The Journal of Industrial and Engineering Ghemistry
Pu b lish ed b y T H E A M E R IC A N CH E M ICA L S O C I E T Y
A T B A S T O N , P A .
Volume VI N O V EM B ER , 1914 No.
BOARD OF EDITORS Editor:
M .C .
Wh i t a k e rAssistant Editor:
Le o l aE.
Ma r r sAssociate Editors: G. P. Adam son, E. G. B ailey, H. E . B arnard, G. E . B arton , A . V . B leininger, W m . Blum , Wm. B ra d y , C . A . B row ne, F . K . Cam eron, W m . Cam pbell, P . B. C arpen ter, C . E . C asp ari, V . C o b le n tz, W. C . G eer, W . F . H illebrand, W . D. Horne, T . K am oi, A. D. L ittle , C . E . L u cke, P . C . M c llh in e y , J. M . M a tth e w s, T . J. P arke r, J. D. Pennock, Clifford R ichardson, W . D . R ich ard son , G . C . Stone, E. T w itc h e ll, R . W ah l, W . H . W alker, W . R . W hitney, A . M . W right.
P u b lish e d m o n th ly . S ubscription price to non-m em bers of th e A m erican C hem ical S o c ie ty , $ 6.00 yea rly . F oreign postage, sev en ty -fiv e cen ts, C anada. C uba and M e x ico ex c ep te d .
E n te r e d as S eco n d -cla ss M a tter Decembt** 19, 1908, a t th e Post-O ffice a t E a sto n , P a ., und er th e A c t of M a rch 3 , 1879.
C o n tr ib u tio n s s h o u ld be ad d ressed to M. C. W hitaker, C olum bia U n iv e r sit y , N e w Y ork City
C o m m u n ic a tio n s c o n c e r n in g a d v e r tis e m e n ts sh ou ld b e s e n t to T h e A m e r ica n C h e m ic a l S o c ie t y ,
42
W est 3 9 th S t., N e w Y ork C ity S u b s c r ip t io n s a n d c la im s tor lo s t c o p ie s sh o u ld b e relerretf to C harles L. P a r so n s, B o x 5 0 5 , W a sh in g to n , D. C.EscuK N B Acn Pr in t i n o Co m p a n y, Ea s t o n, Pa.
T A B L E O F Ed i t o r i a l s:
R e s e a rc h : W h a t — W h o — W h e r e — W h y ... 88o Or i g i n a l Pa p e r s:
T h e B io c h e m ic a l O x y g e n D e m an d o f Sew ages. B y
A r t h u r L e d e r e r ...7... 882
N o te s o n t h e C o m p o s itio n o f M id c o n tin e n ta l P e tro le u m . B y P . W . B u s h o n g ... 888
E ffe c t o f P r e s su re 011 Y ie ld s o f P r o d u c ts in the D e s tr u c t iv e D is tilla tio n o f H a r d w o o d . B y R . C . P a lm e r ... 890
O ils o f th e C o n ife r a e : I I I . T h e L e a f and T w ig and th e C o iie O ils o f W e s te r n Y e llo w P in e and S u g a r P in e . B y A . W . S c h o r g e r ... 893
T h e E ff e c t o f R e s e n e on th e L a th e r in g o f S oap S o lu tio n s. B y C h a s . H . H c r t y a n d C . W . W illia r d . . . . 895
P r e lim in a r y N o t e o n D y e s an d O th e r P ro d u cts from th e W a s te L iq u o r o f th e S o d a C e llu lo se Process. B y M a r s h a ll P . C r a m ... 896
S o m e R a p id M e th o d s fo r G la s s A n a ly s is . B y E . C . S u lliv a n a n d W . C . T a y l o r ... 897
T h e C o m p o s itio n o f M ilk as S h o w n b y A n a ly se s of S a m p le s o f K n o w n P u r it y M a d e b y th e M assa ch u s e tts S t a t e B o a r d o f H e a lth . B y H erm an n C . L y t h g o e ... 899
S o m e C h a r a c te r is tic s o f C h lo rin e-B le a ch e d F lo u r. B y C . A . A . U t t ... 908
D e te r m in a tio n o f P ru ss ia n B lu e in T e a . B y G . W . K n i g h t ... 9° 9 A n I n v e s tig a tio n o f th e D ia s ta s e o f A lfa lfa and the E ff e c t o f R a p id C u r in g u p o n th e F o o d V a lu e o f A lf a lf a . B y R a lp h C . S h u e y ... 9 10 T h e O rig in o f V a n illin in S o ils— V a n illin in W h e a t a n d in th e W a t e r in w h ich W h e a t Seedling s H a v e G r o w n . B y M . X . S u lliv a n ... 9*9 A n E x a c t a n d E a s y M e th o d fo r P rep arin g a N e u tra l A m m o n iu m C i t r a t e S o lu tio n . B y J. M . M c C a n d - l e s s . . , . ' ... 921 T h e I n flu e n c e o f F in e n e ss u p o n th e A v a ila b ility o f B o n e M e a l. B y S . S . P e c k ... 922 A R a p id M e th o d fo r th e D e te rm in a tio n o f C a m p h o r a n d o f C e r ta in E s s e n tia l O ils w h en in S o lu tio n in A lc o h o l. B y W . B . D . P en n im a n an d W . W . R a n d a ll... 9^6 S t u d y o f th e M e th o d s fo r E x tr a c tio n s b y M e a n s o f Im m is c ib le S o lv e n ts fro m th e P o in t o f V ie w o f th e D is tr ib u tio n C o efficie n ts. I I . B y J. W . H a r d e n a n d V a n n a E l l i o t t ... 9^8 La b o r a t o r y a n d Pl a n t: tt T h e E x p lo s ib ility o f G r a in D u s ts . B y H aro ld H . B r o w n ...934
T h e R e c o v e r y o f th e S p e n t L im e from C a u s tic iz m g O p e ra tio n s . B y J a m e s H . P a y n e ... 937
C O N T E N T S A L a r g e In c u b a to r fo r L a b o r a to r y U s e. B y F . A le x M c D e r m o t t ... 939
A P ro p o sed N e w S ta n d a r d L o o p fo r U s e in B a c te r io lo gical T e s ts o f D is in fe c ta n ts . B y A . D . S t. Jo h n . 940 N o te on S u b s titu te fo r th e B la s t L a m p . B y P a u l J. F o x ... 940
A C o n v e n ie n t F o rm o f W e ig h in g B u r e tte . B y H . S. B a i le y ... 941
Sy m p o s i u m o n Am e r i c a n Dy e In d u s t r y: I n tr o d u c to ry . B y C h a irm a n A lle n R o g e r s ... 941
D y e s tu ffs an d T e x tile I n d u s tr y . B y J. M e r r it t M a t t h e w s ... 942
C a m p a ig n fo r A m e ric a n D y e s t u ff In d u s try . B y A r th u r P r ill... 945
C o a l T a r C o lo rs o f A m e ric a . B y I. F . S t o n e ... 946
N e e d s o f th e T e x tile I n d u s try . B y A lfre d L . L u s tig . 950 T h e P o s itio n o f th e A m e ric a n T a r D is tille r. B y D . W . J a y n e ... 952
R e lie v in g th e D y e s tu ff C risis. B y B e rn h a rd C . H e sse 953 C u r r e n t I n d u s t r i a l N e w s : T h e P r e s id e n t's A d d re ss b e fo re th e C h e m ic a l S e ctio n o f th e B ritis h A s s o c ia tio n fo r th e A d v a n c e m e n t o f S cie n ce ; P a t e n t M ed ic in e s in G r e a t B r it a in ; B ritis h F o re ig n T r a d e in A u g u s t; S o m e D a t a o f G e rm a n and A u s tria n F o re ig n T r a d e ; G e rm a n R a ilr o a d M a n a g e m e n t; G e rm a n C h e m ic a l In te r e s ts in R u s s ia ; T h e M a t c h In d u s tr y in R u s s ia ; T e m p e r a tu r e C o n d itio n s in C o k e O v e n s ; T h e D is p o sa l o f R e s id u a ls in G a s an d C o k e P la n ts ; U n ite d S ta te s M in e r a l O il E x p o r ts ; T e s tin g M o to r -C a r s w ith T o w n G a s ; S p e lte r; M in in g in S o u th A fr ic a ; P la tin u m O re in S o u th e rn N e v a d a ; S a n ita tio n in V e r a C r u z ; N o t e . . 953
No t e s a n d Co r r e s p o n d e n c e: N o te 011 A n tis e p tic s ; N o t e on W a t e r P u rific a tio n b y O zo n e; W a te r P u rific a tio n b y O zo n e — w ith R e p o r t o f A n n A rb o r P la n t— N o t e ; P r e lim in a r y N o t e on Iro n in F lo rid a S o ils; N o te o n C o lo rim e tr ic M e th o d fo r V a n a d iu m ; L u b r ic a n t fo r S to p c o c k s , e t c .; T h e A m e ric a n In s titu te o f M in in g E n g in e e rs ; T h e N a tio n al C o u n c il fo r I n d u s tria l S a f e ty ; A m e ric a n L e a th e r C h e m is ts ’ A s s o c ia tio n ; T h e
Chemical
S o cieties in N e w Y o r k C i t y ... 958P e r s o n a l N o t e s ... 961
G o v e r n m e n t P u b l i c a t i o n s ... 963
B o o k R e v i e w s : C h e m is try in A m e ric a ; C h e m ic a l R e a g e n ts; S a m m lu n g V ie w e g , H e ft 2. A n o rg a n isc h e P e ro x y d e un d P e rs a lz e ; R a p id M e th o d fo r th e C h e m ic a l A n a ly s is o f S p e c ia l S te els, S te e l-m a k in g A llo y s , a n d G r a p h it e ... 966
N e w P u b l i c a t i o n s ... 968
R e c e n t I n v e n t i o n s ...969
M a r k e t R e p o r t ... 970
88o T H E J O U R N A L O F I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y Vol. 6, No. n
EDITORIALS
R E S E A R C H
W H A T — W H O — W H E R E — W H Y
In d u strial d evelo p m e n t, of th e so rt th a t com es w ith new and b e tte r processes, m aterials, and m ach in ery to g e th e r w ith im p ro ve d m ethods of m an ip u latio n and p ro d u ctio n , in d ep en d en t of th e influences of dom estic and foreign trad e relatio n s, ta riff or financial system s or legislation , m u st, as it a lw a y s has, dep end d ire ctly on th e s y ste m a tic search in gs of th e engineers, ch em ists and p h ysicists fam iliar w ith present sh o rtcom in gs and w ith th e p o ssibilities of th e ir elim in ation . T h e u rgen t need of such d evelo p m e n t w ork has been re p e ate d ly d em on stra te d b y both ch em ists and engineers for m an y years, b u t, it m ust be confessed, w ith b u t little effect on those responsible for th e ap p ro p riatio n s w ith o u t w hich it rem ains as im possible as if th e need .were n o t recognized nor the n ecessary ta le n t a va ila b le . T h e need is real and th e ta le n t is to be h ad, th erefore, a n y la c k of p ro g
ress can be d ire ctly traced to la c k of a b ility to con vin ce finan cial m an agem en ts th a t th e em p lo ym e n t of the ta le n t is n ecessary or th a t it will be profitable.
A n y th in g t h a t w ill serve to help ou t th is situ a tio n by d em o n stratio n or a rgu m en t is w orth w hile and w o rth y of en co u ragem en t on th e b ro ad est grounds. Such, for ex a m p le, is th e presidential address of M r. A . D . L ittle , d irected p a rticu la rly to w a rd th e ch em ical in d u stries and m ore esp ecially to w a rd th e d evelo p m en t of ch em ical p ro d u cts and processes rath er th a n th e en gin eering n ecessarily in v o lv e d to m ake these in d u s
trial realities.
T h e ex te n t of th e influence of th is address needs no b e tte r d em o n stratio n th an th e ed ito rial notice g iv e n to it b y th e m ost excellen t and c o n serv a tive E n g lish jo u rn a l, Engineering (q u oted in fu ll b elow ).
U n fo rtu n a te ly som e of th e force of M r. L it tle ’s argu m en ts and th e fu n d a m en ta l im p o rtan ce of th e thing h a ve been lost in su b seq u en t q u ib b les o ver th e m eaning of th e w ord “ research ,” used b y him as a nam e for th e general and sy ste m a tic finding of rem edies for existin g fa u lts in th e m aterials, processes, m ach in ery or m ech anical eq u ip m en t of in d u strial plants. T h e tro u b le arises from th e fa c t th a t th e te rm has been for so long used in a n arrow acad em ic sense, en tirely d ivo rced from com m ercial u tility , b y m en calling th em selves scien tific and regardin g a n y search for kn ow ledg e as proper research on ly w hen th e resu lt has no m on ey va lu e . Is it a n y w onder, th e n , th a t a te m p est in a te a p o t has arisen, first, on th e p a rt of th e sch ool
m asters and th e ir k in d , w ho o b ject to th e desecration of th e ir sacred “ re se a rch ” for th e v u lg a r procedure of
‘trad e and m o n ey-m ak in g, and th en on th e p a rt of . financiers of th e in d u stries w ho fear th a t M r. L ittle is u rging th e m to spend m on ey for th a t sort o f research w hich its oldest a d v o ca te s insist m ust not y ie ld returns if tru e and proper.
REAL V S, ACADEMIC RESEARCH
" I n a r e c e n t p r e s id e n tia l a d d re ss t o th e A m e r ic a n C h e m ic a l S o c ie t y , M r . A . D . L i t t le e m p h a siz e d th e im p o rta n c e o f r e
se a rc h w o r k in in d u s tr ia l o p e ra tio n s , a n d if th e term can be r ig h t ly in te rp r e te d fe w w ill c a re t o d is p u te h is contention.
T h e te r m ‘ re s e a rc h ’ is, h o w e v e r, a m u c h a b u se d one, and by c h e m ists, a t a n y la t e , is g e n e r a lly m a d e t o c o v e r n o t on ly in
v e s tig a tio n s o f fu n d a m e n ta l im p o r ta n c e , s u c h a s th o se of W illard G ib b s in to c h e m ic a l a n d p h y s ic a l e q u ilib riu m , b u t also mere m e a s u re m e n ts b y so m e th ir d -y e a r s tu d e n ts o f, s a y , th e refrac
t iv e in d ice s o f a series o f c o m p o u n d s, w o rk , w h ic h th o u g h possibly q u ite v a lu a b le , c o u ld b e e q u a lly e ffic ie n tly e ffe c te d b y a gro cer’s a p p r e n tic e . I n fa c t, m e a s u re m e n ts a s f u lly e n title d as these to b e cla s s e d a s re se a rch a re m a d e a s a p a r t o f th e d a ily routine a t e v e r y g lo w -la m p fa c t o r y , w h e r e c a n d le -p o w e rs a re m easured a n d c h e c k e d b y g irls k n o w in g a s m u c h o f o p tic s a s a co w docs o f th e ca lc u lu s.
TR UE RESEARCH WORK NOT LIMITED TO LABORATORIES
" I n c o m m o n p a rla n c e , th e te rm 'r e s e a r c h ' is a ccord ed to a n y in v e s tig a tio n s m a d e in a s p e c ia lly e q u ip p e d laboratory, a n d b y a s p e c ia l s ta ff, w h ile it is re fu se d to , p erh ap s, more fu n d a m e n ta lly o rig in a l a n d in tr in s ic a lly m o re v a lu a b le w ork c a rrie d o u t in th e d ra w in g o ffice o r in th e w o r k s w ith im provised a p p a ra tu s . M r . L i t t le w a s less e c le c tic t h a n th is in his ow n use o f th e te rm , a n d in c lu d e d a m o n g re se a rc h w o rk e rs those in
g e n io u s m e c h a n ic s w h o h a v e d e v e lo p e d a g r ic u ltu r a l m achinery, o r s u c h u se fu l d e v ic e s a s th e W e s tin g h o u s e b r a k e a n d th e m ethods a n d in s tr u m e n ts a s s o c ia te d w it h th e e le c tric te le g ra p h . W ith th is v ie w , th o u g h i t is n o t th e c o m m o n ly a c c e p te d one, w e fully ag re e . A d r a u g h ts m a n w h o sch e m e s a n e w la y o u t fo r a m achine sh o p o r a m e c h a n ic w h o ‘ p r a c t ic a liz e s ’ a m ach in e to o l is, in fa c t, m o re t r u ly e n g a g e d in re se a rc h w o r k th a n a ch e m ist who sh o w s, s a y , t h a t in a c e r ta in o rg a n ic c o m p o u n d one halogen m a y r e p la c e a n o th e r.
GERMANY LEADS IN LABORATORY, NOT IN TRUE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
" I f , h o w e v e r, th e te rm ‘ r e s e a r c h ’ b e in te r p r e te d on th is com- p ie h e n s iv e b a sis, w e th in k fe w w ill b e p re p a re d to con cede to G e r m a n y th e p re-e m in e n ce in re se a rch w h ic h M r . L i tt le claim s fo r h er. S u c h a c la im is d e fe n s ib le o n ly w h e n th e te rm is lim ited, w e m ig h t a lm o s t s a y d e g ra d e d , t o c o v e r a la b o r a to r y work s o le ly , o fte n p a r ta k in g la r g e ly o f a r o u tin e c h a ra c te r . Un- d o u b te d ly m u c h v e r y v a lu a b le w o r k h a s issu e d fro m G erm an la b o ra to r ie s , b u t it c a n h a r d ly b e c la im e d t h a t a n y u n du e p ro p o r tio n o f th e m a n y g r e a t a d v a n c e s m a d e in v a r io u s d ep art
m e n ts o f a p p lie d s c ie n c e d u r in g t h e p a s t fe w y e a r s h a v e thus o rig in a te d . T h e D ie s e l en g in e , fo r in s ta n c e , is b a la n c e d b y the te le p h o n e , a n d in c a n d e s c e n t g a s lig h tin g b y th e e le c tric gtow la m p .
THE BORN INVESTIGATOR VS. THE PAID FACTORY RESEARCH
DEPARTM ENT
“ I t se e m s t o u s t h a t re se a rc h w o rk o f v a lu e c a n g e n e ra lly be d iv id e d in to t w o c la sse s. In th e firs t p la c e , p io n eerin g re
se a rch e s, in w h ic h th e m a n is e v e r y th in g , a n d th e e q u ip m e n t rela
t i v e l y u n im p o r ta n t. B e h in d th e s e p io n eers co m e, h ow ever, a w h o le a r m y o f o th e r in v e s tig a to r s , w h o , b y p a tie n t an d in te lli
g e n t in d u s tr y , d e v e lo p th e re g io n s o p e n e d b y th e m en o f superior g e n iu s. R e s e a r c h w o r k o f th is se co n d k in d le a d s o fte n to v ery v a lu a b le re s u lts . I t is, h o w e v e r, la r g e ly a m a t t e r o f exp en d itu re a n d o r g a n iz a tio n , a n d c a n a lm o s t b e b o u g h t in th e o p e n m ark et, a s if i t w e re a m a te r ia l c o m m o d ity . T h e la b o r is v e r y great, so t h a t th e c r e d it fo r th e r e s u lt a c h ie v e d a p p e r ta in s a s m uch to th o se b o ld e n o u g h to fin a n c e th e w o r k a s to th o s e w h o m a k e the a c tu a l o b s e r v a tio n s a n d m ea su re m e n ts. M r . C a rn e g ie w as, w e b e lie v e , th e firs t ste e l m a k e r in A m e r ic a t o e m p lo y a w orks ch e m is t, a n d h e h a s s t a te d t h a t th e v e n tu r e p r o v e d h ig h ly profit-
Nov., 1914 T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y 881
able, sin ce it w a s fo u n d t h a t b y p u rch a sin g ore b y a n alysis, rather th a n b y re p u ta tio n , v e r y la rg e econom ies w ere realized.
N o one, h o w e v e r, c o u ld c o n te n d t h a t g re a t in sigh t in to ch em ical theories an d p h y s ic a l f a c t s is n eed ed fo r th e a n a lysis of a n iron ore. C a re , in d u s t r y a n d a v e r a g e in tellig en ce are th e m ain es
sentials, a n d su ch q u a litie s a re n o t sp e c ia lly uncom m on, w h ile genius is se ld o m o n sa le .
" T h o u g h in o n e p a r t o f h is a d d ress M r . L ittle seem s to ta k e , as sta te d , a c o m p re h e n s iv e v ie w a s to w h a t co n stitu tes research, in m uch o f it h e w o u ld a p p e a r to h a v e m ost s y m p a th y w ith th e kind t h a t c a n b e o rg a n iz e d in a w o rk s la b o ra to r y , and he m ak es a special p le a fo r m o re w o r k o f th is c h a ia c te r . M u ch u n d o u b t
edly c a n b e e ffe c te d in th is w a y , b u t h o w fa r th e system sh ou ld be extended d e p e n d s v e r y la r g e ly on th e n atu re o f th e in d u s try in v o lve d .”
A d istin ctio n , fre q u e n tly m ade here in A m erica, and found m ore o ften in engineering than chem ical lines, is in d icate d b y th e nam es Research, D evelopm ent and E xp erim e n tal D ep artm en ts. T he Research D e
partm ent, prop er, u n dertakes th e more difficult prob
lems of a broad or general nature w ithout special reference to im m ed iate com m ercial demand, the solu
tion of w hich is m ost obscure and which requires, at least for th e direction, men of the rarer sort with natural tenden cies to w a rd investigation, born research men. D ev elo p m e n t D ep artm en ts, while doing research work also, are p rim a rily concerned w ith perfection of a process or m achine, th e general nature of which is known a t th e s ta r t, and w hich is properly a product of the R esearch D ep artm en t, and generally in the form of a p a te n ta b le in v e n tio n ; th e aim is now to find the best form and m aterials for com m ercial production and use.
The th ird or E xp erim e n tal D ep artm en t m erely per
forms rou tine te sts, th e end and aim of w'hich are data for ch eckin g sp ecification s of q u ality or performance, or for d e te ctin g those defects of routine factory source which an o rd in a ry fa c to ry force can correct: the work of such an exp erim ental departm ent is purely routine, can be learn ed q u ick ly b y anyone and never should be called research a t all— though it often is.
F re q u e n tly it happens th a t one establishm ent cannot afford th ree such departm ents so th at the work is all th ro w n in to one, vario u sly named. Or, con
su ltants are used to su p p ly th e sort of direction required of th e first and second or to en tirely replace them when the co n su ltan t has at com m and suitable apparatus, equipm en t and o rganization , in which case such an independent in v estig a tio n or research establishm ent m ay serve to a d v a n ta g e m any individuals in m any different industries. I t is this sort of thing th a t is now grow in g up as a proper bond between the staffs and lab o rato rie s of our b ette r m echanical, electrical and ch em ical en gineering schools and the industries w ith w hich th e y are concerned. M uch of th e best work now b eing done in th is cooperative w ay by our independent research men or investigators and the ind u strial estab lish m en ts is carried on either in the w orks th em selves or in th e field outside of the pro
ducers’ w orks b u t w ith o u t an y laboratory proper.
T h e im p o rta n t p o in t here is th a t th e place of doing the w ork is of no consequence in comparison w ith the finding of cap ab le men to direct it and keeping them busy to a vo id w aste of good talen t.
INDUSTRIAL LABORATORY VALUES AND LIMITATIONS
“ W e g a th e r t h a t c h e m ists fin d t h a t in th e c h e m ic a l tra d e s n ew ideas c a n b e c o m p le te ly an d s a tis fa c to r ily te s te d in a w o rk s la b o ra to r y . O n e o f o u r le a d in g c o tto n m a n u fa c tu r in g firm s h as also fou n d an o r g a n iz a tio n o f th is c h a r a c te r to b e h ig h ly p r o fit
a b le, h a v in g e sta b lis h e d m a n y y e a r s a g o la v is h ly e q u ip p e d e x p erim en tal w o rk s in w h ic h n e w id e a s a re th o r o u g h ly in v e s tig a te d . N o th in g , h o w ev e r, is p u b lish e d as to th e re su lts a tta in e d . I f a proposed in n o v a tio n p asses s a tis fa c to r y te sts, i t is a d o p te d q u ie t ly and w ith as little p u b lic ity as p ossib le. A s a co n seq u en ce, w h en th e d a ily P ress e x p a tia te s on so m e re m a rk a b le im p ro v e m e n t in in te x tile m eth o d s a s h a v in g b e en r e c e n tly in tro d u c e d a b ro a d , i t is th e case, m ore o fte n th a n n o t, t h a t th e id e n tic a l d e v ic e h a s been in co m m ercial o p e ra tio n fo r y e a r s p a s t in th e fa c to rie s o f th e firm in q u estio n . O th e r B ritis h firm s p u rsu e a sim ila r p o lic y , c a rry in g o u t a v e r y la rg e a m o u n t o f research w o rk o f th is k in d , w h ile sa y in g as little as p o ssib le a b o u t it. S h ee p -d ip m a k e r s , fo r in stan ce, in v e s tig a te , b o th in th e ir la b o ra to r ie s a n d on th e sp o t, th e life-h isto ry an d co u rse o f d e v e lo p m e n t o f in se c t p e sts from e v e ry p a rt o f th e w o rld , b u t n o n e o f th em a d v e rtis e th e fa c t.
“ T h e o rg an ized resea rch la b o r a to r y is n o t, h o w e v e r, so w e ll a d a p te d to th e a r t o f en g in eerin g as to so m e o th e r in d u strie s, th o u g h eve n here it m a y u n q u e s tio n a b ly p r o v e a t tim e s q u ite v a lu a b le . I ts d ra w b a c k s h a v e a tw o fo ld o rig in . In th e first p lace en gin eerin g is a n a rt r a th e r th a n a scien ce. I t s e x p o n en ts a re to be classed w ith o th e r c r e a tiv e m ind s, a n d o n ly th e r o u tin e p o rtio n o f th eir w o rk c a n s a fe ly b e d ele g a te d to o th ers. O n e o f o u r m o st p ro g ressiv e en gin eers h as refu sed fo r th is rea so n to estab lis h in h is w o rk s a research la b o ra to r y fo r th e s o lu tio n o f su ch d ifficu lties a s m a y arise. T h e m an w h o h a s e n co u n te re d th e d ifficu lties g e n e ra lly k n o w s m o re a b o u t it th a n he c a n p u t in w ritin g , o r tra n s fe r to a n o th e r in a n y o th e r w a y . H e is, th e re fo re , in th is e n g in eer’s v ie w , th e p ro p e r m an to find th e so lu tio n , a n d he is a c c o rd in g ly e n co u rag ed to e xp e rim e n t h im self. T h e sy ste m in q u estio n h as p r o v e d h ig h ly su ccessfu l, b u t n o d o u b t th ere are a lso cases w h ere c e rta in in v e s tig a tio n s c a n p r o p e rly a n d c o n v e n ie n tly be c a rrie d o u t on th e lin es a d v o c a te d b y M r . L ittle . A str ik in g e xa m p le o f h ig h ly v a lu a b le w o rk c o n d u c te d in a fa cto r}' research la b o r a to r y is, in fa c t, a ffo rd e d b y th e h is
t o r y o f th e tu n g ste n fila m en t la m p . T h e n u m b e r o f c a se s in w h ich s a tis fa c to ry so lu tio n s o f e n g in eerin g p ro b lem s c a n b e fou n d in th is w a y is, h o w ev e r, lim ite d b y th e c irc u m sta n c e s t h a t en gin eerin g is co n cern ed q u ite as m u ch w ith d y n a m ic s as w ith sta tic s. L a b o r a to r y te sts m a y q u ite e a s ily sh o w t h e c a p a b ilitie s o f a n ew m e ta llic fila m en t la m p o r th e v a lu e o f a n e w d y e-stu ff, b u t in m o re tr u ly m ech a n ica l m a tte r s th e t e s t o f se rv ic e is o fte n th e o n ly r e a lly relia b le one. T h e o rig in al L e e - M e tfo r d rifle, fo r in stan ce, p assed tr iu m p h a n tly th ro u g h th e m o s t se a rch in g te sts t h a t th o se resp o n sib le fo r its d esig n c o u ld c o n c e iv e of, b u t a v e r y fe w m o n th s ’ se rv ic e sh o w e d t h a t M r . T h o m a s A tk in s d ev ised w ith o u t d iffic u lty m u ch m o re t r y in g o rd e als fo r th e w eapon, an d M a r k I. w a s in c o n seq u en ce v e r y r a p id ly su p e r
seded.
“ M o s t o f o u r la rg e firm s t a k e v e r y g re a t p r e c a u tio n s to secu re th e th o ro u g h r e lia b ility o f a n e w p ro d u c t b e fo re d e fin ite ly p la cin g it on th e m a rk e t. In v e r y m a n y ca ses, h o w e v e r, i t is a b s o lu te ly n e c e ssa ry t h a t th e n o v e lt y s h a ll b e te s te d in a c tu a l serv ice , a n d it is n o t a lw a y s e ith e r c o n v e n ie n t o r p o ssib le to effe ct th is a t th e m a k e r ’ s w o rk s. T h e m a c h in e is, th erefo re , te ste d b y sp e cia l a rra n g e m e n t w ith a c u s to m e r a n d is n e ith e r liste d in a c a ta lo g n o r o th erw ise a d v e rtis e d till th is, th e fin a l te st, is co m p le te d .
“ C o n s id e ra tio n s o f th is k in d g r e a t ly r e s tric t th e a p p lic a b ility o f o rg an ized research w o rk in th e field o f m ech a n ica l e n g in e erin g , an d as one co n seq u en ce, th e o p e n in g s offered t o s tu d e n ts fro m te ch n ica l co lleg es are less p ro m isin g th a n t h e y a re in m a n y o th er d ep a r tm e n ts o f in d u s tr y . M a n y su ch s tu d e n ts d o in d ee d find w o rk on th e te st-b e d s o f m a n u fa c tu rin g firm s, o n ly t o d is
88s T H E J O U R N A L O F I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y Vol. 6, No. n
c o v e r a ft e r a y e a r o r tw o t h a t su ch d u tie s o ffer n o p r o s p e c t o f a d v a n c e m e n t, a n d a d d v e r y lit t le t o th e ir k n o w le d g e o f e n g i
n eerin g. In o n e case, a f t e r s p e n d in g so m e y e a r s a t th e t e s t b e d o f a firm o f s te a m tu r b in e b u ild ers, a n e x -s tu d e n t h a d n o t e v e n le a rn ed th e e sse n tia l d iffe re n c e s b e tw e e n a re a c tio n a n d a n im p u lse tu r b in e . S u c h m a tte r s w e re n o t in c lu d ed in th e c u r
r ic u lu m o f h is c o lleg e a t th e d a te o f h is g r a d u a tio n , a n d h e a d d e d lit t le o r n o th in g to th is ig n o ra n c e b y his’ y e a r s o f t e s t in g .”
W ith som e of th is w e can n o t agree, for no m atter how p o o rly th e la b o ra to ry m a y serve th e purpose of p ro fitab le im p ro ve m en t, as is u n d o u b te d ly th e case in m a n y instan ces, and no m a tte r h ow little m a y be th e va lu e of te stin g w o rk to en gin eering gra d u ate s o r 't o th eir em p lo yers, it does n ot fo llo w th a t such con sid eration s g r e a tly restrict th e a p p lic a b ility of or
gan ized research w ork in th e field of m echanical en gi
neering or in a n y oth er branch . T h e d istin ctio n here rests again on n am es; lab o rato rie s as ge n e ra lly u n der
sto o d are n o t essen tial to som e v e ry useful research nor is th e existen ce of a te stin g d ep artm en t proof of th e doing of research w ork. F orces of men m ay spend th e ir live s m akin g con su m p tion te sts of turbin es, stren gth te sts of m etals or d eterm in in g calorific pow ers of fu els in w ell e q u ip p ed lab o rato rie s and im p ro ve related in d u stries n ot one b it, and y e t one m an w ith no la b o ra to ry w h a te v e r m a y stroll leisu rely th ro u gh a few estab lish m en ts or sit a t his desk and e v o lv e an im p ro ve m en t th a t m a y m a te ria lly a d va n ce several industries a t once w hen d evelo p ed , th o u gh before g e ttin g it in sh ape for com m ercial use exp erim ental d ev elo p m e n t w o rk is alm o st u n iv e rsa lly required.
D ep en d in g on th e case, th is w ork m a y be m ost pro fit
a b ly done in lab o rato rie s, in shop or in th e field, b u t it m u st be done. T h e In tern atio n a l H a rvester C o m p a n y has added m ore to im p ro ve m en t of a g ricu ltu ral cond itio ns b y its m achine and im p lem en t d ev elo p m ents th a n a n y o rga n iza tio n in th e w orld, b u t it has no research la b o ra to ry , th o u gh m ain tain in g te stin g and d ev elo p m e n t d ep artm en ts. T h is does n ot m ean th a t it does no research, for such results cou ld n ot be prod u ced w ith o u t research, o n ly it w ould be o b vio u sly a bsu rd to tr y to develop sta n d a rd plow s, and tracto rs to pull th em , su ita b le for e v e ry soil in th e w orld b y a n y la b o ra to ry te sts; th e m achines m ust be plann ed, b u ilt and then tried and stu d ied everyw h ere , th en retu rned to th e shops, ch an ged to correct fa u lts and tried again.
T h e real research men here are those w ho plan and stu d y o p eratio n in th e p lo w in g field, th e o n ly p lace w here it can be stu d ie d , an d w ho th en a n a lyze fa u lts and plan again ; these men spend m ost of th e ir tim e in railroad train s rath er th a n in lab o rato ries; in th e tru e sense th eir la b o ra to ry is th e plow in g field, as it should be.
A m erican s can n o t agree w ith th e id ea th a t th e fo re
man or su p erin ten d en t or en gin eer,, whose primary fu n ctio n is th e p rod u ction , a t lo w est cost, of goods of proper sta n d a rd q u a lity , is th e b est m an to carry on research or d evelo p m e n t w o rk; q u ite to th e contrary, in fa c t he is th e v e ry w orst. T h is is because, first, schem ing a lw a y s occupies th e m ind to th e exclusion of ex ecu tiv e ro u tin e, w hich is his m ain business, and second, b u t v a s tly more im p o rta n t, th e ty p e of mind and train in g th a t b est fits for one is d estru ctive , or exclusive, of the oth er. N o m an w ell a d ap te d to pushing routine econom ic p rod u ction can p o ssibly discover fau lts and rem edies w ith efficien cy, and ce rta in ly the creative m ind th a t can, becom es im p a tie n t w ith production rou tine and so n eglects it.
RESEARCH AND THE PROFESSOR
" E x p e r i e n c e in re se a rc h w o r k is o fte n m a d e a sin e qua non fo r th e h o ld in g o f a p ro fe ssio n a l c h a ir a t c e rta in o f o u r u niversi
ties, a n d if th e w « r d ‘r e s e a r c h ’ b e in te r p re te d in a sufficiently lib e ra l a n d c o m p re h e n s iv e m a n n er, th e c o n d itio n is, w e think, a w ise on e. I n m a n y cases, h o w e v e r, th e c o n d u c t o f a few ex
p e rim e n ts on lu b r ic a tio n o r on e la s tic m o d u li w ill b e cou n ted as re se a rch , th o u g h th e e x p e r im e n te r m a y h a v e d is p la y e d n o deep k n o w le d g e o f e n g in e erin g a n d p h y s ic a l p r in c ip le s, an d be quite in c a p a b le o f g iv in g m a te r ia l a id to th e a d v a n c e m e n t o f th e art.
H e w o u ld , h o w e v e r, o n t h e a b o v e b asis, b e p referre d to a co m p eti
t o r w h o h a d n e v e r m a d e a la b o r a t o r y e x p e rim e n t in his life, b u t h a d b e e n in re sp o n s ib le c h a r g e o f, s a y , th e b rid g e d ep art
m en t o f a la rg e firm .
" O n th e o th e r h a n d , th e r e a r e m en o f e x c e p tio n a l a b ility in r e a lly o rig in a l re se a rch w h o h a v e n o t th e g if t o f com m ending th e m s e lv e s t o s tu d e n ts a n d w h o fa il a c c o r d in g ly t o te ach a n y th in g to a n y b u t a fe w e x c e p tio n a l m en . A t th e sam e tim e th ey m a y d o su ch g o o d w o r k in t h e s t u d y a s t o m o re th a n outw eigh th e ir c la s s ro o m d eficie n cie s so fa r a s th e w o r ld a t la rg e is con c e rn e d , u n fo rtu n a te a s m a tte r s m a y b e fo r th e a v e r a g e stu den t.
I t is im p o r ta n t t h a t w o r k o f th is c h a r a c te r sh o u ld b e done, b ut th e d iffic u lty is to re c o n c ile th e c la im s o f a b s t r a c t te ch n ics w ith th e n o t u n n a tu r a l d e m a n d s o f th e a v e r a g e B r itis h p a re n t. A U n iv e r s it y sh o u ld c e r t a in ly p r o m o te t h e fo rm e r, b u t a s teach in g is a lso o n e o f it s fu n c tio n s , u n d e r g r a d u a te s h a v e a rig h t to de
m a n d t h a t th e ir in te re s ts s h a ll n o t b e w h o lly sa crificed to the c la im s o f re s e a r c h .”
I t is tru e th a t a great m an y d irectors of engineering schools h ave in sisted on a research record for newly ap po in ted men w ith o u t k n o w in g ju s t w h at th e y meant b y the requ irem en t, and w hile som e still do it, times do chan ge and so do stan dards. F ew enlightened schools now fail to recogn ize th a t both teach ers and in vesti
ga to rs are a b so lu te ly necessary on th e staff, and while it m ost com m on ly h app ens th a t a b ility in one line is in v e rse ly p rop ortion al to stren g th in th e other, y e t we know o f q u ite a n um ber of men w ho possess this dual
pow er. C . E .
Lu c k eORIGINAL PAPERS
T H E B I O C H E M I C A L O X Y G E N D E M A N D O F S E W A G E S B y Ar t h u r Le d e r j j r1
R e c e iv e d S ep tem b er 26, 1914
T h is pap er represents th e resu lt of a stu d y of a te st to d eterm in e th e b io ch em ical o xyge n dem and m ade
1 C h e m ist an d B a cte rio lo g ist, th e S a n ita r y D istr ic t o f C hicago.
b y a su b co m m ittee of th e la b o ra to ry section of the A m erican P u b lic H ealth A ssociation .
In terest in this su b ject has re c e n tly been revived
th ro u g h th e ad optio n of sta n d a rd s of perm issible stream
po llu tio n b y th e E nglish R o ya l C om m ission on Sewage
D ispo sal, em bodied in an ap p end ix of th e 8th report of
Nov., 1914 T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y 883 the com m ission. T h e te s t recom m ended by the com
mission w ill be h ereafter referred to as the “ English Incubation T e s t .”
Before I go in to th e details of this test, it seems well to discuss b riefly its m eaning and im portance.
As th e title of th e paper indicates, the oxygen re
ferred to here is th a t u tilized b y microorganisms which take p art in th e decom position of sewage. T o w hat extent the rea ctio n ta k in g place is of a purely biological or chem ical or p h ysica l n atu re is unknown. The process is most p ro b a b ly a com bination of all three forces. In designating p ro p erly a te st, which gives expression to the dem and for o x yge n such as is present in stream s, one can h a rd ly be criticized for using the expression
“ Biochem ical O x yg en D em an d .” T he danger of introducing th e term “ O xygen D em and” alone is th a t it would be so m e w h at confusing w ith the time-honored expression “ O xygen C on su m ed .” We know th a t
“ oxygen con su m ed ” ind icates the perm anganate oxygen required for th e oxidation of a sm all portion of the organic carbo n aceou s m atter. T h is oxidation is a purely ch em ical reactio n and bears no relation w h at
soever to th e “ b io ch em ical” oxygen demand. The biochem ical o x y ge n dem and of a sewage as a rule is much higher th a n th e perm anganate oxygen con
sum ption and th e figures bear absolutely no relation to each oth er. In certain cases th e biochem ical o x y gen dem and m a y be low and the perm anganate oxygen consum ption h igh . T h is m ay occur w ith trade wastes containing organ ic carbonaceous ^preservatives. The principal va lu e of a te st for th e determ ination of the biochem ical o x yg e n dem and in a sewage lies in the fact th a t it is th e best ind icator of w hat m ay be called the “ s tre n g th ” of a sew age. A n yone who has ever em ployed one or th e oth er of such tests is quickly convinced th a t none of th e routine chem ical determ ina
tions heretofore in use can furnish the same inform a
tion. F ro m th e stan d p o in t of stream pollution it means v e ry little to th e sa n ita ry engineer and chemist to know how m uch organic nitrogen or “ oxygen con
sum ed” or chlorine a certain sew age will add to the stream . T h e y are interested in th e am ount of oxygen th at will be absorbed in th e stream , particularly during the first stretch after discharge. Of the chem ical constituents th e suspended m atter is of interest be
cause of its relatio n to th e aesth etic features of sewage disposal b y d ilu tio n , and on account of its relation to the fo rm atio n of m udban ks. Some instances of com paring th e “ s tre n g th ” of certain
s e w a g e sfrom the stan d point of th e rou tin e chem ical analysis and the bio
chem ical o x y ge n dem and are indeed surprising. T he writer has in m ind one instance in particular, in which a certain sew age w hen com pared to another from the standp oint of th e routine chem ical tests was tw ice as strong and w hen ju d ged b y the biochem ical oxygen dem and a b o u t fo r ty tim es as strong. Personally, I do n ot a d vise chem ists to disregard chem ical e term inations in sew ages altogeth er; we surely w ant to know w h eth er a sew age is alkaline or acid for instance.
M y p rin cip al plea is to subordinate the routine determ i nations of th e chem ical constituents to the d eterm i
nation of th e oxygen-consum in g cap acity of a sewage.
T he lab o rato ry section of th e A m erican P u b lic Health A ssociation has recognized th e im portan ce of standardizing such a te st and for som e m onths p ast a subcom m ittee has d evoted its atten tio n to th is question.
T h e members of the subcom m ittee are: F . B achm ann, C hicago; R . H. B row n , N ew Y o r k C ity ; J. W . M . B unker, C am bridge, M ass.; Frederic B onn et, Jr.
W orcester, M ass.; W . M . C obleigh, B ozem an, M o nt., John R . Downes, Plainfield, N. J.; F . E . H ale, B ro o klyn , N. Y .; C . B. H oover, C olum bus, 0 .; A. Lederer, C h icago ; T . W . M elia, B ro o klyn , N . Y .; F. W. M ohlm an, U rbana, 111.; John F . N orton, B oston, M ass.; E . B.
Phelps, W ashington, D . C .; and S. T . Pow ell, B a lti
more, M d. A. Lederer is chairm an of th e su bco m m ittee. T h e follow ing sa n ita ry engineers h a ve been kind enough to give th e subcom m ittee on various occasions the benefit of their valu ab le opinion: H . C . M cR ae, B altim ore, M d .; Langdon Pearse, C h icago, 111.; and W . L. Stevenson, P hiladelph ia, P a.
T h e stan dardization of a biochem ical te st differs from the stan dardization of a p u rely chem ical te st in various respects. One chem ist m ight be p u t to work out a chem ical m ethod and his results w ould be of equal value anyw here. T h is is not th e case w ith a biochem ical test. T w o sewages m ay be alike w ith ref
erence to their chem ical constituen ts and y e t th e y m ay differ v a s tly in their bio logy. R a re ly will tw o sew ages be e x a ctly alike in th is respect. N o biologic procedure can be expected to furnish rea d y form ulae w hich would w ork out w ith m ath em atical precision e v e ry where at all tim es. E ven if we had such a procedure at our disposal we would still h ave such facto rs to accou n t for as obstructions in a stream , differences in ve lo city and tem perature, influence of sun ligh t, a b sorption of oxygen b y m ud ban ks and oth er factors which of necessity are not represented in a la b o rato ry procedure. It seemed evid en t, therefore, th a t in proposing and ad optin g a stan dard procedure we would h ave to confine ourselves for th e present to m ethods furnishing fa irly accu rate, consistent results, com parable w ith each other. It could not be exp ected in the present sta te of our know ledge of self-p uri
fication of rivers w ith reference to oxygen atio n and de-oxygenation, th a t we should be able to w ork out a procedure wThich could te ll us w ith ce rtain ty how m uch sewage is to be p erm itted in a stream to m aintain a certain degree of p u rity fu rth er dow nstream . T h is could be done only if rivers in all parts of th e co u n try were alike w ith reference to tem peratures, velocities, obstructions, etc. A n y deeper stu d y of d e-o xyge n a
tion and o xygenation in a p articu lar stream wrill ap p ly only to another stream v e ry sim ilar h ydro - graph ically. W ith these conceptions in m ind it seem ed most advisable to stan dardize a procedure w hich would perm it th e expression of “ to ta l bio ch em ical oxygen consum ption” and to leave th e p ra ctica l application of th is te st for th e purpose of controlling stream pollution to in d ivid u al local stu d y.
In order to com pare th e a p p licab ility of a stan dard
procedure in variou s localities it is im p o rta n t to
experim ent w ith as m an y sew ages as possible. Such
tests were m ade w ith th e sew ages of C h icag o , 111.,
884
T H E J O U R N A L O F I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y Vol. 6, No. u P lain field , N . J., C h am p aig n , 111., L aw ren ce, K a n .,
N ew Y o r k C ity , W ash in gto n , D . C . and W orcester, M ass. Since th e n u m ber of results o b ta in ed w ith W orcester and N ew Y o r k C it y sew age are to o sm all, th ese sew ages are n o t considered in conn ection w ith th is stu d y .
A m ethod of d eterm in ing th e a ctu al stren gth of p u trescib le m aterial is given in th e last ed ition of th e
“ S tan d ard M eth o d s of W a te r A n a ly s is .” T h e m ethod consists in m akin g vario u s dilu tions of th e p u trescib le m aterial w ith a erate d ta p w a te r, ad din g m eth yle n e blue as an in d icato r, and calcu latin g th e o x yg e n de
m and from th e “ re la tiv e s ta b ility ” figures ob tain ed . T h e m eth od is u n d o u b te d ly v e ry useful and sim ple.
I t will be reta in e d in th e n ext progress rep o rt of th e co m m ittee in a form elab o rated upon b y P ro f. P helps.
T h e possible ob jectio n s to th is m ethod are th a t th e re la tiv e s ta b ility figures ob tain ed are based upon em p irical findings and th a t in term e d iate p o in ts of d e-o xyge n atio n , if such are desired, can n o t be o b tain ed.
T h e m ethod proposed b y th e R o y a l C om m ission of S ew age D isp o sal con tain ed m uch w hich seem ed w o rth y of a s tu d y b y 'A m e r ic a n chem ists. B riefly, th e E nglish p rocedure is as fo llow s:
A d efinite vo lu m e of sew age or effluent is co m p le te ly aerated b y sh akin g. I t is th e n m ixed w ith a larger definite vo lu m e of ta p w a ter and th e m ixture again aerated . T h e d ilu tion s recom m ended fo r raw sew ages and settled sew ages are a b o u t 99 to 1 and 49 to 1, re sp e ctiv e ly . T h e in ten tio n is to a d ju st th e ratio of th e aerated w ater to th e sew age under te s t so th a t d u rin g th e te s t o n ly a b o u t 50 or 60 per cen t of th e o xyge n in th e d ilu tin g w a ter will be used up.
I t is sta te d th a t if less th a n 30 per cen t of th e in itial o xyge n is abso rb ed th e error of th e exp erim en t b e
com es large, b u t if m ore th an 60 per cen t is absorbed th e error is even greater. A large dilution reduces th e foo d su p p ly of th e b a cte ria and th u s reta rd s d e
o x y ge n a tio n . T h e p rep ared d ilu tio n s are care fu lly p u t in to 4 clean glass-sto ppered b o ttle s holding 11 to 12 ounces. T h e b o ttles are le ft u n stop p ered for 5 m in
utes to g iv e th e en trap p ed air a t th e shoulder a chan ce to escape. Stress is laid on th e im p o rtan ce of h a vin g all th e liqu id s in th e m ixtu re and ev en th e b o ttles a t in cu b atio n te m p eratu re before begin nin g th e in c u b atio n , T h e in cu b atio n te m p eratu re recom m ended is 65° F . (1 S .3 0 C .), th is rep resentin g th e m axim um sum m er te m p eratu re of even th e m ost sluggish E nglish stream s. T h e 5-day in cu b atio n te m p eratu re has been fou n d to g ive a sm aller exp erim en tal error th an longer in cu b atio n periods. T w o of th e b o ttle s are te ste d fo r o x y ge n a t once; th e oth er 2 b o ttle s are tested for o xyge n a t th e end of in cu b atio n . T h e d ete rm in a
tio n of th e free o x y ge n w as m ade b y th e W in kler m ethod as m odified b y R id eal and S te w a rt. T h e p rinciple of th e m odification consists in th e o xid ation of th e organ ic m a tte r and th e n itrites b y th e ad ditio n o f p e rm an g an ate in acid solu tio n follow ed b y th e a d d i
tion of 1 cc. of po tassiu m o x a la te p reviou s to th e a d d i
tio n of th e sta n d a rd reagen ts em p lo yed in th e W in kler m ethod. T h e E n glish stan d ard for sew age effluents
is one th a t absorbs less th a n 20 p. p. m. of oxygen in 5 d a ys a t 65° F .
It is not th e purpose of th is su b co m m ittee to con
cern itse lf w ith th e ad o p tio n of stan d ard s for sewage effluents b u t so le ly to fix a la b o ra to ry procedure which will g iv e u niform resu lts. I t is th o u g h t th a t such a p rocedure w ill be a v a lu a b le aid to th e sa n ita ry engi
neer in estab lish in g stan d ard s of perm issible stream p o llu tio n.
T h ere w ere a n um ber of featu res in th e original E nglish te st for th e d eterm in atio n of th e biochem ical o xyge n d em and w h ich did n o t ap p eal to th e collabora
tors, and a fte r consid erable correspondence it was fin a lly decid ed to do som e co m p a ra tiv e w ork with th e m eth od, em p lo yin g, h ow ever, an in cu b atio n tem p e ratu re of 20° C ., and to exte n d th e in cu b atio n period to 10 d a y s in order to s tu d y th e o xyge n consum ption from d a y to d a y . T h e assum ptio n w as th a t the o xyge n consu m ption a t th e end of 10 d a y s would be p ra ctic a lly 100 per cen t. It w as also decided to w ork w ith th ree differen t co n cen tratio n s sim ultane
o u sly, so th a t th e influence of co n cen tratio n upon oxy
gen consu m ption cou ld be stu d ied. A n id eal experi
m en tal series w as to show o x yge n abso rp tions of less th a n 30 per cen t, b etw een 30 and 60 per cent, and over 60 per cen t, re sp e ctive ly . T h e p rep aration of the m ixtu res p revio u s to in cu b atio n differed from the E n glish p rocedure in t h a t we em p lo ye d aerated dis
tilled w a ter in stead of ta p w a ter and 8-ounce bottles w ere used in stead of n -o u n c e b o ttles. T h e sewage w as n o t a erate d before m ixing it w ith th e distilled w ater, b u t th e m ixtu re w as b ro u g h t to th e incubation te m p eratu re p revio u s to in cu b atio n . T h e sew age was settled in the la b o ra to ry before th e m ixtures were prep ared, for th e reason th a t u n e ve n ly d ivided sus
pended m a tte r m igh t h a ve in tro d u ced serious dis
crepancies in th e final resu lts. T h e original W inkler m eth od w as em p lo yed for th e determ in atio n of the free oxyge n . • L a te r on, du rin g th e tests, it w as recom m ended to em p lo y H ale and M e lia ’s m odification of th e W in kler m eth od. P rofessor P h elps em ployed R id e a l and S te w a rt’s m od ification in th e la tte r part o f his series. A n um ber of b lu e-p rin ted record sheets w ere m ailed to th e co-w orkers in order to facilitate th e co m p ilatio n of th e resu lts o b tain ed . I t was sug
gested a t th e s ta r t th a t each co lla b o rato r should ob
ta in a t least 10 ideai series, b u t th e tim e and labor in v o lv e d w as so g rea t th a t it w as im possible to live up to it. U nless one has w orked w ith th e sam e sewage fo r a considerable period it is alm o st im possible to prep are d ilu tion s w hich w ill allo w red u ctio n s of oxygen sim u lta n e o u sly to 30 per cen t, to b etw een 30 and 60 per cen t and o v er 60 per cent. A g rea t deal of time in such w o rk is a lw a y s lost w ith p relim in ary tests.
In order to o b ta in an ideal series one h as to incubate a t least 30 b o ttle s and p refe ra b ly more in order to ch eck d o u b tfu l results.
In his series, M r. M o h lm an recorded' in addition to th e o xyge n consu m p tion figures, P h e lp s’ v e lo city co
efficient “ K ” for each d a y . A su b seq u en t calculation
of K on all of th e resu lts o b tain ed b y th e various
co llab o rato rs g ave som e in terestin g info rm ation . The
Nov., 1914 T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y 88S
Ta b l e I — Pe r c e n t a g eo f To t a l Ox y g e n Ab s o r b e da n d Ph e l p s’ Ve l o c it y Co e f f i c i e n t. K , a f t e r 24 Ho u r sa n d 5 Da y s In c u b a t i o n a t 2 0 ° C . T o t a l O x y g e n C o n s u m p tio n C o m p a r e d w ith I n itia l A v a ila b le O x y g e n a f te r 10 D a y s I n c u b a t io n
Le s st h a n 3 0 Pe r Ce n t 3 0 t o 6 0 Pe r Ce n t Mo r et h a n 6 0 Pe r Ce n t
D a t e o f s a m p lin g
19 1 4 Se r i e s: P h e lp s .
A p ril 2 1 . . . . 2 2__
2 4 ____
2 8 . . . . 2 9 . . . . 3 0 ____
M ay 1.
2 4 h o u r s 5 d a y s
% o % 0
a b s ’d K a b s d K
So u r c e: S c r e e n e d W a s h in g to n S e w a g e
K
A v e r a g e o f 10 d a y s % O in c u b a tio n a b s ’d
5 d a y s K 2 4 h o u r s
*--- » A v e r a g e /--- *--- *
% O o f 10 d a y s % O
a b s ’d K in c u b a t io n a s b ’d K
5 d a y s
% o
a b s ’d
K
A v e r a g e o f 10 d a y s in c u b a t io n
1 2. 13 .
1 5 . 16 . 2 3 . 2 5 . 2 6 . 2 8 .
Se r i e s: Y o u n g a n d B r u c k m ille r . M a y 2 3 ____
2 6 ____
2 7 . . . . J u n e 9 . . . . 1 0. . . . 1 1___
Se r i e s: D o w n e s . M a y 2 ____
1 5 . . . . 2 6 ____
2 3 0 .0 0 0 3 1 75 0 . 0 0 0 2 0 0 .0 0 0 2 0 2 8 0 . 0 0 0 2 6 61 0 .0 0 0 1 6 0 .0 0 0 1 8 3 8 0 .0 0 0 3 1 8 4 0 .0 0 0 1 5 0 .0 0 0 1 7 2 2 0 . 0 0 0 1 8 8 8 0 .0 0 0 1 6 0 .0 0 0 1 6 2 0 0 . 0 0 0 1 8 8 0 0 .0 0 0 1 6 0 .0 0 0 1 7 17 0 . 0 0 0 1 8 6 5 0 . 0 0 0 1 6 0 .0 0 0 1 6 18 0 . 0 0 0 1 8 5 2 0 .0 0 0 1 3 0 .0 0 0 1 4 17 0 . 0 0 0 1 3 6 0 0 .0 0 0 1 2 0 .0 0 0 1 1 4 7 0 . 0 0 0 3 9 63 0 . 0 0 0 1 0 0 .0 0 0 1 6 3 0 0 .0 0 0 3 1 8 6 0 .0 0 0 1 0 0 .0 0 0 1 8
23 2 6 2 9
0 .0 0 0 2 6 0 ,0 0 0 2 6 0 .0 0 0 3 7
67 8 0 77
0 .0 0 0 1 5 0 .0 0 0 1 9 0.00021
So u r c e: S e t t le d S e w a g e
June 1 ____
6__
1 2___
25 0 .0 0 2 4 69 0 .0 0 1 5 0 .0 0 1 5 27 0 .0 0 2 4 74 0 .0 0 1 6 0 .0 0 1 6 14 0 .0 0 1 5 29 0 .0 0 0 4 9 0 .0 0 0 9 4
28 0 .0 0 1 5 77 0 .0 0 2 0 0 .0 0 1 8
29 0 .0 0 3 4 41 0 .0 0 0 9 6 0 .0 0 1 6 So u r c e: Screen ed Sew age— Plainfield, N . . 18 0 .0 0 1 1 66 0 .0 0 0 7 5 0 .0 0 0 8 7 26 0 .0 0 1 1 84 0 .0 0 0 8 2 0 .0 0 0 8 0 37 0 .0 0 1 4 84 0 .0 0 0 6 6 0 .0 0 0 5 7 37 0 .0 0 1 2 86 0 .0 0 0 6 0 0 .0 0 0 5 9
■Lawrence 51 5 0 51 4 5 33 3 8 5 8
, K a n s a s 0 . 0 0 6 0 0 .0 0 1 3 0 - 0 0 5 8 0.012 . 0 . 0 0 5 2 0 . 0 0 6 0 0 . 0 0 6 8
23 4 4 3 5 35
0 .0 0 0 8 6 0 .0 0 1 4 0.0010 0 .0 0 0 9 4
4 5 0 .0 0 1 2
Se r i e s: M o h l m a n . So u r c e: C r u d e a n d S e p t ic S e w a g e — C h a m p a ig n , 111.
S ep tic A p ril 2 1 ____
2 1___
2 5 . . . . 3 0 ____
Crude M a y 5 . . . .
5 ____
9 ____
1 1___
1 4 ____
Se r i e s: L e d e r e r a n d B a c h m a n n . A p r il 2 0 . . . . 2 6 0 . 0 0 1 2 78
18 0 . 0 0 0 5 9 7 6 2 1 . . . . 2 8 0 . 0 0 1 1 72 2 6 0 . 0 0 0 7 0 7 8 2 2 . . . . 10 0 . 0 0 0 3 6 7 8 2 3 . . . . 2 4 0 . 0 0 1 1 6 6 2 8 . . . . 41 0 .0 0 1 1 91
3 5 0 . 0 0 0 6 9 91
2 9 . . . . 2 2 0 .0 0 0 7 1 71 2 4 0 . 0 0 0 5 6 6 8 3 0 . . . . 4 4 0 . 0 0 1 6 83 M a y 1 . . . . 3 3 0 . 0 0 1 0 84 4 . . . . 2 9 0 . 0 0 1 6 79 6 . . . . 41 0 . 0 0 1 6 9 4 2 7 . . . . 3 0 0 .0 0 0 7 1 6 0
3 0 0 . 0 0 0 3 9 78
2 8 . . . . 35 0 . 0 0 1 2 65 J u n e 4 . . . . 41 0 . 0 0 1 1 91
So u r c e:
0 0 0 0 0
C r u d e 0 0 0 8 4 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 5 7 ,0 0 0 4 5 ,0 0 0 6 8
15 17 38 28 17 2 6 34 28
S e w a g e ( S e t t le d ) - 0 .0 0 0 8 8 16 0 .0 0 0 4 9 0 .0 0 0 6 9 0 .0 0 0 4 6 0 0 0 5 5
3 7
0 .0 0 0 6 3 0 0 0 4 7 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 4 4 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 6 6
0.
0 .0 0 0 6 2 0 .0 0 0 4 9 0 .0 0 0 3 9 0 .0 0 0 5 0 0 .0 0 0 3 6 0 .0 0 0 7 7 0 . 0 0 0 5 9 0 .0 0 0 5 8 0 .0 0 0 8 4 0 .0 0 0 8 8 0 0 0 8 9 ,0 0 0 8 0 ,0 0 0 3 1 00022 ,0 0 0 4 7 ,0 0 0 5 0
0 .0 0 0 4 0 0.00021 0 .0 0 0 5 5 0 .0 0 0 5 3
11 22 3 0 3 3 25
31 42 24 2 6 29 2 6 31 24 3 3 24
0 . 0 0 1 6 5 6 0 . 0 0 1 4 0 .0 0 1 3 58 0 . 0 0 1 0 0 . 0 0 4 5 76 0 . 0 0 1 7 0 . 0 0 3 6 6 6 0 .0 0 2 1 0 . 0 0 1 7 65 0 .0 0 1 5 0 . 0 0 6 0 61 0 . 0 0 3 1 0 . 0 0 5 8 . 60 0 . 0 0 2 0 0 . 0 0 7 9 55 0 . 0 0 3 2
■C hicago, 111.
0 .0 0 0 4 6 8 0 0 . 0 0 0 5 1 0 .0 0 0 7 4 74 0 .0 0 0 3 2 0 .0 0 0 3 6 66 0 .0 0 0 4 3 0 .0 0 0 4 3 81 0 .0 0 0 4 0 0 .0 0 0 8 6 7 0 0 .0 0 0 4 5 0 .0 0 0 7 5 7 6 0 .0 0 0 3 9 0 .0 0 0 5 1 75 0 .0 0 0 3 7
0 .0 0 0 6 9 0 .0 0 0 7 5 0 .0 0 0 6 2 0 .0 0 0 6 0 0 .0 0 0 8 2 iO . 0 0 0 5 7 0 .0 0 0 6 2 0 .0 0 0 3 2 0 .0 0 0 7 5 0 .0 0 0 5 9
9 2 79 82 8 2 9 0 76 9 4 79 9 0 88
0 .0 0 0 1 7 0 .0 0 0 1 9 0.00022
3 3 0 .0 0 0 3 4 85 0 .0 0 0 2 0 0 .0 0 0 1 8 3 2 0 .0 0 0 3 7 77 0 .0 0 0 1 9 0 .0 0 0 1 9 25 0 .0 0 0 3 0 75 0 .0 0 0 2 1 0 . 0 0 0 2 1 3 0 0 .0 0 0 4 3 8 6 0 .0 0 0 3 0 0 .0 0 0 2 9 37 0 .0 0 0 4 2 75 0 .0 0 0 1 9 0 .0 0 0 1 9 15 0 .0 0 0 1 5 81 0 .0 0 0 2 0 0 .0 0 0 1 7 28 0 .0 0 0 4 2 88 0 .0 0 0 2 1 0 .0 0 0 2 3 41 0 .0 0 0 4 5 9 0 0 .0 0 0 2 4 0 .0 0 0 2 5 27 0 .0 0 0 4 3 79 0 .0 0 0 2 8 0 .0 0 0 2 8 23 0 .0 0 0 3 5 89 0 .0 0 0 3 0 0 .0 0 0 2 7 26 0 .0 0 0 3 4 77 0 .0 0 0 2 4 0 .0 0 0 2 3 23 0 .0 0 0 3 4 83 0 .0 0 0 2 8 0 .0 0 0 2 4 20 0 .0 0 0 2 4 71 0 .0 0 0 2 0 0 . 0 0 0 2 1 21 0 .0 0 0 2 8 79 0 .0 0 0 2 5 0 . 0 0 0 2 1
51 0 . 0 0 1 2 0 . 0 0 2 0 67 0 .0 0 0 7 9 0 .0 0 0 7 9 65 0 . 0 0 1 6 0 . 0 0 2 2 77 0 . 0 0 4 6 0 . 0 0 5 4 76 0 .0 0 2 7 0 .0 0 3 1 5 2 0 .0 0 1 7 0 . 0 0 2 6 9 0 0 .0 0 2 3 0 . 0 0 2 5
67 0 .0 0 0 5 7 0 . 0 0 0 6 0 84 0 .0 0 0 6 2 0 .0 0 0 6 4 71 0 . 0 0 0 4 5 0 . 0 0 0 5 2 78 0 .0 0 0 5 1 0 .0 0 0 5 4
84 0 .0 0 0 5 0 0 . 0 0 0 5 8
0 .0 0 0 4 8 0 .0 0 0 3 2 0 .0 0 0 4 8 0 .0 0 0 4 8 0 . 0 0 0 5 8 0 .0 0 0 3 9 0 . 0 0 0 4 9 0 .0 0 0 2 5 0 .0 0 0 5 1 0 .0 0 0 5 9
34 23
0 . 0 0 1 4
0.0011
0.0020 0.0021 0 . 0 0 1 6 0 . 0 0 3 6 0 . 0 0 2 5 0 . 0 0 4 0
0 .0 0 0 4 0 0 .0 0 0 4 3 0 .0 0 0 4 6 0 .0 0 0 4 2 0 . 0 0 0 3 8
0 .0 0 0 4 1 0 . 0 0 0 4 0 0 . 0 0 0 4 9 0 . 0 0 0 4 9 0 .0 0 0 5 8 0 .0 0 0 4 0 0 . 0 0 0 5 1 0 .0 0 0 2 3 0 .0 0 0 4 7 0 . 0 0 0 5 0
33
33 19
0 .0 0 0 5 2 0 .0 0 0 3 1
7 8 0 . 0 0 0 3 0 0 . 0 0 0 3 2 7 6 0 .0 0 0 2 7 0 .0 0 0 2 5
3 4 0 . 0 0 0 6 4 7 6 0 .0 0 0 3 7 0 . 0 0 0 4 0
34 0 . 0 0 0 5 4 8 4 0 .0 0 0 3 7 0 . 0 0 0 3 6 3 6 0 .0 0 0 5 6 85 0 .0 0 0 3 5 0 . 0 0 0 3 6 3 6 0 .0 0 0 5 7 8 0 0 . 0 0 0 3 3 0 . 0 0 0 3 6 4 6 0 . 0 0 0 7 1 9 2 0 . 0 0 0 3 8 0 . 0 0 0 3 9
63 0 . 0 0 7 0 23 0 . 0 0 2 7 0 .0 0 3 1
53 0 . 0 0 6 2 6 8 0 . 0 0 1 8 0 . 0 0 2 5
59 0 . 0 0 6 5 8 0 0 . 0 0 2 1 0 . 0 0 2 6
38 0 .0 0 3 1 87 0 . 0 0 1 9 0 . 0 0 2 0
3 0 0 . 0 0 2 4 89 0 . 0 0 2 0 0 . 0 0 1 8
61 0 . 0 0 6 0 77 0 . 0 0 1 6 0 . 0 0 2 0
44 0 . 0 0 1 6 81 0 . 0 0 0 7 2 0 . 0 0 0 6 8 5 7 0 . 0 0 1 8 8 9 0 . 0 0 1 1 0 . 0 0 1 0 4 4 0 . 0 0 1 5 79 0 . 0 0 0 7 0 0 .0 0 0 7 7 28 0 . 0 0 1 3 7 3 0 . 0 0 0 9 9 0 . 0 0 1 1 41 0 . 0 0 1 4 7 0 0 .0 0 0 6 2 0 . 0 0 0 7 5
3 4 0 . 0 0 2 0 81 0 . 0 0 1 3 0 . 0 0 1 3
2 7 0 .0 0 2 1 7 5 0 . 0 0 1 4 0 . 0 0 1 5
25 0 . 0 0 1 4 8 0 0 . 0 0 1 3 0 . 0 0 1 4
18 0 . 0 0 1 3 76 0 . 0 0 1 5 0 . 0 0 1 4
14 0 . 0 0 1 0 64 0 . 0 0 1 1 0 . 0 0 1 1
25 0 . 0 0 1 7 72 0 . 0 0 1 2 0 . 0 0 1 2
18 0 . 0 0 1 0 8 6 0 . 0 0 1 5 0 . 0 0 1 1
25 0 . 0 0 1 4 82 0 . 0 0 1 4 0 . 0 0 1 5
2 2 0 . 0 0 3 5 61 0 . 0 0 2 6 0 . 0 0 2 8
25 0 . 0 0 7 2 73 0 . 0 0 5 2 0 . 0 0 5 3
14 0 . 0 0 4 9 58 0 . 0 0 2 5 0 .0 0 3 1
( .0 0 0 8 9 9 3 0 . 0 0 0 6 7 0 .0 0 0 6 1
0 . 0 0 0 9 6 0 . 0 0 0 4 7
81 8 3
0 .0 0 0 7 5 0 . 0 0 0 7 0
0 . 0 0 0 6 5 0 . 0 0 0 6 6
