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■ M M

p r o d u c e r - g a s p l a n t

T he p h o to g rap h on th e left’show s a K ent panel a t a w ell-know n firm of m anufacturers. This in­

c o rp o ra te s a ring-balance m e te r show ing th e to ta l ‘ m a k e ’ and ra te in th ousands of cu. ft.

p e r h o u r and a m u lti-p o in t d ra u g h t g au g e show ing th e suction in th e p ro d u cer, th e

s c ru b b er, th e h e a te r and th e purifier. The circular in d icato r show s th e p ressu re of

th e gas in in. w.g. as it leaves th e plant, th e th r e e sm aller dials a re te m p e r- jt

a tu re indicators. M s

T j t s -î-vèUta ' 1"-- X-- -II. Æ i ÿ Î

-~v-' ; - ■ :

S A T U R D A Y , A P R I L 2 1, 1945

REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER

V O L . L I1 6D. r E R COPT

Po s t Fr e e 8d.

N o. 1 3 4 7

sOÜTECHNIKt

CA

Installation by The Power Gas Corporation Ltd

G E O R G E K E N T L T D . , L U T O N & L O N D O N

(2)

THE CHEM ICA L AGE A p r i l 2 1

STEEL DRUMS

¿IS

These drum s are welded

th ro u g h o u t and are m anufactured In large quantities. They can be supplied painted, gal­

vanised o r tinned.

Also m anufactured In stainless steel. Capaci­

ties ranging from 20 to 150 gallons.

'h h

' Everything for Safety Everywhere ”

(m G A S M A S K S

@ © 7 — A L L T Y P E S ¿Sk

. v M ; . Self-Contained Breathing

Apparatus j i » S |

“ P r o t o ,"

" S a l v u s , " (a g g if lH f

!«®8wSw^«Pwl «« F l r e o x ," e t c . w l |

Sh o rt-D istan ce Breathing g f E A pparatus * 8 8

1 A ncipoys.’* and ocher type*

aflh . O X Y G E N a n d y f '^ F j & j f O X Y G E N + C O ,

j C l j J K R e su scitatio n W E I ■■■■*«■ Apparatus

111111

M N o v o x ,"

** N o v l t a ,"

^ -is*- lTi*W L l||l|IK a n d o t h e r ty p e s

AN D TITANIUM PO TASSIUM OXALATE

101*1 MORO*MTS IV ItATHSR OTHNC

W R IT E F O R P A R T IC U L A R S DUST MASKS and GOGGLES of all pattern*

ASBESTOS FIREPROOF CLOTHING. ACIDPROOF GARMENTS, etc.

S IE B E , GORMAN & CO. LT D ., LONDON

Telegram s : Telephone :

Slefae. Lamb. London______________W aterloo 6071

PETER SPENCE & SONS LTD.

NAr i o N Á Í 'BU ILDING S - ST. M A R Y 'S PARSONAGE

M A N C H E S T E R , 3

LONDON OFFICE: 778/760 SALISBURY HOUSE E.C.2

(3)

Ap r i l 2 1 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E

B A M A G

A C ID P R O D U C T IO N

C O N C E N T R A T I O N

a n d

R E C O V E R Y P L A N T S

? * .

i i

For quality and capacity unequalled by other units o f comparable size

B A M A C ...

B A M A G L IM IT E D , U N IV E R S A L H O U S E 60, B U C K I N G H A M P A L A C E R O A D , L O N D O N , S.W .I

O N W A R OFFICE A N D ADMIRALTY LISTS - T elep h o n e : SLOANE 9282 (8 lines)

B25«

Plant for the Chemical Industry

for A C ID N E U T R A L IZ A T IO N , C LA R IFIC A TIO N O F L IQ U ID S , D E W A T E R IN G O F S L U D G E S , E F F L U E N T P U R IF IC A T IO N , F IL T R A T IO N A N D FLO C C U L A T IO N , PIC K L IN G L IQ U O R T R E A T M E N T , PU R IF IC A T IO N O F T R A D E W A S T E , S E D I­

M E N T A T IO N A N D T H IC K - I --¡¡¡g -—■ ~ ~ ’ ; E N IN G , S E P A R A T IO N O F

T j S p f Î E gSBSg g jifr SO L ID S FROM L IQ U ID S ,

j p S l P -’j SO D A R ECO VERY. W E T

' , M A TE R IA L H A N D LIN G

A G IT A T O R S C A U S T IC IZ -

” fl È È Ê M È È Ê lf E R S ’ C LA R IFU Stcs, C L A SS*

r l I t l i j f c i ; ' D E W A T E R IN G M A CH IN E S

" & "<• R O T A R Y VACUUM F IL -

Rotary P u lp Washing Machine, with S A N D W A SH E R S, R ciary Vacuum Filler, w uh Take-off Pitch P ine Trough, Wash Gear and S L U D G E P U M P S , Roller and Repulper.

Scraper K nife. T H IC K E N E R S, etc.

U N I F L O C R E A G E N T S LT D ., " - ¿ * ¡ 3 -

— SWANSEA

Grams : Unifloc, Swansea A

(4)

BROS L T D

WALLACH

49 * TABERNACLE ST * L Ó Ń O Ó Ń .- E * C 'i C L E r k c n w e l l 1 4 4 8 ' 9

P otter’s guards are Installed In works through­

out the country and are dlstin- gulshablebythelr 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 .I

Tetfi^onif í ßöfiowjott 2177 (3 hnti)

A N D

keeps you informed on everyday science with popular arti­

cles and news by leading authorities

1 ¡ 6 MONTHLY 19/-annual subscription

Superlative Quality Large Stocks - Prompt Despatch F R A N C IS W . H A R R IS & Co. Ltd.

BURSLEM - S to k e-o n -T ren t

'P h o n e : Stoke-on-T rent 7 181.

*G ram s : Belting, Burslem

E M P IR E PR ESS N O R W I C H

w m

PROTECT W ORKERS HANDS AGAINST IRRITANT SUBSTANCES

Applied before work keeps hands healthy

KOZALEX LTD.., JO N OR FOLK S T ., M A N C H ESTER , 2

S A F E T Y F I R S T

THE “ O LD B U R Y ” PATENT C A R B O Y D I S C H A R G E R will em pty and elevate up to 50 feet th e contents of any carboy, b o ttle o r vessel, and complies w ith all th e con­

ditions of th e Factory A ct of 1937.

K E S T N E R E V A P O R A T O R & E N G IN E E R IN G --- C O ., L T D . --- 5, Grosvenor G ardens, W estm inster, London, S.W.

T H E C H E M I C A L A G E A p r i l 2 1 , 1 9 4 5

P O T T E R ’S Machinery Guards

% D E S IG N E D F O R S A F E T Y I B U I I . T F O R S E R V IC E

DI SCOVERY

S a fety

" E V E R T R U

S

T Industrial

Y ” S A F E T Y E Q U I P M E N T

F ir s t

ACID & ALKALI RESISTING C L O T H I N G , CARBOY S A F E T Y D E V I C E S , RUBBER, A IS B E S T O S , L E A T H E R & C O T T O N G L O V E S , SPLASHPROOF G O G G L E S A N D F A C E S H I E L D S , and ev ery th in g for th e p ro tec tio n of th e Industrial W o rk e r.

Write to-day for a copy of our “ Blue Book for Safety Appliances” —the result of fifty years’ experience In

protecting Industry.

(5)

Ap r i l 2 1 , , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E

One over

e eight

The phenom enon of nine op eratio n s by one m achine is n o t a figm ent of th e im agination. In th e first place it is a fact, and secondly it has evolved naturally as a resu lt of o u r having devoted all

o u r faculties to th e pro d u ctio n of m achines of this ty p e for a long tim e. O f course, in all due m odesty, w e have to poin t o u t th a t th e re a re som e things it w o n ’t do, b ut th en again w e make many o th e r machines. So, may w e suggest th a t, no m a tte r w h at th e w o rk you have in mind, a M O O N m achine will provide th e m ost efficient answ er.

dm 1034

(6)

i v T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ap r i l 2 1 , 1 9 4 5

Dows0N.fi1 m;\£cn CAS PLANT CO t o

MANCHESTER.

uowsoN &> m¡WPK CAS PLANt. C & t o MANCHESTER f'V.VSCN o m àaon

CAS PLANT CO ¡.111

MANCHESTER

...’„.i . I'OWSOH

KESTNER

LABO RATORY E Q U IP M E N T

Indispensable to the Modern Chemist

The K E S T N E R F L E X O M I X E R is a small machine fo r general stirrin g and mixing problem s. It has a speed co ntrol giving a range from stow speed up to 2,000 r.p.ra.

It has a flexible driving shaft, and th e s tir r e r blades are made to suit all conditions. The driving m o to r is k ep t well clear of steam o r corrosive fumes, arising from th e mixing vessel. W rite fo r Leaflet N o. 255.

The K E S T N E R V I B R O M I X E R A N D S I F T E R , laboratory apparatus fo r mixing liquids and solids, grading, sieving, o r separating pow dered o r granular solids, by means of vibration a t any required periodicity.

W rite for Leaflet N o. 253.

The K E S T N E R L A B O R A T O R Y S P R A Y D R IE R . T h b Is a K estner Patent Small Scale Spray D rie r which p ro ­ duces a d ry pow dered pro d u ct of uniform te x tu re In one o p eration from solutions o r suspensions. It is specially arranged fo r easy cleaning and is suitable fo r handling a w ide range of products. E achunitiscom plete w ith h e ater, fan, dust collector,driving m o to r,an d all necessary equip­

m ent. W rite for Spray D rier Leaflet N o. 264.

The K E S T N E R L A B O R A T O R Y E V A P O R A T O R has all th e unique features of th e full-size K estner Patent M ulti-Circulation Evaporator. This small ev ap o rato r Is so arranged th a t It may be used as a single, double- o r triple-circulation unit, making it particularly suitable for experim ental w ork. W rite fo r Leaflet N o. 259.

KESTNER EVAPOR ATOR & ENGINEERING Co., Ltd.

5 GROSVENOR GARDENS ^ --- LONDON, S.W .l

N E W !

C R Y S T A L L IS A T IO N by

A T O M IS A T IO N

A P a t e n t p r o c e s s f o r crystallising industrial l i q u o r s e m b o d y i n g in­

teresting new principles.

^ O W S O N k M M O ^ M A N C H E S T E R 19

O A S P L A N T C O . L T D . T e l. N o . : H e a t o n M o o r 2261

T A N K S . C Y L IN D R IC A L A N D R E C T A N G U L A R

P U M P S A N D F L O W M E T E R S , ETC.

(7)

Ap r i l 2 1 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E V

„ < * * % > * * ^

& % $ & # * ' * * » & $ %

s m o« to p ? Lt’ , ,

t e i + r & j t i & y p * * 0*

Ä 5 f ^

î r t ^ a M » 5®

• ViS* r^l\w

,\v\^ i $8É5^\W5;Ï\ *

f J É f * ■ : :

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T H O M A S T Y R E R & C O - L T D . s t r a t f o b d l o s d o n • E - i s

B

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v i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ap r i l 2 1 , 1 9 4 5

FLUOR S P A R

0

H IG H G R A D E

97-98% 0

0

Ca F2 C O N T E N T

is n o w available

from..

0

THE GLEBE LEAD MINE

E Y A M D E R B Y S H I R E

Telephone : Eyam 41

S H A W I N I G A N LTD.

AC ETI C ACID CARBIDE of C ALCIUM

A C E T Y L E N E BLACK POLYVINYL ACETATE “ GELVA”

H I G H A N D L O W V I S C O S I T I E S

POLYVINYL ACETALS “ ALVAR”

“ FORMVAR ”

BBHHEBHBBBBBHHBBBHBBHBBBHBflBSSBBBBBBSBBflBI

MARLOW HOUSE, LLOYDS AVENUE, LONDON, E.C.3

Telephone: ROYAL 4321/3 Telegrams: •• IGANSHAW IN, FEN, L O N D O N ” E M E R G E N C Y A DDRESS :

113, F O X L E Y L A N E , P U R L E Y , S U R R E Y Telephone: U plands 5257

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A p r i l 2i, 1945 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E

B A R IU M C A R B O N A T E B A R IU M H Y D R A T E B A R IU M M O N O X I D E B A R IU M N A P H T H E N A T E B A R IU M O L E A T E B A R IU M P E R O X ID E B A R IU M S T E A R A T E B A R IU M S U L P H A T E B A R IU M S U L P H ID E

S O D I U M H Y P O C H L O R IT E S O D I U M S U L P H ID E S O D I U M P E R C A R B O N A T E

T I T A N I U M O X ID E

S O A P S

A L K A L I N E C L E A N E R S H Y D R O G E N P E R O X ID E A M M O N I U M P E R S U L P H A T E B E N Z O Y L P E R O X I D E . C A L C I U M P E R O X I D E ' M A G N E S I U M P E R O X ID E . P O T A S S IU M P E R S U L P H A T E

U R E A P E R O X ID E Z I N C P E R O X ID E

S O D I U M A C I D P H O S P H A T E S O D I U M A C ID P Y R O P H O S P H A T E S O D I U M P E R P Y R O P H O S P H A T E S O D I U M P Y R O P H O S P H A T E

LAPQRTE

B. L A P O R T E Ltd. L U T O N Î K E i ÿ S S Ï Â

ti

\ -

I I I

BUSINESS ENTERPRISE AFTER THE WAR

S m a ll a n d m e d i u m - s iz e d b u s in e s s e s in a ll b r a n c h e s o f i n d u s t r y a n d t r a d e m u s t h a v e e v e r y o p p o r t u n i t y o f c o n t r i b u t i n g , b y t h e i r e n te r p r is e a n d in itia tiv e , to w a r d s th e n a t i o n ’s e c o ­ n o m ic w e ll- b e in g a f te r t h e w a r. T h e y m u s t b e g iv e n jfj fu ll s u p p o r t in d e v e lo p in g B r itis h t r a d e a t h o m e o r in o v e r s e a s m a r k e ts . C h a n g e s d u e to w a r c o n ­ d itio n s c all f o r a f a r - s ig h t e d p o lic y c o n c e r n in g th e fin a n c ia l a id th e y m a y n e e d . T h i s B a n k , t h r o u g h i ts b r a n c h m a n a g e r s , w ill th e r e f o r e b e p r e p a r e d to c o n s id e r e n q u i r i e s f r o m p r o m i s i n g u n d e r ta k in g s , w h e t h e r o ld o r n e w , c o n ­ d u c t e d u n d e r g o o d m a n a g e m e n t. I t w ill b a s e i ts c o n s id e r a tio n o f e a c h p r o p o s a l a s m u c h u p o n t h e p r o s p e c t i v e b o r r o w e r ’s in te g r i ty a n d b u s in e s s c a p a c ity a s u p o n h is m a te r ia l r e s o u r c e s .

MIDLAND BANK

L IM IT E D

SA L E S S E R V IC E A D E V L L O P M Í H T D E P T . IN V I T E E N Q U IR IE S

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v i i i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ap r i l 2 1 , 1 9 4 5

There’s money tin the air

W h erev er so lv e n ts a re u se d m o n ey w h e th er a n activ e c a rb o n reco v ery p lan t literally tak es to th e a ir as th e re su lt w ould b e a w o rth -w h ile p ro p o s itio n , o u r

o f e v a p o ra tio n a n d in m an y in d u stria l \ \ a d v iso ry d e p a rtm e n t c a n c le ar th e a ir by p lan ts th is w astag e c a n b e v ery se rio u s. \( \ su p p ly in g y o u w ith th e necessary details.

T h e re isn’t th e sp a c e h e re to lis t all

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

SUTCLIFFE, SPEAKMAN

AND COMPANY LTD - LEIGH, LANCASHIRE so lv e n t reco v ery b u t, if y o u use sol- V\\ \ London Office: 66 Viciorio Street, S.W .I

\ Tel.: VIC. 79S2-3.

v en ts a t all, a n d a re in an y d o u b t

M e lb o u r n e A g e n ts — M essrs. H . R. H ill & S o n , P ty , L td ., 350 K ing S tr e e t.

A. J. RILEY & SON, L td .

BATLEY, YO RKS

Telegrams: " BO ILERS, B A T L E Y ." ¡5.Telephone: 657 B A T L E Y (3 lines) E S T A B L IS H E D I8BB

M akers of

MILD STEEL RIVETED A N D W ELDED VESSELS JACKETED PANS COMPLETE

W ITH AGITATORS SHEET LEAD O R HO M OG EN EO US

LINED VESSELS TAR, BENZOLE & OIL STILLS CONDENSERS, EVAPORATORS

A N D DISTILLING PLANTS MILD STEEL PIPES

ALL PRESSURES LANCASHIRE, CORNISH ECONO M IC & W .T . BOILERS

(11)

Ap r i l 2 1 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E be

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 IT O N E

F IN E S T Q U A LIT 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

- '

hY

" ---—

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

(THE ORIGINAL BRITISH ASPIRIN MAKERS)

Q U E E N ’S ROAD - B A R N E T - HERTS

P hone : B arnet 0723 G ram s : Pierson, M orrell, B arnet

S HEETS AND S T R I P

C o p p e r T u b e s : ' ‘D o n a 7 W e l d i n g C o p p e r

The Birmingham Battery EÏÏIeial folid.

_________ SELLV OAK • BIRMINGHAM 29

(12)

F i m C h e m i c a l s F o r E v e r y P u r p o s e

E N G L A N D LO N D O N

T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ap r i l 2 1 , 1 9 4 5

The Research Chemist

The interest aroused in the public m ind by the achievements o f the Research Chemist is based primarily on the practical value o f his discoveries, but the lay mind has little understanding o f the difficul­

ties and the problems encountered before laboratory synthesis can be translated into factory production.

After the dram atic discovery comes the generally far m ore 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 unrem itting effort are just as necessary in research and develop­

ment work as the occasional flash o f inspiration, and these qualities have helped the chemist to deal successfully with the many trouble­

some situations which the w ar has brought.

The research workers o f May &

Baker have had their share o f w ar­

time difficulties to overcome.

W ithout their efforts many o f 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, we should be pleased to attem pt to solve them. T elephone:

Ilford 3060. Extensions 71 o r 72.

May&BakerLtd

D A G E N H A M

Ai & D Industrial Chemicals S tries (N o . 2 a).

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(From Coai, C oke, A n th racite, etc.)

H Y D R O G E N

<By Steam — Iron o r Catalytic P ro cess« )

C A R B O N M O N O X ID E C A R B O N D I O X I D E

THE POWER-CAS CORPORATION

Stockton - on - Tees

(13)

Ap r i l 2 1 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E xi

YORKSHIRE TAR DISTILLERS

CLECKHLATON -

T E L . C L E C K M E A T O N 790 ( 5 l i n e s ) V i i

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T E L E G R A M S TO - Y O T A R CtECKHEATON

ÍDICYCLOHEXYLAMINE)

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W e offer accum ulated e x p erien ce of 50 y e ars' specialization.

OU R W O RK S, th e largest in th e U nited Kingdom devoted especi­

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MANY STANDARD SIZES includ­

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We have test plants on a commercial scale always available

R IC H A R D S I M O N & S O N S , LTD.

PHΠNIX W O R KS, BASFORD, N O T T IN G H A M

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x i i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ap r i l 2 1 , 1 9 4 5

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

Berkefeld LARGE SUPPLY Filters are reliable . . . endurable . . . simple to o p erate. In p a tte rn T the Im purities, trapped by th e cylinders, can bo cleaned away In a few minutes— w ithout having to open o r take th e filters ap art. Ju st imagine how this can be of service to you w ith all

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B ER K EFELD F IL T E R S

BERKEFELD FILTERS LTD. (D e p t. 61), Sardinia House, Klngsway, London.

“POSTLIP”

(N o. 6 3 3 M ill)

ENGLISH

FILTER

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Wbite and Grey, Plain, A n t i q u e , C r i n k l e d ,

and Em bossed.

P u re F ilte r in g s fo r L a b o r a t o r y W o r k , a n d in q u a n titie s f o r a ll In d u str ia l

purposes.

A l l s i z e s , S q u a r e s . Circles and Folded Filter Rolls m ade to order

See re p o rt of TESTS m ade by tbe National Physical Laboratory, a copy of which will be sent on application together _ w ith _ free samples if required.

PoiUit> Filteriqgs are stocked by all the leading Wholesale Laboratory Dealers

EVANS ADLABD & Co., L td.

P O ST U P M iL L S

W IN CHCO M BE, C H E L T E N H A M , ENGLAND

B A K E L A Q U E

Synthetic Resin Laminated Boards, Tubes, Rods, and

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Resins, Varnishes and Moulding Powders

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Vulcanised Fibre and Leatheroid

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Presspahn, Fullerboard Ebonite and all Insulating Material for

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(15)

A p r i l 2i, 1945 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E

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, CANNONFIELD, HATHERSAGE, n r. SHEFFIELD

’G ram s: Evaporator

THE CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & WILTON’S

PATENT FURNACE CO., LTD., HORSHAM, SUSSEX

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O ld-established y e t u p -to -d ate In every detail, t hi s o r g a n is a t i o n p r o v i d e s a s p e c i a l i s e d service fo r th e chemical in d u stry th a t en su res rapid delivery and low prices all th e tim e

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PLU M BAGO CHARCOAL (W ood & Animal) M ANG ANESE / / I M V I f ' T A / / b i t u m i n o u s m a t e r i a l s 1 1 1 V I V ^ I M FOR ROAD CO N STR U C TIO N

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T H O M A S H I L L - J O N E S , L T D .

MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS, INVICTA W O RK S, B O W COM M ON LANE' L O N D O N , E.3.

and at MEESON’S W HARF, BOW BRIDGE, E.I5 :: CONTRACTORS TO H.M. GOVERNMENT T e le p h o n e : E A S T 3285 ( 3 lines). T e le g r a m s : H ill-J o n e s B o c h u rc h , L o n d o n

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Condensable Gas C ircu its Desiccation :: D istillatio n

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SIMPLE C O N STR U C TIO N :: DURABLE ::

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The Chemical Age

A Weekly Journal Devoted to Industrial and Engineering Chemistry

BOUVER1E H O U S E , 154 FLEET S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E.C.4

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N E a s p e c t o f G o v e r n m e n t a c tiv ity

d u r i n g th is w a r w h ic h h a s n o t r e c e iv e d a g r e a t d e a l o f p u b l ic i ty is th e w o r k in g o f th e R o y a l O r d n a n c e F a c to r i e s . E m p l o y i n g c lo s e o n h a l f a m il l io n p e o p le , th e s e f a c to r ie s h a v e p r o v e d o n e o f th e m o s t i m p o r t a n t f a c to r s in th e r e m a r k a b l e m u n itio n s p r o d u c tio n c a p a c i t y d e v e lo p e d in B r i ta i n d u r i n g th e p a s t six y e a r s . B r o a d ly s p e a k in g , th e R o y a l O r d n a n c e F a c to r i e s a r e c o n c e r n e d m a i n l y in th e l i g h t e n g in e e r i n g a n d h e a v y c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r ie s , w h e r e th e y p r o d u c e w e a p o n s a n d m u n itio n s i d e n tic a l w ith th o s e tu r n e d o u t b y p r i v a t e e n t e r ­ p r i s e in th e s a m e in d u s tr ie s .

. V a r ie d r e p o r t s h a v e b e e n r e c e iv e d a n d o p in io n s e x p r e s s e d r e g a r d i n g th e a c t i v i ­

tie s o f th e R o y a l O r d n a n c e F a c to r ie s . F r o m th e a d v o c a te s o f p r i v a t e e n te r p r is e a n d r u g g e d i n d i v i d ­

u a li s m w e h e a r c o m p l a in t s o f th e e x p e n s iv e n a t u r e of G o v e r n m e n t ' w o rk , o f th e a b n o r m a ll y h i g h e a r n i n g s o f th e w o r k p e o p le , o f o v e r- s ta ffin g o f f a c to r ie s , a n d o f c o s tly a u x i l i ­ a r y s e r v ic e s s u c h a s w e l f a r e , m e d ic a l, d e n t a l , a n d e v e n to n - s o r ia l ! O n th e o th e r h a n d , s o b e r a n d r e s p o n s ib le e x e c u tiv e s o f t h e R . O .F . o r g a n i ­

s a tio n g iv e u s c ir ­ c u m s ta n t ia l r e p o r t s o f a b n o r m a ll y lo w c o s t f ig u r e s a c h ie v e d

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in p r o d u c tio n in th e s e facto rieS fi-^ w W e h e a r o f w e a p o n s p r o d u c e d a t p r ic e s v a r y in g f r o m o n e - h a lf to o n e - th ir d of th o s e c h a r g e d b y c o m m e rc ia l firm s . P r o c e s s e s h a v e b e e n in tr o d u c e d in th e s e f a c to r ie s b y w h ic h p r o d u c ti o n c o s ts h a v e b e e n c u t to a f r a c t io n o f th o s e p r e v io u s ly c h a r g e d b y p r i v a t e e n te r p r is e . A ll R . O .F . e x e c u tiv e s a g r e e t h a t p r o d u c tio n c o s t f ig u r e s a r e n o t c o m p l e te a s th e y d o n o t i n c l u d e a n y a llo w a n c e f o r i n te r e s t o n c a p i t a l a n d d e p r e c ia t io n o f p l a n t . In t u r n , h o w e v e r , th e y p o in t o u t t h a t s i m il a r c o n d itio n s a p p ly in m a n y o f th e c o m ­ m e r c ia l firm s w h o s e f a c to r y e x te n s io n s w e re b u i l t a n d p l a n t i n s t a l l e d a t th e G o v e r n m e n t ’s e x p e n s e .

I f th e s e c la im s f o r lo w p r o d u c tio n c o s ts a r e i n c o r r e c t, th e y a r e d o in g a d is s e r v ic e to B r i ti s h l i g h t e n g in e e r i n g tr a d e s a n d to th e h e a v y c h e m ic a l i n ­ d u s tr y . I f th e c la im s a r e t r u e , o n th e o th e r h a n d , th e y c o n s titu te a g r a v e c r itic is m o f tw o d if f e r e n t b r a n c h e s o f o u r i n d u s t r y w h ic h m u s t g iv e u s s e r i ­ o u s ly to th in k . I f t h e R o y a l O r d n a n c e F a c to r ie s e n g a g e d in th e l i g h t e n g in e e r i n g b r a n c h e s a r e , in f a c t, c a p a b le o f t u r n i n g o u t w e a p o n s i d e n t i ­ c a l in d e s ig n a n d fin is h w ith th o s e f r o m p a r a l l e l t r a d e o r g a n is a t i o n s , b u t a t a p r ic e s u b s ta n t ia l ly 340

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34° T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ap r i l 2 1 , 1 9 4 5 lo w e r — c o n s i d e r a b ly lo w e r t h a n th e

d if f e r e n c e b e tw e e n p r o f it a n d n o n - p r o f it

— w h a t d e d u c tio n s f o llo w ? H a s B r itis h l i g h t e n g i n e e r i n g f a il e d to p r o g r e s s w ith , t h e tim e s , h a v e o u r i n d u s t r i a l i s t s n o t p o s s e s s e d th e d r i v e a n d i n i t i a t i v e n e e d e d f o r p r o g r e s s a n d a d v a n c e m e n t, h a v e th e l a t e s t ty p e s o f m a c h in e s a n d t h e n e w e s t m e th o d s o f m a s s p r o d u c ti o n n o t b e e n a d o p te d ? O r h a s th is i n d u s t r y f a il e d to a t t r a c t th e n e c e s s a r y c a p i t a l to e ffe c t th e s e i m p r o v e m e n ts ? T h e p l e a t h a t h i g h la b o u r c o s ts a n d th e o b l ig a t io n to p r o v id e c a n te e n , w e lf a r e , a n d r e c r e a ­ t io n a l f a c i li t ie s h a v e im p o s e d n e e d le s s b u r d e n s , w h ic h w i l l d i s a p p e a r w ith a b n o r m a l w a r - tim e c o n d itio n s , w ill n o t b e a r a m o m e n t’s e x a m in a tio n .

I n th e R o y a l O r d n a n c e F a c to r i e s w a g e s h a v e b e e n h i g h , a l t h o u g h to a d m i t t h is is n o t to s u p p o r t s o m e o f th e f a n t a s t i c f ig u r e s so f r e e l y b a n d ie d a b o u t.

C a n te e n p r o v is io n s h a v e b e e n o n a v e r y e x te n s iv e s c a le W e l f a r e h a s b e e n e x ­ te n d e d in a l l d ir e c tio n s a n d in c lu d e s th e p r o v is io n o f m e d ic a l, d e n t a l , a n d c h ir o p o d y f a c ilitie s . C e n tr e s in th e c o u n tr y s id e h a v e b e e n ' s e c u r e d f o r th e r e s t a n d c o n v a le s c e n c e o f w o r k p e o p le w h o h a v e f a ll e n i ll . S u c h s e r v ic e s c o st m o n e y — a lo t o f m o n e y — y e t w h ile a d ­ m i t t i n g a l l th is o u r f r i e n d s in th e R o y a l O r d n a n c e F a c to r i e s s t i l l m a i n t a i n t h e i r c la im s f o r lo w c o s t o f p r o d u c tio n . I s th e r e a n i g g e r i n th e w o o d - p ile ? I f so , h e m u s t Ire d is c o v e r e d . O r is i t t h a t B r i ti s h i n d u s t r y h a s s o m e le s s o n s to l e a r n ? I n th e s e a r c h f o r w o r ld m a r k e ts f o r o u r e x p o r ts in th e p o s t- w a r y e a r s th e l i g h t e n g i n e e r i n g i n d u s t r y m u s t b e w e ll to t h e f o r e . T o o l o n g h a v e w e g o n e o n p u t t i n g a l l o u r e g g s in th e o n e b a s k e t o f h e a v y in d u s t r y . O t h e r o u t le t s m u s t b e f o u n d . H a v e th e R o y a l O r d n a n c e F a c to r i e s s h o w n s o m e o f t h e w a y s in w h ic h t h i s d iffic u lt ta s k m a y be, d o n e ?

W e s u g g e s t t h a t a t t h is s t a g e o f th e w a r n o h a r m a n d a lm o s t c e r t a i n l y a g r e a t d e a l o f g o o d c a n b e d o n e t h r o u g h a n i n v e s ti g a ti o n b y a n in d e p e n d e n t b o d y c h a r g e d to d is c o v e r th e t r u t h o f th e s e c o n f lic tin g c la im s . T h e S e le c t C o m m it­

te e o n N a t i o n a l E x p e n d i t u r e h a s d o n e v a lu a b l e s e r v ic e in t h e p a s t b y b r i n g i n g to t h e p u b l ic n o tic e th e t r u t h a b o u t- th e c o s t a n d n e c e s s ity f o r t h e p r o d u c ti o n o f v a r io u s e s s e n t ia l c o m m o d itie s . O n th e r e c o m m e n d a tio n s o f t h is C o m m itte e c e r ­ t a i n in e ffic ie n t a n d u n e c o n o m ic p r o c e s s e s

h a v e b e e n s h u t d o w n a n d p r o d u c ti o n c o n c e n tr a t e d in th e m o r e e ffic ie n t a n d e c o n o m ic p l a n t s . I s t h e r e a n y r e a s o n w h y th is c o m m itte e s h o u ld n o t b e g iv e n th e t a s k o f i n v e s t i g a t i n g p r o d u c ti o n c o s ts o f— s a y — f o u r t y p ic a l g u n s , e .g . , th e w e ll- k n o w n 6 - p o u n d e r ta n k a n d a n ti- ta n k g u n , t h e h e a v i e r 17- p o u n d e r fo r th e s a m e p u r p o s e s , a l i g h t a n ti- a ir c r a f t) g u n , a n d a h e a v y c a l i b r e m a c h in e g u n ? L e t th e R o y a l O r d n a n c e F a c to r i e s b e ju d g e d o n a n e co n o m ic! b a s is b y th e f in d in g s o f th is C o m m itte e . L i t t l e b l a m e a n d a g r e a t d e a l o f p r a is e m u s t b e m e te d o u t to t h e R o y a l O r d n a n c e F a c t o r i e s f o r th e a c t u a l p r o d u c ti o n jo b th e y d id a t a v e r y g r i m h o u r in o u r h is to r y . N o w is th e tim e to a s s e s s t h e i r p e r f o r m a n c e , f r o m a s t r i c t e c o n o m ic p o i n t o f v ie w , a lo n g s id e t h e i r c o m p e tito r s in p r i v a t e e n te r p r is e . I f i t c a n b e p r o v e d t h a t th e s e f a c to r ie s a r e in g e n e r a l m o r e e ffic ie n t a n d c o n s e ­ q u e n tl y m o r e e c o n o m ic th a n th o s e o f p r i v a t e e n te r p r is e , th e n th e n a ti o n is in p o s s e s s io n o f a m o s t v a lu a b l e i n d u s t r i a l a s s e t w h ic h it m u s t n o t l i g h t l y l e t g o , a n d f r o m w h ic h B r i ti s h i n d u s t r y h a s m a n y le s s o n s to l e a r n .

P arliam entary T opics

P a te n ts E x te n sio n

I

N th e H o u s e o f C om m ons la s t w eek, S ir W . D av iso n a sk ed th e P r e s id e n t of th e B o a rd o f T r a d e w h e th e r his a tte n tio n h a d been d ra w n to th e h a rd s h ip s su ffered b y p a te n te e s in h av in g th e p erio d fo r w hich th e p a te n t w as g ra n te d c u rta ile d b y th e w a r ; a n d w h e th e r ste p s w ould be ta k e n to ex te n d p a te n ts ta k e n o u t d u rin g th e w a r fo r th e p e rio d d u rin g w hich th e w a r h a d m ad e th em in o p e ra tiv e .

M r. D a lto n : U n d e r S e c tio n 18 o f th e P a te n ts a n d D esig n s A ct, a p a te n te e w ho h a s suffered loss o r d am ag e b y re a so n of h o s tilitie s m ay a p p ly to th e C o u rt fo r an ex te n sio n o f th e te rm o f h is p a te n t. T h e P a te n ts C om m itee, w h ich I a p p o in te d la s t y e a r, h a s m ad e a n in te rim r e p o r t d e a lin g w ith th is p o in t.

M o n o p o ly L e g isla tio n

S ir G eoffrey M a n d e r, w ho ask e d w h a t actio n th e G o v ern m en t propose to ta k e to c a rry o u t S e c tio n 54 of th e W h ite P a p e r on E m p lo y m en t p e rta in in g to th e a c tiv itie s o f m o nopolies, w as r e fe r r e d , b y M r. D a lto n , to a re p ly h e gave on M a rch 27 (see T h e C h e m i c a l A g e , A p ril 7).

H y d ro ca rb o n s C o m m itte e R e p ly in g to S ir S ta n le y R eed , th e C h a n ­ ce llo r sa id t h a t th e re co m m e n d a tio n s o f th e A y re C om m ittee w ere u n d e r c o n sid e ra tio n .

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Ap r i l 2 1 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 341

N O T E S A N D

More Science in the House

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N D E P E N D E N C E s e e m s to b e p a y ­ in g . T h e r e t u r n o f S i r J o h n B o y d O r r a s M .P . f o r th e S c o ttis h U n i v e r s i ti e s w ith a h a n d s o m e m a j o r i ty o f 12,000 is s ig n if ic a n t i n m o r e w a y s th a n o n e . In th e f ir s t p la c e th e s m a ll b a n d o f e m in e n t s c ie n tis ts in P a r l i a m e n t w ill b e v a s t ly s tr e n g th e n e d b y th e r e in f o r c e m e n t o f a p r o f e s s o r o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d a n e x p e r t in n u t r i t i o n ; s e c o n d , a n d e v e n m o re im p o r ­ t a n t , is t h e f a c t t h a t S ir J o h n h a s b e e n r e tu r n e d a s a n I n d e p e n d e n t. H e is n o t c o n f e s s e d ly a S c o ttis h N a t i o n a l i s t , lik e th e w i n n e r o f th e M o th e r w e ll b y - e le c tio n , b u t h e h a s s ta te d t h a t “ th e p e o p le a t W e s tm i n s t e r d o n o t r e a l is e t h e e x te n t to w h ic h S c o t la n d is s u f f e r in g a s e n s e o f in ju s tic e a n d f r u s t r a t i o n . ” E le c t o r s o f th e S c o ttis h U n i v e r s i ti e s h a d b e e n u r g e d b y M r. C h u r c h il l to v o te f o r th e L ib e r a l N a t io n a l c a n d i d a t e ; t h a t m o s t o f th e m d id n o t d o so is n o t a b lo w d ir e c te d a t M r. C h u r c h il l , s in c e S ir J o h n O r r h a s n e v e r e x p r e s s e d th e s l i g h t e s t h o s t i l i t y to th e P r i m e M in is te r . W h a t it a p p e a r s to u s to i n d ic a te is t h a t e le c to r s a r e n o t g o i n g to b e b o u n d b y a n y p a r t y c o n fin e s.

T h e y a r e p e r h a p s a c t u a t e d b y th e m o tiv e w h ic h S i r J o h n m e n tio n s : “ to e n c o u r ­ a g e . . . I n d e p e n d e n t c a n d i d a t e s to g iv e e x p r e s s io n in t h e H o u s e to th e g r e a t c o n tr i b u t io n w h ic h s c ie n c e a n d l e a r n i n g c a n m a k e to th e s o lu tio n o f th e t r e m e n d ­ o u s p o l it i c a l a n d s o c ia l p r o b le m s w h ic h fa c e u s . ” W e s u g g e s t t h a t it n e e d n o t b e o n l y in th e U n i v e r s i ty c o n s titu e n c ie s t h a t s u c h c a n d i d a t e s s h o u ld s ta n d .

Hydrocarbon Oil Duties

O T H I N G le s s th a n th e e s t a b l i s h ­ m e n t o f a n e w c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y in th is c o u n tr y is e n v is a g e d b y th e r e p o r t o f t h e A y re C o m m itte e o n H y d r o c a r b o n O il D u t i e s , w h i t h w a s p u b lis h e d l a s t w e e k a n d is e x te n s i v e l y r e v ie w e d f u r t h e r on in th e c o lu m n s o f t h is is s u e . I f th e r e c o m ­ m e n d a tio n s o f th e c o m m itte e a r e a d h e r e d to , d o m e s tic p r o d u c e r s o f l i g h t a n d h e a v y o ils f r o m c o a l a n d a l l i e d m a t e r i a l s w ill b e s a f e g u a r d e d b y th e p a y m e n t to . c h e m ic a l m a n u f a c t u r e r s o f g d . a g a ll o n f o r l i g h t o il a n d id . p e r g a l l o n f o r h e a v y o il u s e d a s r a w m a t e r i a l s in c h e m ic a l s y n th e s is . I f th e a c t u a l o il p r o d u c e r s a r e c h e m ic a l m a n u f a c t u r e r s a s w e ll, th e y

C O M M E N T S

a ls o w o u ld r e c e iv e th e s e a llo w a n c e s . A p e r u s a l o f th e l i s t o f w itn e s s e s f r o m w h o m e v id e n c e w a s t a k e n w ill c o n v in c e th e r e a d e r t h a t th e c o n c lu s io n s o f th e c o m m itte e h a v e n o t been* l ig h t l y a r r i v e d a t ; h o t o n ly h a v e th e c h e m ic a l a n d o il in d u s t r ie s b e e n c o n s u lte d , b u t a ls o a n u m b e r o f i n te r e s t e d a s s o c ia tio n s , i n ­ c lu d i n g th e A .B .C .M ., a n d s e v e r a l i n d iv i d u a l c o n s u l ta n t s . F a r t h o u g h th e r e c o m m e n d a tio n s o f th e c o m m itte e g o , th e y d o n o t g o a l l th e w a y to w a r d s th e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a c o m p le te o r g a n ic c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y b a s e d o n p e tr o le u m c h e m ic a ls ; n o g e n e r a l s u r v e y h a s y e t b e e n m a d e o f a c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y b a s e d o n c r u d e - o il r e f in in g in t h is c o u n tr y . I n th is r e s p e c t i t is p e r h a p s b e tt e r n o t to b e i m p a t ie n t — i t is w e ll t h a t th e firs t s te p h a s b e e n ta k e n .

Tar D istillers’ Interests

U

S E o f i n d ig e n o u s o ils p r e s e n ts a d if f e r e n t p r o b le m , a n d th e c o m m itte e s a w t h a t it w o u ld b e in a c c o r d a n c e n e it h e r w ith th e n a ti o n a l i n te r e s t n o r w ith th e g u a r a n t e e o f p r e f e r e n c e a l r e a d y g iv e n to r e q u ir e d o m e s tic o il p r o d u c e r s to s u p p l y r a w m a t e r i a ls to t h e c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y a t a r e d u c e d p r i c e a n d to b e a r th e c o s t o f th is r e d u c t io n th e m s e lv e s . H e n c e th e a llo w a n c e to c h e m ic a l m a n u ­ f a c t u r e r s u s i n g in d ig e n o u s o ils in c h e m i­

c a l s y n t h e s i s ; it is i m p o r t a n t t h a t th e m a n u f a c t u r e o f th e p u r e r g r a d e s o f b e n ­

zol r e q u ir e d b y th e c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y s h o u ld c o n ti n u e in t h is c o u n tr y . C o m ­ m e n t i n g o n th e p o s s ib le lo s s o f r e v e n u e to th e t a r d i s t i l l e r c o n s e q u e n t u p o n th e ie d u c t io n in th e p r i c e o f b e n z o l, a n d th e r e s u l t a n t f a l l in th e p r i c e o f s y n th e tic c h e m ic a l p r o d u c ts , in c lu d in g , n o n - h y d r o - c a r b o n p r o d u c ts d e r iv e d d i r e c tl y f ro m t a r , th e c o m m itte e s t a te s t h a t th e i n t e r ­ e s ts o f t h e t a r d i s t i l l e r s h a v e b e e n k e p t in m in d , a n d t h a t th e p r ic e r e d u c tio n s in s y n th e tic m a t e r i a l s s h o u ld n o t in f lic t s e r io u s i n j u r y o n th e t a r d i s t i l l a t i o n i n ­ d u s tr y . I t is n o te d t h a t o u r e x p o r t t r a d e h a s s u f f e r e d f r o m t h e h i g h c o s t o f ra rv m a t e r i a l s , a n d t h o u g h t h e a n n u a l c o s t, f r o m th e d u tie s , to th e c h e m ic a l in d u s t r y is p u t a t th e r e l a t i v e l y lo w f ig u r e o f ¿3 7 5 ,000, it is p o in te d o u t t h a t s u c h a f ig u r e c o u ld w e ll h a v e a d e t r i ­ m e n t a l e ffe c t in a c o m p e titiv e e x p o r t

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m a r k e t. T h e c o s t o f e x e m p t in g o ils fr o m d u ty w o u ld p r o b a b ly b e c o u n te r ­ b a la n c e d b y a n i n c r e a s e d d e m a n d fro m th e c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y f o r o ils , a n d s h o u ld t h is d e m a n d b e m e t b y g r e a t e r d o m e s tic o u t p u t, th e n th e w h o le o f th e o i l- p r o d u c i n g in d u s t r y w o u ld h a v e b e en h e lp e d in a ll its s ta g e s .

Wool Research

H

I G H i n te r e s t a tt a c h e s to s o m e o f th e f a c ts r e v e a le d in t h e 1944 r e p o r t o f M r. B . H . W il s d o n , D i r e c t o r o f R e s e a r c h o f th e W o o l I n d u s t r i e s R e s e a r c h A s so ­ c ia t io n , is s u e d p r i v a t e l y to m e m b e rs f r o m th e A s s o c ia tio n ’s s ta tio n a t T o r r i - d o n , L e e d s 6. E s p e c i a l l y to p ic a l is th e s o lu tio n o f p r o b le m s in v o lv e d b y th e a d o p ti o n , o n th e p a r t o f th e M in is tr y o f S u p p l y , o f a s t a n d a r d s h a d e o f c h ro m e - d y e d g r e e n f o r tr o p ic a l w o o l c lo th in g . T h e s p e c if ic a tio n r e q u ir e d n o t o n ly a s u ita b le d e g r e e o f r e s is ta n c e to b a c t e r i a l a tt a c k , f o r w h ic h a b n o r m a ll y h i g h c o n ­ c e n t r a t i o n s o f c h r o m e h a d to b e u s e d , b u t a ls o a s a f e c o n tr o l o f th e d e r m a ti t is h a z a r d . S im p le m e th o d s o f w o r k s c o n ­ tr o l w e re s u g g e s t e d , a n d a s s is ta n c e w a s g iv e n in th e s p e e d y c o n f ir m a tio n pf a n a l y t ic a l r e s u lts . A n o th e r p r o b le m i n ­ v e s t ig a t e d is a p h y s io lo g ic a l o n e in th e u se o f w o o l n e x t th e s k in — n a m e ly

“ t i c k l e . ” T h e r e a c tio n c a n b e m o d e r ­ a te d w h e n th e w o o l is g iv e n a c h q m ic a l t r e a t m e n t w ith , e .g ., p a p a i n , b u t n o c la i m fo r th e p r o d u c tio n o f “ n o n - t ic k l e ” w o o l w ill b e m a d e u n t il a s ta tis tic a l s tu d y , i n c l u d i n g s p e c ia lly s e n s itiv e s u b ­ j e c ts , h a s b e e n c o m p le te d .

Treatm ent of Yarn

T

H E “ P e r z y m e ” p r o c e s s , a c o m b in e d p e r o x id e a n d e n z y m e t r e a t m e n t , h a s f o u n d f a v o u r f o r th e c o m m e r c ia l t r e a t ­ m e n t o f h a n d - k n i t t i n g y a r n . S in c e th e o r i g in a l a p p li c a t io n o f e n z y m e t r e a tm e n t a f t e r p e r o x id e b l e a c h i n g , a f u r t h e r s te p f o r w a r d h a s b e e n t a k e n , b y u s i n g m o re d r a s t ic c o n d itio n s fo r p e r o x id e b le a c h i n g , v is . : p Y l 10.5 in th e p re s e n c e o f so d iu m s i l ic a te , i n s te a d o f -pH S .o-q.o. A f te r th e w o o l h a s b e e n b le a c h e d u n d e r th e s e m o re d r a s t ic c o n d itio n s , it b e c o m e s n o n - f e l t i n g m u c h m o r e r a p i d l y u n d e r th e a c tio n o f t h e p a p a i n , a n d a t th e s a m o tim e is le s s e a s ily d a m a g e d b y it. A n i n t e r e s t i n g i l l u s t r a t i o n o f th e w a y in w h ic h th e c h e m ic a l c o m p o n e n ts in to w h ic h w o o l c a n b e s p l i t u p m a y b e v i s u a ll y d e m o n -

342

• s t r a t e d , is p r o v id e d b y a p h o t o g r a p h o f a c h r o m a to g r a m o n a s h e e t o f f ilte r - p a p e r . I n th is th e a m in o - a c id c o n s t it u e n ts o f th e w o o l a r e c le a r l y s h o w n , g i v in g a n e x ­ c e l l e n t id e a o f t h e c o m p le x ity o f th e m a t e r i a l w ith w h ic h M r. W il s d o n a n d h is te a m h a v e to d e a l.

The Shellac Bureau

A

L T H O U G H its l a b o r a to r y , u n d e r th e c a r e o f D r . B . S. G i d v a n i, h a s b e e n t r a n s f e r r e d to E d i n b u r g h , th e L o n d o n S h e l la c R e s e a r c h B u r e a u h a s c o n tin u e d its g o o d w o r k t h r o u g h o u t th e w a r. G e n e r a l ly s p e a k in g , la c k o f s p a c e h a s p r e c l u d e d b u r r e v ie w in g , in r e a l ly a d e q u a te m a n n e r , th e p u b l ic a ti o n s o f u n ­ d o u b te d v a lu e a n d c o n s id e r a b le s c ie n tific i n te r e s t — a n d , it m a y b e s a id , a lw a y s w e ll a n d d i s t in c t iv e l y p r o d u c e d — t h a t h a v e e m a n a te d w ith c o m m e n d a b le f r e q u e n c y f r o m th e p o r t a l s o f th e B u r e a u , b u t t h a t is f a r f ro m i m p l y i n g t h a t o u r o p in io n o f t h e i r u s e f u ln e s s h a s in a n y w a y a lte re d - W e s in c e r e ly h o p e t h a t it w ill n o t b e l o n g b e f o re a r e a s o n a b le s u p p l y o f p a p e r w ill a llo w u s o n c e m o r e to g iv e t h e a tt e n ti o n th e y d e s e r v e to s p e c ia l r e s e a r c h p a m p h ­ le t s o f th is k in d . M e a n w h ile it d o e s n o t s e e m o u t o f p la c e to r e c a ll to o u r r e a d e r s th e a m o u n t o f g o o d w o r k in th is d i r e c ­ tio n t h a t h a s b e e n m a in t a i n e d . T h e m o n th o f M a r c h , 1945, h a s p r o d u c e d a p a r t i c u l a r l y g o o d c r o p : te c h n i c a l p a p e r s e n ti t le d “ A P r o c e s s f o r th e M a n u f a c ­ t u r e o f D e w a x e d L a c ” (N o . 26), a n d

“ L a c - E t h y l C e llu lo s e L a c q u e r s ” (N o . 2 7) h a v e a p p e a r e d u n d e r t h a t d a te , t o g e t h e r w ith B u l le t in N o . 7 , “ D e te r ­ m in a tio n o f V o l a ti l e M a t te r in L a c , ” a l l o f th e m u n d e r th e a u th o r s h ip o f D r . G id v a n i a n d M r. N . R . K a m a th . T h e B u r e a u h a s a ls o p r o d u c e d i ts u s e f u l a n n u a l lis t o f a b s t r a c ts , f o r 1944, r e p r i n t e d f ro m th e P a i n t R e s e a r c h S t a ­ t i o n ’s R e v i e w o f C u r r e n t L i t e r a t u r e , a n d th is , l ik e t h e o th e r s , is o b t a i n a b le fro m th e B u r e a u ’s offices a t I n d i a P lo u s e , A ld w y c h , L o n d o n , W . C .2 .

Ap r i l 2 1 , 1 9 4 5

A com prehensive rep o rt on th e g re a t d e­

posit of m anganese and iron ore a t M orro do U ruenm , M ato G rosso, B razil, is th e la te st product of co o perative stu d ies of m ineral r e ­ sources in L a tin A m erica. T h e rep o rt w as p repared by M r. .T. V. N . D o rr I I , for th e U .S . G eo lo g ical S u rv ey a n d th e B ra z ilia n

D e p a rtm e n t of N a tio n a l P ro d u c tio n . T H E C H E M I C A L A G E

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Ap r i l 2 1 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 343

H ydrocarbon O il D uties

A yre C o m m ittee’s P r o p o sa ls for the C hem ical In d u stry

H

O P E S fo r th e d ev elo p m en t of a new b ra n ch of th e ch em ical in d u s try in th is c o u n try — b ased on th e d e riv a tiv e s of c ru d e oil— a re ra is e d by th e r e p o rt of th e H y d r o ­ c arb o n O il D u tie s C om m ittee p u b lish ed last w eek (H .M .S .O .; 3 d .). I t w ill be rem em ­ b e re d t h a t th e co m m ittee w as fo rm ed jo in tly by th e T re a s u ry a n d th e M in istry of S u p p ly (see T h e C h e m i c a l A g e , 1 9 4 4 , 51 , 141, 2 19) u n d e r th e c h a irm a n s h ip of S ir A m os A yre, w ith S ir J o h n F o x , M r. A. S. M ac h arg , and S ir R o b e rt R o b in so n as m em bers. D r.

C. M. C aw ley, of th e F u e l R e se a rc h S t a ­ tio n , D .S .I .R ., an d M r. G . lim ns, II.M . C ustom s an d E x c ise , serv ed th ro u g h o u t as s e c re ta rie s, a n d D r. W . A. M a c fa rlan e a cted as liaiso n officer w ith th e M in istry of F u e l a n d P o w er. T h e co m m ittee h as ex­

p re sse d g re a t g ra titu d e to th ese officers,, e sp e cially for th e ir e x p e rt te c h n ic a l a s s is t­

ance. T h e c o m m ittee w as ro b b e d by d e a th o f th e serv ices o f S ir J o h n F o x in N ovem ber la s t, b u t th e w ork w as so well a d v an c ed th a t i t w as n o t th o u g h t n ecessary to ask fo r a re p la c e m e n t, esp ecially as S ir J o h n F o x ’s view s w ere fully in a cco rd w ith th o se of the o th e r m em bers.

T e r m s of R eferen ce

T h e T e rm s of R e fere n ce w ere as follow s :

“ T o co n sid er a n d report* u p o n :

(a) th e effect of th e h y d ro c a rb o n oil d u tie s o n th e su p p ly of raw m a te ria ls to , a n d th e d e v elo p m en t of, th e ch em ical in d u s­

try in th is c o u n try so fa r as th e u se of h y d ro c a rb o n s a n d th e ir d e riv a tiv e s is co n ­ c ern ed ;

(b) th e e x te n t to w hich any c h an g e in those d u tie s w ould affect in d u s trie s eng ag ed in th e p ro d u c tio n of sim ila r p ro d u c ts from coal.

T h e co m m en t is m ad e th a t th ese term s w ere n o t ex ten siv e e n o u g h , as th ey do n o t e m b race a g e n era l su rv ey of th e ch em ical in d u s try b ased o n o il refin in g . In th is co n ­ n e ctio n th e c o m m ittee s ta te s :

“ T w o ty p es of refin in g m ay b e d is tin ­ g u ish ed : ‘ g e n e ra l,’ w h ere th e w hole ra n g e of p ro d u c ts , in clu d in g p e tro l, is p ro d u ced fro m c ru d e oil, a n d ‘ sp e c ia lity ' refining, w h e re o n e o r m o re p ro d u c ts a re p ro d u c ed fro m se lec te d fra c tio n s of p e tro le u m . T h is l a t t e r ty p e is a lre a d y ex te n siv ely em ployed in th is c o u n try fo r th e p ro d u c tio n of lu b r i­

c a tin g oil an d b itu m e n . I f g e n e ra l refin in g . . . . w ere c a rrie d o u t, th e ra w m a te ria ls fo r a sy n th e tic chem ical in d u stry w ould be m ad e re a d ily av ailab le. T h e q u estio n of hom e refin in g involves c o n sid e ra tio n s w hich lie fa r o u tsid e th e . . . te rm s of re fe re n c e .”

D e alin g w ith th e effects of th e d u tie s on

th e eh em ical in d u stry an d its d e v elo p m en t, th e c o m m itte e s ta te s :

I t is difficult to assess th e p a s t in h ib ito ry effects of th e d u tie s 011 im p o rted h y d ro ­ ca rb o n oils. T h e re is, h ow ever, little d o u b t th a t th e e x is te n ce o f th o se d u tie s, an d th e fe a r th a t th ey m ig h t at som e fu tu re tim e be ra is e d to u still h ig h e r level, h av e p re v en ted th e d e v elo p m en t in th is c o u n try of new p ro ­ cesses usin g th o se oils as raw m a te ria ls . C e rta in ly , th e re h as b een 110 p a ra lle l in th is c o u n try to th e ex tre m e ly ra p id d ev elo p m en t w hich h as ta k e n p lace in th e U n ite d S ta te s of A m e ric a, a lth o u g h it is n ot suggested th a t fiscal c o n sid e ra tio n s alone a re re sp o n ­ sible.

T h e v isible d ire c t effect of th e h y d ro c a r­

bon oil d u tie s on th e ch em ical in d u s try h as h ith e rto n o t been larg e . T h e re a re , how ­ e v er, tw o eases w h ere evidence h a s been b ro u g h t fo rw a rd of th e p ow erful an d a d ­ v erse effect of th e d u tie s on processes a lre a d y o p e ra te d in th is c o u n try . T h ese a re th e use o f p e tro le u m oils fo r th e m a n u ­ f a c tu re of such p ro d u c ts as w e ttin g -ag e n ts a n d d e te rg e n ts , aud of tu rp e n tin e fo r th e m a n u fa c tu re of so-called “ sy n th e tic ” c am ­ p h o r. C e rta in oil co m p an ies have dev el­

o p ed p ro cesses fo r th e m a n u fa c tu re of w e t­

tin g -a g e n ts a n d d e te rg e n ts from b y -p ro d u cts of th e re fin in g of lu b ric a tin g oil, o r from lo n g -eh a in olefines p ro d u c ed by th e c r a c k ­ ing of p e tro leu m oils. I n b o th c ases d u ty is levied on th e oil so u sed , ev en th o u g h , in th e case of th e b y -p ro d u cts, th e p ro cess u tilise s m a te ria l w hich w ould o th erw ise b e w aste.

T u rp e n tin e , an d p in en e w hich is i ts m ain c o n s titu e n t, a re , d e sp ite th e ir v eg etab le o rig in , d u tia b le a t 9d. p e r g allo n as lig h t h y d ro c a rb o n oils. P in e n e is th e esse n tia l ra w m a te ria l fo r th e m a n u fa c tu re of syn­

th e tic ' c am p h o r an d fo r th is p u rp o se th e ro is no in d ig en o u s s u b s titu te . The- effect o f th e d u ty h a s, in b ro a d te rm s, b e en to offset th e p ro te c tio n given to th e B ritis h m a n u ­ f a c tu r e r in th e hom e m a rk e t by th e d u ty of 10 p e r c en t, ad valorem on im p o rted cam ­ p h o r. A t th e sam e tim e th e ab sen ce u n til 1939 o f an y d ra w b ac k on e x p o rte d cam p h o r o r cellu lo id c o n sid era b ly h a n d ic a p p e d th e m a n u fa c tu re r in h is efforts to o b ta in e x p o rt m ark e ts .

In d irect E ffect of D u tie s

T h e in d ire c t effect of th e h y d ro c a rb o n oil d u tie s on th e ch em ical in d u s try h as u n q u e s­

tio n a b ly b e en c o n sid era b le . T h is in d ire c t, o r re p e rc u ssiv e , effect is due to th e p ro te c ­ tio n of in d ig en o u s oils a n d to th e fa c t th a t b en zo l, one of th e m ain h y d ro c a rb o n ra w m a te ria ls to th e e x is tin g chem ical in d u s try

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Excellent opportunity with old-established firm for graduate of a recognised university between 25 and 35 years of age, to assist in developing the m anufacture

Must be of good education, fully qualified and about 25-30 years of age— to be personal technical assistant to Director in charne of construction; development and

In general, duties 011 chemical raw materials for industrial purposes were riduced to a fraction of their former rates, and a large number of new

The type of preservative suitable for the prevention of termite attack, and the methods of application, depend to a large extent upon the situations in which