o v e r n m e n t ’s te r m s i t c a n b e c o m m a n d e e r e d . B u t in in d u s t r ia l p r a c tic e , a s ite m u s t b e b o u g h t, a n d th e m o re p e r f e c t th e site^ th e l a r g e r th e p ric e . A s ite n e a r a s t a ti o n , o n a m a in r o a d , n o t l ia b l e to f lo o d in g , s e rv e d b y a g o o d b u s s e r v ic e , n e a r a to w n , w ith g a s a n d e le c t r i c i t y a v a i l a b l e — a ll o f w h ic h a r e lis te d b y th e a u th o r s a s e s s e n t ia l — w ill c o m m a n d s u c h a p r i c e fo r h o u s in g t h a t i n d u s t r i a l w o r k s a r e p r o b a b ly o u t o f th e q u e s tio n , a n d a n y w a y it is p r o b a b ly s c h e d u le d b y th e lo c a l a u th o r i t y f o r h o u s i n g u n d e r i ts to w n - p l a n n i n g a r r a n g e m e n t s ’ C o n s e q u e n tly , th e i n d u s t r i a l i s t w ill a lm o s t c e r t a i n h a v e to t a k e th e s ite w h ic h , b e in g r e a s o n a b ly c h e a p , p o s s e s s e s th e f e w e s t d r a w b a c k s a n d m a k e th e b e s t o f it. T h e a u th o r s m a y , a t so m e tim e in t h e f u t u r e , t e l l u s h o w th e y h a v e f a r e d w ith th e im p e r f e c t s ite s t h a t th e y a r e b o u n d to m e e t.
I n th e s e c tio n o n d e ta i le d p l a n n i n g o n e m is s e s a n y r e f e r e n c e to f u e l u t i l i s a tio n . T h e r e is n o d o u b t t h a t th e e ffic ie n t u t il i s a ti o n o f f u e l m u s t o c c u p y a h i g h p la c e in p l a n n i n g a n y w o rk s . O n e w a s d i s t u r b e d to fin d n o m e n tio n , fo r e x a m p l e , o f th e v a lu e o f u s i n g p a s s -
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O le s s th a n / 1 2 0 m illio n is s c h e d u le d to b e s p e n t o n th e r e - e q u ip m e n t o f th e B r i ti s h s te e l in d u s try . T h e n e x t fiv e y e a r s , it is b e lie v e d , w ill s e e th e c o m p le tio n o f th e p r o p o s e d p r o g r a m m e , a c c o r d in g to S ir J o h n D u n c a n s o n , C o m m e r c ia l a n d T e c h n ic a l D i r e c t o r o f th e B r i ti s h I r o n a n d S te e l F e d e r a t io n , a n d th is t a k e s in to a c c o u n t th e p r i o r c la im o f h o u s i n g o n th e b u i l d in g in d u s t r y . T h e a ll o t te d s u m is to b e d iv id e d u p a s f o l l o w s : o n c o k e o v e n s ,£6. 5 m i l l i o n ; o n 19 n e w b l a s t f u r n a c e s ,
o u t s te a m f o r p r o c e s s w o r k , th e liv e s te a m b e in g u s e d a t h i g h e r p r e s s u r e s f o r th e g e n e r a ti o n o f e le c tr ic ity .
W h a t is n o w w a n te d is a c o m p le m e n ta r y p a p e r o n th e l a y - o u t o f w o r k s e x te n s io n s a n d r e n e w a ls . M o s t w o r k s , a s in d e e d th e a u th o r s p o in te d o u t, h a v e g ro w n f r o m s m a ll e r b e g i n n i n g s ; c h a n g e s in m e th o d s , in s c a le , a n d e v e n in p r o c e s s e s , h a v e c a u s e d th e l a y - o u t to b e c o m e b a d ; t h a t is o n e o f th e h a n d ic a p s of m o s t o l d e r B r i ti s h i n d u s tr ie s . W e w e re a s to n is h e d to h e a r M r. D o n a l d s a y t h a t m a n y m e m b e rs o f th e I n s t i t u t i o n h a d o b je c te d to th e t e a c h i n g in th e c h e m ic a l e n g in e e r i n g c u r r i c u lu m o f t h o s e s u b je c ts w h ic h b e a r o n la y - o u t. T h e o b je c t o f c h e m ic a l e n g in e e r i n g is n o t o n ly to p r o d u c e th e e n d p r o d u c t, b u t to p r o d u c e it a t th e lo w e s t c o s t ; a n d la y - o u t is a f u n d a m e n ta l f a c to r in c o s t. T h e r e a r e m a n y i n d u s t r ia l o p e r a t io n s in w h ic h w e c a n n o t p r o d u c e a t t h e s a m e c o s ts a s o t h e r n a ti o n s , b e c a u s e w e h a v e n o t la id o u t o u r w o r k s f o r th e p u r p o s e . T h e R e id r e p o r t o n th e c o a l i n d u s t r y , f o r e x a m p le , h a s s h o w n t h a t la y - o u t is f u n d a m e n ta l in th e c o s t o f c o a l. T h e s a m e is t r u e in th e m a n u f a c t u r e o f w e ld e d p l a n t . T h e r e m u s t b e a flow t h r o u g h th e w o r k s w ith th e l e a s t p o s s ib le h a n d li n g .
L e t th e r e b e n o m is ta k e : th e la y - o u t o f w o r k s , a n d in p a r t i c u l a r th e r e a r r a n g e m e n t o f o l d e r w o r k s to a v o id u n n e c e s s a r y c o s ts w h e n i m p r o v e m e n ts o r a d d it i o n s a r e a f o o t, is a p r i m a r y t a s k fo r th e c h e m ic a l e n g in e e r . T h is p a p e r is th u s t im e ly in c a l l i n g a tt e n ti o n to a n e g le c te d a s p e c t o f th e s u b je c t, a n d its a u th o r s a r e to b e c o n g r a t u l a t e d t h e r e o n .
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£ i g m i l l i o n ; o n n e w m e l t in g s h o p s , .¿20 m i l l i o n ; o n r e p la c e m e n t a n d r e c o n s t r u c tio n o f r o l l i n g m il l s a n d n e w c o n tin u o u s h o t s t r i p m il l s in S . W a l e s , ^ 3 3 m illio n : a n d th e r e m a in d e r o n m is c e lla n e o u s p r o c e s s e s . W o r k h a s a l r e a d y s t a r t e d 011 e x p a n s io n o f o p e n - h e a r th c a p a c i t y in th e M id la n d s , o n th e r e b u il d i n g o f b la s t f u r n a c e s a n d c o k e o v e n s in S c o tla n d a n d th e N o r t h - E a s t , 011 th e c o m p le te m e c h a n is a tio n o f 28 iro n f o u n d r ie s (m o re t h a n h a l f th e ' to ta l ir o n c a s tin g s c a p a c ity ) , a n d o n a n e w r o l l i n g p l a n t a t D a r l in g t o n . T h e m a in r e s u l t o f th e
Ju l y 28, 1 9 4 5 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E m o d e r n is a tio n , S ir J o h n D u n c a n s o n
s a id , w ill b e t h a t th e c o u n tr y ’s to ta l s te e l i n g o t c a p a c i t y w ill b e in c r e a s e d b y 20 p e r c e n t. I t is i n t e r e s t i n g to n o te t h a t 90 p e r c e n t, o f th e n e w p l a n t a n d e q u ip m e n t c r e a te d d u r i n g th e w a r is o f l i t t l e p e r m a n e n t b e n e fit, h a v i n g b e e n d e s ig n e d p u r e ly to in c r e a s e th e flo w of a r m a m e n ts . A p a r t f r o m th e T h o m a s - B a ld w in s m il l in S o u th W a l e s , i t is b e lie v e d t h a t n e w w o r k w ill b e u n d e r t a k e n b y D o r m a n L o n g , w ith a b ig u n i v e r s a l m il l f o r s t r u c t u r a l s te e l, t h a t S te w a r ts a n d L lo y d s w ill e x p a n d t h e i r m e l t in g c a p a c i t y a t C o rb y , , a n d t h a t U n ite d S te e l m a y l a y d o w n a c o n tin u o u s b i lle t m il l in th e S h e ffie ld a r e a .
Gas in W ar-Tim e Industry
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R E C O R D o f th e a c h ie v e m e n ts o f th e g a s i n d u s t r y u n d e r th e m o s t s t r i n g e n t c o n d itio n s o f d iffic u ltie s o f s u p p l y a n d m e tic u lo u s d e m a n d s f o r th e m o s t e x a c ti n g m e t a l l u r g i c a l ( a n d o th e r ) r e s u l ts h a s b e e n p u b lis h e d b y th e I n s t i tu te o f G a s E n g i n e e r s ( C o m m u n ic a tio n N o . 280) in p a m p h l e t f o rm , u n d e r th e a u th o r s h ip o f M r. H . R . H e m s , c h a i r m a n o f th e I n d u s t r i a l G a s C e n tr e s C o m m itte e . T h e w o r k r e c o r d e d th e r e in is o v e r a n d a b o v e th e d a y - to - d a y r o u t in e o f m a i n t a i n i n g a v i ta l s u p p l y o f f u e l to f a c to r ie s a n d h o m e s — t h o u g h th is s e r v ic e a ls o , a s w e a ll w e ll k n o w , w a s k e p t u p w ith a d m i r a b l e p e r s i s t e n c y i n th e f a c e o f c o n s t a n t a tt a c k . W e h a v e h a d o c c a s io n to c o m m e n t a t i n t e r v a l s t h r o u g h th e w a r on th e a s s is ta n c e th e g a s i n d u s t r y h a s b e e n a b le to g iv e in. v a r io u s d ir e c tio n s ; b u t n o w f u l l d e ta i ls a r e r e le a s e d , e v e n to n a m e s a n d p la c e s . A s m ig h t b e e x p e c te d , g a s — o r d i n a r y to w n g a s — p la y e d its m o s t i m p o r t a n t i n d u s t r i a l p a r t in a id i n g th e m e t a l l u r g i c a l in d u s t r ie s , a n d M r. H e m s g iv e s so m e f a s c i n a ti n g d e ta i ls a b o u t l i g h t a ll o y p r o d u c tio n e s p e c i a l l y — in th e h e a t - t r e a t m e n t d e p a r t m e n t , in th e h e a t i n g o f s a l t b a th s a n d a ir - c ir c u l a t i o n f u r n a c e s . O n e i n t e r e s t i n g a p p li c a t io n w a s in a tm o s p h e r e p l a n t s u s e d o n tw o B ir le c e l e c t r i c a l ly - h e a t e d f u r n a c e s fo r b r a z i n g c o p p e r .Cleanliness and Flexibility
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A S p la y e d a n e s s e n t ia l p a r t in th e p r o d u c tio n o f g u n s , s h o t, w a r s h ip s , a n d j e r r i c a n s ; in b e a r i n g s a n d f o r g i n g s ; a n d in th e t e m p e r i n g o f to o ls M o re d i r e c tl y a p p li c a b l e to t h e w a r - tim ec h e m ic a l in d u s t r y w a s th e u s e o f f u l ly - a u to m a tic g a s - f ire d b o ile r s in th e h e a t i n g a n d s t e r i l i s i n g p r o c e s s e s n e e d f u l in th e p r o d u c tio n o f p e n ic i ll i n . T h e f le x ib ility , s p a c e - c o n s e r v in g q u a li t ie s , a n d a b o v e a ll th e c le a n l i n e s s o f th is ty p e o f b o ile r g a v e it a n o u t s t a n d i n g a d v a n t a g e in w o r k o f th is k in d w h e re s t r i c t n e s s o f c o n tr o l is a ll - e s s e n ti a l.
T h e s a m e q u a li t ie s c a m e in to p l a y in s te r il i s a ti o n w o rk f o r th e A r m y B lo o d T r a n s f u s i o n S e r v ic e . I n s h o r t , th e w o rk d o n e b y to w n g a s f o r w a r i n d u s t r y h a s b e e n a lm o s t a s v a r ie d a s in d u s t r y its e lf . T h e s y s te m o f h a v i n g I n d u s t r i a l G a s C e n tr e s in v a r io u s lo c a litie s t h r o u g h o u t th e c o u n tr y h a s h a d m u c h to d o w ith th e f le x ib ility o f t h e s e r v ic e , s in c e th e r e b y th e s c o p e o f th e w o r k d o n e c o u ld b e e a s ily v a r ie d a c c o r d in g to th e n a t u r e o f th e i n d u s t r y in th e n e i g h b o u rh o o d .
On Documentation
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H E c h ie f c o n c e r n o f th e J o u r n a l o f D o c u m e n ta t i o n , a s th e E d i t o r , M r.B e s te r m a n , p o in ts o u t in th e f ir s t is s u e , w ill b e th e “ p r e p a r a t i o n o r u s e o f d o c u m e n ta r y e v id e n c e a n d a u t h o r i t i e s . ” A n y t h i n g t h a t w ill m a k e th e t a s k e a s ie r to th e s e e k e r a f te r k n o w le d g e w i l l c o m e u n d e r t h e J o u r n a l ’s p u r v ie w . L ib r a r ia n - s h ip a n d th e o r g a n is a t i o n o f in f o r m a tio n s e r v ic e s , b i b li o g r a p h y a n d c a t a l o g u i n g , a b s t r a c t i n g a n d in d e x i n g , c la s s if ic a tio n a n d f ilin g , t h e u s e o f p h o t o g r a p h i c a n d . m e c h a n ic a l m e th o d s o f r e p r o d u c t io n — th e y a ll a r e m e a n s to h e lp t h e in q u ir e r . D e v e lo p m e n ts in th e s e s u b je c ts , w h ic h a r e o f e v e r - g r o w in g im p o r t a n c e in th e lif e o f a w e l l- o r g a n is e d e d u c a te d c o m m u n ity , w i l l r e c e iv e a tt e n ti o n i n t h e n e w J o u r n a l , w h ic h is p u b lis h e d b y th e A s s o c ia tio n o f S p e c ia l L i b r a r ie s a n d I n f o r m a t io n B u r e a u x ( “ A s lib ” ).
N a t io n a l b o u n d a r ie s o r th e “ a r tif ic ia l s e g r e g a t io n o f th e s c ie n c e s a n d h u m a n i tie s ” w ill f o rm n o o b s ta c le to th e J o u r n a l ’s s p h e r e o f w o rk . A s S ir W i l l i a m B e v e r id g e , a p a s t p r e s i d e n t o f
“ A s li b , ” p o in ts o u t in a m e s s a g e , th e r e is e v e r y w h e r e a g r e a t e a g e r n e s s to h a v e f a c ts a n d n o t to a c c e p t s l a v is h ly th e v ie w s o f o th e r s , w h ile l ib r a r i e s w ith o u t f u ll g u id e s to u s i n g th e m a r e n o t f u l f illin g t h e i r e d u c a ti o n a l r e s p o n s ib ility . T h e b i r t h o f th e J o u r n a l is a f u r t h e r m ile s to n e in th e s te a d y d e v e lo p m e n t o f
“ A s li b . ”
74 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5
T he Siting and Lay-out of Industrial Works*
b y H . W . C R E M E R , M . S c . , F . R . I . C . , M . I .C h e m .E . a n d R . L . F I T T , B .S c ., A . M . I n s t . C . E .
T
H E v ita l im p o rtan ce of p ost-w ar in d u s tria l developm ent in th is co u n try sugg ests th a t th e tim e is o p p o rtu n e for a brief sum m ary of som e of th e factors involved in th e sitin g an d lay-out of in d u s tria l w orks.
I t w ould be im possible w ith in th e lim its of a single p ap er to deal w ith th e process p la n n in g of all types of in d u stry in d e ta il, or even w ith those in d u strie s of m ost in te re s t to th e chem ical engineer. C onsequently, the scope of th e p ap er is lim ited to a stu d y of such facto rs as h av e general ap p lic atio n an d play a v ita l p a rt in sitin g an d p lan n in g .
Site selection will ho su b je c t to some degree of influence from th e G overnm ent, such influence being prin cip ally effected th ro u g h th e m edium of th e B oard of T rad e, the M in istry of L ab o u r, th e M in istry of H e a lth and th e M in istry of Tow n and C ountry P la n n in g ; b u t it is n o t possible, as y e t, to s la te specifically w h a t th e fu n c tions of th ese d e p artm e n ts will be, nor to w h at e x te n t th ey w ill be able to influence in d u stria lis ts in locating th e ir w orks.
S ta tu to ry oblig atio n s w hich re la te to such m a tte rs as offensive tra d e s, th e em ission of noxious gases, an d th e disposal of trad e w astes should be clearly envisaged w hen selecting sites for in d u stry . F o r in sta n c e , if it is proposed to erect a w orks n e a r a high-class resid en tial a rea, fa ilu re to a p p re ciate th e need for p rev en tin g th e escape of noxious fum es m ay h av e disastro u s re su lts if it is la te r found im p ra cticab le to reduce th e fum es to a n a m o u n t w hich c an n o t be d etected. An oversight of th is k in d m ay n ecessitate m easures w hich re n d er profitable operation, of th e w orks a m a tte r of con sid er
able difficulty or m ay even re su lt in th e closing of a facto ry alto g eth er.
No o p p o rtu n ity should be lo st, th erefore, of discussing beforehand w ith th e officials concerned th e problem s in h ere n t in any en terp rise. T echnical advice of a m ost useful kin d can . in m an y cases, be h ad for the ask in g , an d , even though th e F a c to ries A ct.
etc ., m ay n o t m ake provision for th e enforce
m en t of a n y of th e conclusions to w hich G overnm ent officials m ay come, in d u stria lis ts obviously h av e a g re a te r m easu re of p ro tec
tion a g ain st a common law a ction for n uisance if th ey follow the advice so given.
These m a tte rs h av e been a d m irab ly dealt with by J . D avidson P r a t t and G. S. W . M arlow in th e ir p ap er, “ L egal P itfa lls for
* A bridged from a paper read a t th e 23rd Annual Corporate M eeting o f th e In stitu tio n o f Chem ical E ngineers, London, April 13, 1945
th e C h em ical E n g in e e r ” (T ra n s. In s t.
C hcm . E n g ., 1934, 12, 21). A n o th e r source of v alu ab le in fo rm atio n is th e index to A cts of P a rlia m e n t, etc ., p repared by th e A ssociation of B ritish Chemical M an u fac tu rers.
T r a d i n g E s t a t e s
A dvantages of th e trad in g e s ta te a r e :—
1. T he land lias been p repared in advance for facto ry c o n stru ctio n , an d n eg o tiatio n s for pu rc h ase or lease are sim plified.
2. R oad and rail facilities will be av ailab le.
3. M ain services will be provided an d at fav o u rab le rates.
4. Steam and h o t-w a te r supplies are in some cases av ailab le from c en tral boiler houses.
5. L a b o u r tra in in g c en tres are usually available.
6. Com m unity in te rests in regard to w el
fare an d ad m in istratio n . D isad v an ta g es a r e : —
1. T h e in d u stria lis t w ill n o t have an e n tirely free h an d in p lan n in g his w orks.
2. T h e trad in g e sta te s are m ore su itab le for lig h t th a n for h eavy in d u stry .
3. T h ere is n o t the sam e scope fo r fu tu re expansion.
R a w M a t e r i a l s a n d M a r k e t s V iew ed from m odern econom ic s ta n d p o in ts th e re a p p e a r to be n o w a d ay s com p a rativ e ly few cases in w hich pro x im ity to th e sources of raw m ate ria ls need be the m ain fa c to r w hich determ ines th e site of a w orks. F o r, a p a rt from coal, lim estone, sa lt and clay, th e bulk of th e raw m ate ria ls for o u r in d u strie s are now im p o rted , and accessi
b ility to n a v ig ab le w aterw ay s therefore assum es special significance. P la n n in g in relatio n to associated in d u strie s is an o th e r fa c to r w hich has assum ed m uch g re a te r im p o rtan ce in view of th e in creasin g in te r relatio n of in d u stry a s a whole. A good exam ple is afforded by th e m ig ratio n of in d u stry to G re a te r L ondon.
L a b o u r S u p p l y a n d H o u s i n g F o r a sm all firm req u irin g no h ig h degree of craftsm an sh ip from its personnel, it is only n ecessary for th e in d u s tria lis t to sa tisfy him self by local in q u iry th a t h is m odest lab o u r dem ands w ill be m et. I f , on th e o th e r h a n d , th e proposed w orks a re large an d th e degree of c raftsm an sh ip req u ired is h ig h , th e n a t first sig h t th e obvious location is in a p o p u lated area specialising in in
Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 75 d u stry em ploying sim ilar lab o u r to tb a t
required for th e new v e n tu re . Such an a rra n g e m e n t, how ever, m ig h t clash w ith th e G o v ern m en t’s policy of diversification, an d pressure m ig h t be bro u g h t to b ear to select a site in a d istric t w here lab o u r is a v ailab le but w ith o u t experience of th e in d u stria l processes envisaged in th e new w orks. I f such is th e case, th en key personnel m u st he moved in to th e area to s ta r t up th e new works and to tra in local lab o u r a s skilled operatives. I n such cases a g ra d u al build up in production w ould be necessary.
Closely connected w ith labour su pply are the q u estions of housing and tra n s p o rt.
M ost local a u th o ritie s h av e p repared e x te n sive schem es of housing developm ent and th ese, it is hoped, w ill have been devised to lo cate in d u s try in relatio n to hou sin g in such a w ay as to m inim ise tra n s p o rt p ro b lem s. Since local a u th o rity housing e state - c ater essen tially fo r th e a rtis a n , th e need for housing th e m ore senior personnel m ust not be overlooked.
A r e a o f S i t e
M inim um , space req u irem e n ts can usually be estim ated in the prelim inary sta g e from a stu d y of sim ilar w orks w ith com parable pro d u ctio n figures. W h a t is not so easy to decide, how ever, is th e a d d itio n al area likely to be required for fu tu re ex ten sio n . I n all too many' cases in th e p ast, w orks lay-outs hav e graduall}' evolved, th e original sites h av in g been too sm all an d th e original buildings laid o u t w ith little reg ard to fu rth e r extensions. U neconom ical w orking thro u g h double h a n d lin g , u n necessary h a u l
ag e. etc ., are th e re su lt, an d it is obvious th a t in m odern factory lay-out plans for th e fu tu re should play an im p o rta n t p a rt. In fact, th e original lay-out should be m ade w ith these extensions in m ind. A ny land not im m ediately req u ired can o ften be u tilised for such purposes as recreatio n , allo tm en ts an d farm ing.
T r a f f i c H a n d l i n g
R oad access is essen tial to every in d u stria l site, h u t if rail access is also n ecessary th is w ill obviously re s tric t th e choice of. location.
C onsu ltatio n w ith th e railw ay com panies a t an early stag e is ad v isab le, fo r th e y will b e able to su g g est locations w hich will en su re th e best service inta and o u t of th e w orks. I t m ay be desired to ha n d le goods by w a te r o r even by a ir, and such considera
tions .will h av e an im p o rta n t b earin g on location. W o rk s co n stru cted n e ar n avigable w aterw ay s popsess th e added ad v an tag e of an a d e q u a te su p p ly o f co o lin g w a te r, a n d , in th e ease of fresh w a te r, o f p ro c ess w a te r as well.
W o rk s req u irin g larg e volumes of w ater are re stric te d in th e ir possible sitin g . I n m any p a rts of th e c o u n try local supplies are alre ad y taxed to cap acity in dry sea.sons,
an d th is is a p o int w hich needs early check
ing w ith th e -a u th o ritie s concerned. N ot only the q u a n tity b u t th e q u a lity req u ired m ust be specified a t th e o u tset.
W a t e r S u p p l y
C onsideration m ight, he given to th e possi
bility of sin k in g boreholes 011 th e site for th e purposes of o b tain in g a w a te r supply for th e workg. As th e law now sta n d s, p riv ate in d iv id u als and firm s m ay a b s tra c t as m uch w a te r from u n d er th e ir own land as th e y wish an d deplete th e w ells of any w a ter a u th o rity w ith im p u n ity , b u t follow ing upon the recent W h ite P a p e r (Cmd.
0515) a W a te r B ill h a s now been p resen ted to P a rlia m e n t, in w hich P a r t I I I deals w ith th e conservation an d pro tectio n of w a te r resources and seeks to re strain a person from a b stra c tin g fu rth e r u n d erg ro u n d w a ter w ith o u t a licence from th e M in istry of H e a lth .
I n works in w hich larg e q u a n titie s of softened w a te r a re necessary , th e problem of tre a tin g a very h a rd w a te r m ay be a very real one, both as reg ard s cost and, in some cases, disposal of th e w aste pro d u cts from th e w a te r-tre a tm e n t p lan t.
A g reat deal h a s been h e ard of th e pro
p erties of c e rta in w a te r supplies w hich m ake them specially suited for process use in th e brew ing and p ap er in d u strie s, and in th e steel in d u s try for q uenching purposes. W ith our p resen t know ledge of w a ter cond itio n in g , an d provided no u n d esirab le c o n stitu e n ts are present w hich c an n o t be rem oved econom i
cally, th ere a re p robably co m p arativ ely few cases in w hich th e q u a lity of n a tu ra l su p plies of process w a te r can tru ly be said to be a d eterm in in g facto r in th e location of a works. I n th e n o t too rem ote fu tu re we m ay see th e coining of th e w a ter grid , and th is ,' w ith m ore effective u tilisa tio n of th e c o u n try ’s q u ite ad e q u a te su rfa ce an d s u b surface resources, will help to reduce th e im p o rtan ce of th is fa cto r in site selection.
D i s p o s a l o f W a s te
Solid w aste p ro d u cts u su a lly n ece ssitate c ith e r spoil tip s o r h au lag e aw ay from th e w orks. Spoil tip s disfigure th e n e ig h b o u r
hood in w hich th e y are s itu a te d , and no p lan n in g a u th o rity is likely to allow th ese to sp rin g up in areas w here a m en ities are to be preserved. P ro v id ed th e n a tu re of th e w aste solids does n o t for a n y reason re n d er such a m ethod of disposal im p rac
ticab le, i t m ay be possible to u tilise them fo r filling up old surface o r un d erg ro u n d w orkings "or for ra isin g th e level of portions of th e w orks site earm ark ed for su b seq u en t developm ent. I f no n e of th ese th in g s are possible in th e im m ed iate area of th e w orks, th en h a u la g e costs h av e to be faced- an d th e capacity, of local tip s in v es tig a te d . I t should be stro n g ly em phasised th a t it is an offence u n d e r th e R iv ers P o llu tio n P re v e n tio n A cts
76 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju l y 2 8 , 1 9 4 5 to d ischarge solid refuse into stre am s. I f
e ith e r solid or liq u id effluents a re to be dum ped from barges th e consent of fishery an d c atch m en t board an d h a rb o u r a u th o ritie s h as to be obtained.
D isposal of trad e w aste w a ters is n ot only a question of effluent tre a tm e n t b u t also one of d eterm in in g w h e th er local sew ers or w atercourses are ad eq u ate in size an d suffi
c ien tly n e ar a t h an d to convey th ese aw ay from th e w orks. I f expensive pum p in g is to be avoided, a careful check is necessary of re la tiv e levels of site an d drainage channels.
In add itio n to th e engineering asp ects, the p a rtic u la r ch ara cte ristics of th e effluent itself m u st be full}’ considered. I f due co n sid era
tion is given to these m a tte rs in advance, provision can have been m ade a t th e o u tset an d possibly some m odification of th e p ro cesses in the facto ry in tro d u c ed , th u s av o id ing th e considerable expense w hich som e
tim es h as to be in cu rred in in tro d u cin g rem edial m easures a t a la te r d ate. I t not in freq u en tly h ap p en s th a t th e re q u isite space for sed im en tatio n ponds and th e like c a n not be found, w ith th e re su lt th a t th e p la n t w hich is in stalled is co nsequently cram ped in design an d inefficient in o peration.
W h ere all p racticab le m easures h av e been tak e n to reduce th e p o llu tin g c h a ra c te r of th e w aste w aters, th e m ost usu al m ethods of disposal are by percolation u n d erg ro u n d , by discharge in to fresh-w atep stre am s, riv ers, estu aries an d th e sea, or by discharge into sew ers.
In g en eral, percolation into th e sub-soil is re stric te d by th e oblig atio n n o t to cause a p ublic n u isan ce n o r to in te rfere w ith th e r ig h ts of o th e r lan d o w n ers. If a lan d o w n e r p u ts filth on his own lan d , he m ust take care n o t to let it escape on to his n eig h b o u r’s land and not- to pollute th e a ir w hich reaches th a t lan d .
D i s c h a r g e i n t o S t r e a m s
T h e disposal of w astes by discharge in to fregh-w ater rivers an d stre am s is su b ject to several restrictio n s. E v ery rip arian ow ner h as a rig h t to receive th e flow of a stream in a condition unaffected by th e use m ade of th e stream by o th er rip arian ow ners. T he p ra ctic a b ility of disposing of w aste w a ters in th is m an n er w ith o u t cau sin g u n d u e po llu tion will depend upon th e volum e and c h a ra c te r of th e w aste w aters involved, th e volum e of th e stre am , and th e purposes for w hich th e riv e r w a te r is used below the point of discharge. In g e n era l, th e rivers of th is co u n try are n o t of sufficient size to perm it of th e discharge of larg e volum es of polluting w aste.
D isposal in to estu aries is re g u la te d in c ertain tidal w aters. I t is an offence to allow to e n te r in to a n y w-atcrs c o n tain in g fish an y liquid or solid m a tte r to such an e x te n t as to cause th e w a ters to be poisonous
to fish, o r to in terfere w ith th e food of fish.
W ith in a- fishery d istric t it is also an offence to d ischarge a n y trad e effluent in to w aters c o n tain in g fish by m eans of any new work unless notice of th e new w ork h a s been given to the a p p ro p ria te a u th o rity . I n add itio n to th e above, th ere are certa in p riv a te A cts w hich include provisions to p rev en t po llu tion of p articu la r rivers.
N um erous m an u fa ctu re rs discharge the w aste w aters from th e ir factories in to the sowers of th e local sa n ita ry a u th o ritie s for tre a tm e n t in a d m ix tu re w ith dom estic sew age a t th e local disposal w orks. In m an y eases, p relim in ary tre a tm e n t of th e w astes at th e w orks is req u ired before th e w astes a re a d m itte d to th e sew ers, and th e d is
ch arg e m ay be su b je ct to o th er conditions, in cluding p a y m en t. I t is n ecessary in all cases for th e local a u th o rity to be consulted, and a sta te m e n t is usu ally required giving th e com position and volum e of w aste w aters to be discharged.
P r i v a t e S e w a g e W o r k s
In th e ease of larg e in d u s tria l w orks w hich are located in rem ote d istric ts, it is som e
tim es necessary for th ese to have th e ir own sew age disposal w orks. U n d e r such circum stan ce s, w hen th e trad e w astes are to be trea te d in ad m ix tu re w ith dom estic sew age, it is very n e c e ssa ry , to ensure th a t th e volum e of process effluent is m ain tain e d in the correct ra tio to th e norm al volum e of dom estic sew age passing to th e disposal p la n t. T h u s th ere is a definite re la tio n sh ip betw een th e factory popu latio n and th e p ro cess effluent, and th is m a tte r assum es vita l im portance w here th e n u m b er of op erativ es is com p arativ ely sm all an d th e to x icity of th e tra d e w aste un d u ly h ig h . Special p re tre a tm e n t m ay be essential in cases of th is k in d if th e efficiency of th e sew age disposal p la n t is to rem ain u n im p a ired . On th e o th er hand, cases are know n w here th e organism s responsible fo r th e sew age treatm ent, h av e become acclim atised to w h a t w ould o rd in arily be h ig h ly toxic conditions, destro y in g th e u ndesirable chem ical c o n stitu e n t of th e p a r tic u la r w aste concerned, w ith no h arm to them selves a n d to th e g reat satisfactio n of all concerned.
D r. A. P a r k e r {T rans. In s t. G hem . E v il., 1998, 16, 19) h a s re fe rre d in some d etail to th e in d u strie s in w hich po llu tin g w aste w aters are produced, in cluding the legal positio n , and th e m ethod of tre a tm e n t. T h a t th e im p o rtan ce of th is su b je c t is fully realised by chem ical en g in eers is fully borne out by th e long list of p a p ers p resen ted to th is I n s titu tio n by o th er a u th o rs , w hich deal w ith th e u tilisa tio n and disposal of v arious trad e w astes (S u b ject I n d e x ; T ra n s. In s t„ C hem . E n g .. 1940, IS , 142).
T h e W a te r P o llu tio n R esearch L a b o ra to ry of th e D .S .I.R . is of th e g reatest benefit
