The Chemical Age, Vol. 54, No. 1402

SA TU RDA Y, MAY ix , 1946

R EG ISTER ED AS A N E W S P A P E R

6D. PER Copy P ob t F r e e 8d.

PLANT NITRIC

C o m p le te V e sse l under H y d r a u lic T e st Stainless Steel N itric Acid Column made in F.D.P.

The Column is 53 ft. long, 6 ft. 6 ins. In diameter and weighs 28 tons. All welds were X-rayed.

M a d e by G. A. H arve y i & Co.

(London) Ltd. for M e ss rs. C yanam id Products Ltd.

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e * - „jos are moun£e^ ,°ght source* . midtty T h e S r uS t h e s t a n d a r d 1^ 1 ^ degree o/

otatmgr0l! subjected *° disturbance

AU samp!“ are without dut»

* â ^ » w » - ä,, ” * S L — - - —

---

B O T T O M L E '

(X e m ie Je h d c e S

W r i t e f o r f u l l y d e s c rip tiv e litera tu re

A U D LEY ENGINEERING COMPANY L™

N£>T>ORT. SHROPSHIRE

T H E C H E M IC A L A G E _Ma y i i, 1 9 4 6

D D T / G E I G Y i s t h e m o s t s c ie n tific in s e c tic id e y e t d is c o v e re d . F o r th e f i r s t t i m e in h i s t o r y a ty p h u s e p id e m ic i n N a p le s w a s h a lt e d b y th e m i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t e s u s in g D D T /[G E ’l G Y ; y e t D D T / G E I G Y d o e s n o t a ffe c t w a r m ­ b lo o d e d o r g a n i s m s .

FOR T H E C H E M IC A L I N D U S T R I E 1"

h OXLEY

O x ley u n d e r ta k e th e m a n u fac tu re o f p la n t fo r special p u rp o ses, w h e th e r In w eld ed o r riv e te d c o n s tr u c tio n , in mild o r stain less ste e ls , to c u s to m e r s ’ re q u ire m e n ts .

W e have v ery w id e e x p e rie n c e In su ch w o rk .

(Above) Tubular H eater with special end transform ation pieces. (Left) D ryer for special purposes, with hinged cover.

OXLEY

E N G I N E E R I N G C O . LTD.

O X L E Y E N G I N E E R I N G C O . L T D ., H U N S L E T ■ L E E D S 10

London Office: W inchester House, O ld Broad St., London E.C .2. Tel.: London W il l 3731. 'G r a m s : " Asbengpro Stock, London."

W .47»

Ma y t i , 1946 TH E C H E M IC A L A G E

SPECIAL PURPOSE VESSELS

DDT/C EIGY

Pharm aceutical Laboratories Geigy L td., National B id s., M anchester 3 Stafford Allen & Son, Ltd., 20, Wharf Road, London, N .I.

Phar

L j

T H E C H E M IC A L A G E 'M a y i i 1 9 4 6 .

R O B E Y & C O ., L T D .

G L O B E W O R K S , L I N C O L N

London O ffices: Commonwealth Bank Cham bers, 10 Old Jewry, E.C .2

Ma y i i, 1 9 4 6 T H E C H E M IC A L A G E ii i

ATHOLE G. ALLEN (Stockton) LTD.

STOCKTON-ON-TEES

Telephones:

STO CK TO N 6375 (3

lines) CO. DURHAM

N O N M E M B E R S O F T R A D E A S S O C I A T I O N S

A R E PRODUCERS OF

BARIUM COMPOUNDS

B A R IU M C H L O R ID E

FullyJSold fo r E x p o rt

B A R Y T E S

L lm itedT S upplles O nly

IRON COMPOUNDS

F E R R IC J C H L O R ID E ( P E R C H L O R ID E O F IR O N )

P r o m p t D eliv ery H o m e and E x p o rt

F E R R O U S C H L O R ID E

P ro m p t D eliv ery H o m e la n d E x p o rt

TOLUENE NITRATION PRODUCTS

M O N O N IT R O T O L U E N E D I-N IT R O T O L U E N E P A R A N IT R O T O L U E N E O R T H O N IT R O T O L U E N E

E n q u lrle s ln v lte d fo r H o m e an d E x p o rt

iv T H E C H E M IC A L A G E Ma y i i, 1 9 4 6

Fuel wastage may be reduced by

THERMALtiNKAGE

^ ; ) )

The ultimate step in TOTAL heat utilisation

W h at is T herm al Linkage ? It is m ore than a fuel saving device—it is to d a y ’s technique in production efficiency and econom y.

It is an organised linking o f your heat resources with your heat-using

plant, to ensure th a t no heat es­

capes w ithout first doing all the w ork it can.

It is a technique w hich can be a p ­ plied in practically every heat-using establishm ent, large or small.

T h e g e n e r a l i d e a

C A N B E C O M E

D R A I N

A —Boiler House. B—Power Plant. C—Process Plant. D—Space Heating.

This may appear a simplification o f the problem , but the scheme—to get still m ore w ork from your heat supply—is capable o f universal application.

W h at about results?

Here is an actual case taken fro m M inistry o f Fuel records.

The engine was converted to back pressure working and the exhaust steam at 15 p.s.i. supplied the whole of the needs of process and space heating. S a v in g 2S to n s o f c o a L p e r w ee k— 3 6 % o f fuel bill

A works used 70 tons of coal per week to generate steam at 150 p.s.i. to drive a reciprocating engine coupled to a D.C. Generator and to supply steam through reducing valves for process and space heating.

This m odern technique o f t h e r m a l l i n k a g e is a sound business proposition. It should be regarded as a fundam ental factor in any scheme o f reconstruction or conversion o f plant.

Y o u r R egional Office o f the M inistry o f Fuel will provide expert guidance.

ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF FUEL A N D POW ER

THE CHEM ICA L AGE

CHEMICALS IINDUSTRY

Links' which harness the atom s to th e needs o f the Dyesfruffs. Fine Chemicals, Plastics, Drugs an d Explosivos Industries.

OTHER CHEMICALS 'M A D E 8Y STAVaEY:

Sodium- CW orate Aniline O il and Salt Sulphuric A cids H ydrochloric A cid

Sodium H ypochlorite Bleaching Powder

C au stic Soda Liquid Chlorine

CHESTERFIELD

T H E S T A V E L E V C O A L u SHOW

THE CHEM ICA L AGE

a d v a n t a g e

Photograph by courtesy o f the M etro p o lita n -V ickers E lectrical Co. L td .

Fo r routine w eigh in g, Oertling balances offer the most up-to-date combination o f speed, accuracy

%

and reliability.

For example.

Qur aperiodic pris.

matic - reflecting balances, which come quickly to rest, and are read direct, are giving unqualified satisfaction.

W rite now fo r full specifications o f these and other fine British Precision Balances.

L. OERTLING LTD.,

110, GLOUCESTER PLACE, LONDON, W .l.

P hone: W ELbeck 2273.

T A S /O R /2-tl

TH E CHEM ICA L AGE

ISTORAGE VESSELS I

Mild steel storage vessel of all welded construction, 8' 6" diameter by 30' 0" long, capacity 10,000 gallons.

If you require welded and/or riveted tanks, in mild or stainless steel, we offer the services of our Constructional Department.

Specialists in all types of Fabricated Steelwork and Tanks

Brettenham H o u s e W.C.2

Temple B ar 9631

WORKS : W IDNES, LANCS London

T H E C H E M IC A L A G E Ma y i i, 1 9 4 6

L O W MAINTENANCE COSTS : L O N G LIFE I N I T I A L E F F I C I E N C I E S M A I N T A I N E D O V E R Y E A R S O F S E R V I C E

The B. A. Holland Engineering Go..'[Ltd., 15 D artm outh S tree t, London, S.W.I

T e le p h o n e : W h ite h a ll 2823 T e le g r a m s : P ic tu ra b le , P ari, L o n d o n W o r k s : T r a d in g E state, S lo u g h , Bucks.

Technical Office I U N D O L O D G E & S T A N L E VgAVENUE, O H E S H A M , B U C K S . Telephone : Chesham 406

HOLLAND - S. L. M

Rotary Compressors and Vacuum Pumps

IM M ED IA TE D E L IV E R Y of the majority of patterns

Towers streamline H ydrometers are made from normal glass tubing and are of guaranteed accuracy.

A wide range is made including specific gravity, Twaddell,

* Brix, I.P ., D ensity, S.T.P.T.C. Lactometers, etc., eto.

A copy of our catalogue will be sent on application.

Made a t our Hydrometer Works, Hough Green, N r. Widnes.

. W. T O W E R S & C O . L T D .

H e a d O f f i c e a n d W o r k s : W I D N E S

M A N C H E S T E R : 44 C h ap e l S t . , S a lfo rd 3 * L I V E R P O O L * 134 B ro w n lo w H i])

HYDROMETERS

o f guaranteed accuracy

Ma y i i, 1 9 4 6 T H E C H E M IC A L A G E ix

FLEAS are rapidly destroyed by

‘ G A M M E X A N E ’ D U S T D.034

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

l H I S new insecticide powder not only kills the adult flea b u t remains effective long enough to destroy the tiny maggots as they emerge in search of food. c Gammexane ’ will eliminate existing infestations and prevent fleas becoming established in clean

premises.

I t is invaluable in laundries, industrial change-rooms, public baths, etc.

I t is safe to use and does not injure fabrics.

Available in lim ited quantities in 56-lb. and 1-cwt. packages.

Smaller quantities are repacked and sold by retailers.

*G am m exane* is th e registered trade m ark na m e o f the gam m a isom er o f benzene hexachloride

X T H E C H E M IC A L A G E ^{Ma y i i, 1 9 4 6}

I d e n t i f i c a t i o n

A C I D A M I D E S

and

S U L P H O N A M ID E S

w ith

Xanthydrol

The preparation of derivatives o f A C I D A M I D E S and of S U L P H O N A M ID E S for characterisation by means of melting points

is fully described in

“ O R G A N I C R E A G E N T S F O R O R G A N I C A N A L Y S I S ”

D em y 8vo

£ I f t

P er copy

172 pages

9 /

^{Post free.}

T he book and reagents produced and d istrib u te d by

H O P K I N & W I L L I A M S L T D .

16-17 S T . C R O S S S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E . C . I

H E ft D O F F I C E v T U (TN B R I B G E * H U D D E R S F I E L*D

I ONOON O F F I C E -119 VI CTORI A ST.Sttl - M . I D U N 0 S O F F I C E ? I. SEN H E r T'S H i l l BI RMI NGHAM 2 Telephones: Huddersfield. 5280 : L O N D O N . V i c t o r i a , 9971 : B IR M IN G H A M . Midland. 6830

HOLMES - CONNERSVILLE

P O S I T I V E A I R B L O W E R S

0 One o f the m any H olm es-Connersville Blowers supplied to Chem ical W o rks Capacity o f m achine illustrated, 120,000 cu, ft, per hour again st a pressure of 3 lbs, per sq. inch. Speed 4 00 r.p.m.

d e liv e r a p o sitiv e , re lia b le a n d o il-fre e su p p ly of A ir eco n o ­ m ically a n d efficiently.

A b se n c e of in te rn a l contact e n s u r e s lo n g life, low m ain ­ te n a n c e a n d continuous o p e r a ­ tion o v e r lo n g p e rio d s .

M any of th e s e m ac h in e s a r e in su ccessfu l o p e ra tio n fo r th e h a n d lin g o f G a se s. O v e r 1,400 h a v e b e e n s u p p lie d a lr e a d y fo r su c h p u rp o s e s .

V E R T I C A L A E R A T O R

T Y P E V b / O IIO / 2 3 4

f l m o n t j ^ t h e v a r i o u s a p p l i c a ­ t i o n s / a r e t h e f o l i o w i n g i / \

G IT ATliON ' A B S O R P T I O N .

B L E A C H I N G D I F F U S I O N R E D U G T /I O N X I D /A 'T I O-N-

b r g m i n a t i o n/ ^ -f l o c u l a t i o n E M U L S IF IC A T IO N C H L O R IN A T IO N IS A T IO N -l P R E C IP IT A T IO N NEUT1

H Y D R O G E N A T I O N .

P ^ D ^a Ú CT^P ^S (L ^{t d}

CENTRAL HO U SK UgPER WOB.URN-TLACE / \ _ LÓ NDOÑix W • C -1) > d > <

r E E : e-tf s t , o - h ^ t ' o s 6-7 H O R I Z O N T A L S T A R AERATOR

•TYPE S D / 0 t l o / 2

i y T h e u s e o f j A e r o x p o r o u s c e r á m í f c . m e d i a t h e d e g r e e x o f d i f f u s i o n c a n _ b e a c c u r - a ie l y ^ c o n tr o lle d d u e to ^ th e ,

f \ j r * '

e v e n p o r e d e n s ity ./) T h e -m ed ia - j s ,s u p p lie d in ^ s e y e n

y

7< \ f ) / ^ d iffe re n t p o r e sizes,I r a n g i n g v ) - T y y y l j f r o m - " ''5 7 t o 7 200 m i c r o n s .

F o r J ’u j^ t h e iy p a r t ic u la r s p le a s e s e n d f o r o u r jB ro c /iT T ra ^ N

- S o l S ^ D i s t n i l u o r i * ”f o r t T f e ^ p r o d u c l s o f f t O x \ F K .T E R S ^ l T p \ X G la s g o w a n d L o n d o n .

’’Ma y i x, 1 9 4 6 TH E C H E M IC A L A G E

R A T I O N

» 0

T H E C H E M IC A L A G E Ma y i i, 1 9 4 6

THE KESTNER T.V. DRIER

R E C E N T L Y D E V E L O P E D E S P E C I A L L Y F O R D R Y I N G F I L T E R P R E S S C A K E S A N D

S E M I - S O L I D S

Several years o f research and d e v elo p m en t satisfactory plant fo r handling dam p m aterials w o rk In o u r plan t lab o rato ries, com bined w ith sem i-solids.

, , , O utstandingly successful results a re being

ex ten siv e operatio n al ex p erien ce, enables us to o btained ¡ ^ d r y i n g filte r cakes, centrifuged offer th e K estn er T.V. D rie r as th e m ost m aterials and d e posited sedim entsjsuch as :■—

C h a lk , C h in a C la y , S te a ra te s , B o ra c ic A c id , C o a l D u st, S a n d , B ic a rb o n a te , c e rta in S y n th e tic R e sin s, etc.

T h e process is based on fundam entally sim ple th erm o g rav ic and aerodynam ic principles.

O U T S T A N D I N G A D V A N T A G E S

I. S IM P L IC IT Y . T h e o n ly m o v - 2. E F F IC IE N C Y . T h e t h e r m a l in g p a r t s a r e f e e d e r an d fa n s. e f f ic ie n c y Is e x t r e m e l y h ig h — n o T h e o n ly c o n t r o l s a r e t h e s u p p ly o t h e r d r y in g s y s t e m c a n s h o w o f s t e a m o r fu e l t o t h e h e a t e r , b e t t e r r e s u lt s ,

a n d r e g u la t io n o f t h e r a t e o f 3. C O M P A C T N E S S . T h e p la n t

f e e d . t a k e s up v e r y l i t t l e s p a c e .

Please write for Leaflet No. 265.

K E S T N E R ’ S

Chemical Engineers, 5, G R O S V E N O R G A R D E N S , L O N D O N , ^ S .W .i

A M E S C R O S T A M ILLS & C O ., L T D M o s s j> lr o n w o r k s , H e y w o o d , L a n c s . T h e P n e u - P u m p is a c o m p r e s s e d - a ir o p e r a t e d p u m p e m b o d y in g in i t s d e s ig n n e w p r in c ip le s . It h a s n o m o v in g m e c h a n is m . I t Is u n c h o k a b le a n d o p e r a t e s f r o m a v e r y s m a ll s u p p ly o f c o m p r e s s e d a ir . T h e s p e c ia l m o d e l il l u s t r a t e d j o n t h e le f t is in c h e m i c a l s t o n e w a r e f o r p u m p in g c o r r o s i v e liq u id s . T h e s e p a r a t e p a r t s a r e f a s t e n e d w it h e x t e r n a l c la m p s a n d c a n n o t c o m e in t o c o n t a c t w it h t h e liq u id b e in g p u m p e d . W r i t e f o r p a r t ic u la r s t o t h e m a k e r s .

P IC PIMP

A59

Ma y i i, 1 9 4 6 T H E C H E M IC A L A G E

H O W BIG IS T H I S D I S T I L L A T I O N U N I T ?

The distillation plant illustrated above is actually only a model. But, as you can see from the smaller picture below, it is a model accurate to the last detail, demonstrating APV’s capacity for planning complete plant.

APV have been entirely responsible for the planning, manufacture and erection o f some of the most notable distillation and similar projects in this country.

They developed the azeotropic process for the continuous fractionation of crude benzole containing non-aromatic hydrocarbons of the same boiling point, and so gave the country a valuable additional supply o f toluene during the war. Now APV have put into operation plant for the continuous fractionation o f phenols. They may be able to serve you with equal effect.

m i m

APV

rT! a ? 1:“ ~

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

T H E A L U M I N I U M P L A N T A N D V E S S E L C O M P A N Y L T D • W A N D S W O R T H P A R K • L O N D O N S W I 8 • P U T N E Y 4 4 9 2 (10 W itt)

x i v T H E C H E M IC A L A G E ^{Ha y i i, 1 9 4 6}

JiE W FACTO RY

-

but will its boiler plan t be

efficient ?

T H E ERA O F R E C O N S T R U C T IO N is approaching Factory sites a re chosen ; plans discussed.

Efficient b o iler plant is o n e of th e first essen­

tials of an efficient factory. T he p re se n t high cost o f coal m akes econom y essential ; an efficient bo iler plant is in itself an econom y.

W h e n plans are being made,, call in J. B. Jackson

& P artners. O u r engineers, w ith t h e ir w ide ex p erien ce of steam raising problem s, a re at y o u r disposal.

167-168, M I L L B A N K , L O N D O N , S . W . I Telephone

:

V ictoria 7864-5

A ip h a r - --- ■

W e carry o u t c om plete b o iler house installa­

tions, central heating, air conditioning and ventilating.

J.B. JACKSON * PARTNERS

Combustion, Heating and Ventilating Engineering Contractors

and 13, L E W E S R O A D , E A S T B O U R N E Telephone : 544

I N T E R M E D I A T E P R O D U C T S A N I L I N E D Y E S

F A S T B A S E S F O R IC E C O L O U R S

Benzol, N itro b e n zo l, B in ltro b en zo l, N ltro n a p h th a le n e , B ln ltro n ap h th alen e, Xylol, N ltro x y lo l, B lnltroxylol X ylldlne, T o lu o l, O r th o & Para N ltro to lu o l, B in ltro to lu o l (All G rad es)

P a ra 'N ltro O r th o T oluldlne, M eta N ltr o Para T olu ld ln e

O R T H O TOLUIDINE PARA TOLUID1NE

E xtensive Range of O ll.C o lo u rs, A d d C o lo u rs, Basic C o lo u rs, D ire c t C o lo u rs, P igm ent C o lo u rs, Azoic C o lo u rs fo r W o o l, also C o lo u rs su itab le fo r all T rades

META TOLUYLENE DIAMINE META PHENYLENE DIAMINE

J O H N W . L E I T C H & C O . , L T D .

MILNSBRIDGE CHEMICAL WORKS

T e le p h o n .;! U I I n H P R t P I F I T T T e le g ra m ,:

189-190 MILNSBRIDGE n u U U C l \ J r I t I . Ü LEITCH, MILNSBRIDGE

I N D I A S C O T L A N D C A N A D A

K h . a u Y alabhdas & C o ., K irk p atrick & L auder L td ., P re s c o tt & C o ., R egd.

Vadgadl Bombay. 180, H o p e S tr e e t, G lasgow , C .2 774, S t. Paul S t. W e s t, M ontreal

Ma y i i, 1 9 4 6 T H E C H E M IC A L A G E ^XV

L i i t t a  i - i C L i i

f

T h e I o n E x c h a n g e r

He is MASTER OF ALL TRADES, amazingly versatile, and ready to assist in solving your problems.

This enterprising character is al­

ready fam iliar to Research and Indus­

trial Chemists in the “ D em inrolil ” process o f producing water equiva­

lent in quality to distilled water.

D uring nearly six years of war, ion exchangers have played an im­

p ortant part in new processes. These include the purification of solutions

by removal of acids or dissolved salts, and recovery o f valuable m aterials from dilute solutions and from industrial wastes.

Until the p resent time these pro­

ducts of- the P erm utit Company Limited have been confined to essen­

tial war work. They are now at the disposal of industry in general — and in ever increasing quantities.

These m aterials may improve your operation. Can we assist you ?

P e rm u tit H ouse, G un n crsb u ry A venue, L ondon, W .-l.

P e r m u t i t ^{Co. Ltd.}

M A N U F A C T U R E R S O F I O N E X C H A N G E M A T E R I A L S

T H E C H E M IC A L A G E Ma y i i, 1 9 4 6

A C ID -R E S IS T IN G - C E M E N T S -

P A T E N T A C I D - P R O O F N O N - S L I P F L O O R S

T A N K L I N I N G S E T C . E T C .

zConsultz

F. HAWORTH ( ACI

cem

I

n t

NG)

L T D .

R A M S B O T T O M • L A N C A S H IR E

P h o n e : G ram s :

R a m sb o tto m 3254. “ C e m e n ts ,” R a m sb o tto m .

ALUMINOFERRIC

^REGD. T R A D E M A R K T H E C H E A P E S T F O R M OF S U L P H A T E OF A L U M I N A

Sole Manufacturers . .

PETER SPENCE & SONS LTD.

NAt'ONAi. ZL'llOi.YGS - ST. MARY'S PARSONAGE'

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

LONDON O FFICE: 778/78 0 S A LISB U R Y HOUSE E.C.2

Efficient in design - D ependable in quality.

C O R m an y y e ars, m u ch th o u g h t, c o m b in ed

■ with close application o f th e c ra fts m a n 's skill, has b e e n given to th e ev o lu tio n of glassw are th a t w ould m e e t th e exacting d e m a n d s o f th e sc ien tist in his specialised re s e a rc h w ork.

W ith th e a d v e n t o f PYREX B rand Scientific G lassw are this n e e d has a d e q u a te ly b e e n m e t, and in th e lab o ra to ry and th e d isp e n sary alike, this re m a rk a b le glassw are has b e e n fo u n d to b e b o th safe and reliab le. Its am azingly low c o -e ffic ie n t o f ex p an sio n ( ’0000032) has m a d e it a lm o st c o m p le te ly im m u n e fro m th e e ffe c ts o f su d d e n and violent th e rm a l ch an g es.

T h at is why it has b e e n po ssib le to m ak e PYREX B rand Scientific G lassw are o f m o re ro b u st build th an th a t o f o rd in ary glass, th u s e ffectiv ely red u cin g th e risk o f b re ak a g e resu ltin g fro m co n tin u o u s e v ery d a y handling.

P Y R € X B r a n d G ra d u a t e d G la s s • w are i s s u p p lie d o n ly th ro u gh L a b o r a t o r y F u r n is h e r s , b u t illu s tra te d c a t a lo g u e a n d two f re e co p ie s o f o u r C h e m is t 's N o teboo k will be se n t d ire ct on a p p lic a tio n to us.

A s k fo r P Y R E X B ra n d an d see th a t you ge t it !

JAMES A. JOBLING & CO. LTD., W ear Glass W orks, SU N D ERLAN D .

® G 18

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T H E B R I T I S H T H O M S O N - H O U S T O N C O M P A N Y L I M I T E D . R U G B Y , E N G L A N D A 350I S T A R T E R , w i t h m e c h a n i c a l l y a n d

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C o v e r c a n n o t be re m o v e d u n le s s is o la to r is o p e n . Is o la to r :—

In s e p a r a te f la m e p ro o f c h a m b e r.

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x v i i i T H E C H E M IC A L A G E Ma y i i, 194 G

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T e le g ra m s: A L L A N G A S F L E E T L O N D O N T e le p h o n e : C E N T R A L 3312 (12 lines) G L A SG O W : 116 H ope S tre e t (C entral 3970) B IR M IN G H A M D a im le r H o u se, P ara d ise S tr e e t (M id la n d 0784-5) T H R C H E M IC A L A G E offices are closed on S a tu rd a y s in ac c o rd an ce w ith th o a d o p tio n of th e fiv e -d ay w eek b y

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N o . 140 2

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A n n u al S u b sc rip tio n 2 1 «.

O verseas 26s.

T he Patent Literature L ong-standing readers of this

jo u rn a l w ill h a v e n o te d t h a t w e h av e, a fte r a considerable in te rv a l, re in sta te d th e p ra c tic e of p u b lish in g w eekly a lis t of th e c u rre n t p a te n t lite r a tu re , in so fa r as it affects th e chem ical an d chem ical en g i­

n e e rin g in d u s trie s. I t w as w ith g re a t r e ­ lu c ta n c e t h a t th is fe a tu re w as discon­

tin u e d early in th e w a r, an d n o th in g b u t th e se v e re st strin g e n c y in p a p e r supplies w ould h a v e p ersu ad ed us to ta k e such a course. A t th e p re s e n t ju n c tu re we have th o u g h t it w o rth w hile to ad d a few lines concern in g th e m ean in g an d th e im p o rt­

ance of th is ty p e of lite r a tu r e . O ur oldest re a d e rs will d o u b tless know m o re a b o u t it th a n we do; b u t th e r e m ay be som e who w ill find i t w o rth w hile to give a th o u g h t to th e significance of th is m a te ria l, w hich a t first sig h t m ay ap p ear ra th e r dull and p e d e stria n in c h a ra c te r.

The essence of p a te n t law is t h a t , in r e tu r n fo r disclosing all d e ta ils of h is in ­ v e n tio n , th e in v e n to r receives fro m th e S ta te w h a t is v irtu a lly a m onopoly in m a n u ­ fa c tu re of an a rtic le o r use of a process for th e te rm of 16 y e a rs.

F e e s, of course, are pay ab le to th e P a te n t Office, in o rd e r t h a t th e office, th ro u g h its e x am in ers, m a y be se lf-su p p o rtin g in th e ta s k of d ecid in g w h a t is o r is n o t new an d of m a te ria l benefit to th e

On Other Pages .Voies

and Comments ...

Recen t W o r k on Casein I.C.I. Post-War Development ...

Achievements of Chemical Research ...

Penicillin for the Public Montecatini Rep ort ' ...

S u is s Chemical In dustry Digest o f Statistics

Surplus Scientific Apparatus ...

Im pro ved Petroleum Products ...

Brewing Technology ...

Personal Notes ...

Alginic Acid

General News from Week to Week 535 Forthcoming Events

Commercial Intelligence Stocks and Shares ...

British Chemical P r i c e s ...

Inventions in the Chemical In d u s try ...

in d iv id u al o r in in d u s try . T he fees a re n o t ex cep tio n ally h ig h , b u t in th e a g g re­

g a te th e y m o u n t up, especially w hen—

a fte r a p a te n t h a s been g ra n te d and sealed— th e re a re g ra d u a te d ren ew al tax es payable fro m th e fifth y e a r onw ards.

N ev erth eless, each y e a r th o u sa n d s of in ­ v en to rs in all m a tte r s w h ere useful im ­ p ro v em en ts can be m a d e still find i t of a d v a n ta g e to p a te n t th e ir in v en tio n s an d discoveries, p ay in g th e re q u isite fees.

T h a t alone should suffice to p o in t o u t t h a t th e su b je c t m a t te r of th e s e p a te n ts is v alu ab le.

I n acco rd an ce w ith th e law , th e te x t of tho in v e n to r's specification h a s to be p rin te d and in d u e course com es on sale a t th e P a te n t Office a t a n o m in al p rice.

As a f u r th e r convenience fo r th o se who w ish to re a d and le a rn th e tr e n d of ev e n ts, a b stra c ts of new ly- p ub lish ed specifica­

tions are published in th e Official Patents Journal. T h a t-jo u rn a l also co n tain s a w eekly list of th e title s a n d n am es of in v en to rs for provisional specifica­

tio n s lodged w ith th e P a te n t Office, as w ell as sim ila r lists of th e com plete specifica­

tio n s, d ep o sitio n of w hich is essen tial before a p a te n t can bo g ra n te d . A t th e stag e of provisional specifi­

cation n o th in g m o re th a n title , d a te of 539 ap p licatio n , a n d n a m e 519

521 523 524 525 526 527 529 530 531 533 534 534 536 537 538 539

5 17

513 T H E C H E M IC A L A G E Ma y i i, 1 9 4 6

of in v e n to r, is m ade p ublic. I t is only a f te r th e full specification has been ca re ­ fully exam ined by th e P a te n t Office and th e p a te n t has been d u ly g ran ted th a t full d e ta ils becom e available. I n c e rta in cases, how ever, it is found needful th a t full specifications be open to public inspection in o rd er th a t objections m ay be lodged if th e re is reasonable cause. E v e n a fte r th e g ra n tin g of a p a te n t in th e norm al course th e re are o p p o rtu n ities for o th e r persons to d is p u te th e g ra n t. I t becom es obvious, th erefo re, th a t th e P a te n t Office tak es all reasonable care to avoid g ra n tin g a S ta te m onopoly to any b u t those w ho are th e first an d tru e inventors.

P a te n t lite ra tu re th u s provides a tru e view of th e c u rre n t s ta te of in v en tio n and discovery, and as such it certain ly w a r­

ra n ts p eru sal. I t is for th e general con­

venience of read ers that- som e of th e te c h ­ nical an d . tra d e papers should p u blish lists of those p a te n t applications w hich are of in te re s t in connection w ith a p a rtic u la r in ­ d u s try o r a tra d e . T h a t info rm atio n is o b tain ed from th e Official Pate nts Journal, w hich is du ly searched eacli w eek, to g a th e r to g eth er th e vario u s item s. I n th is , th e tech n ical a n d tra d e p ap ers do a service to th e ir read ers, saving th em th e m ono­

to n o u s task of personally search in g th ro u g h th e official lists. B u t w hile som e readers co n su lt th is inform ation m erely to see th e tre n d of c u rre n t in v en tio n an d discovery, being som ew hat of an in v en tiv e m in d th e m ­ selves, th e re are others who profit by le a rn ­ ing w h at m ay be new in th e m a tte r of a selling lin e, o r of ad v an ta g e to a p o ten tial u se r e ith e r in in d u s try o r as a n individual.

Selling lines in vario u s * form s of m e r­

ch an d ise som etim es ap p ear on th e m arket, before th e full p a te n t specification lias been officially p u b lish ed ; in o th er cases, even q u ite sbon a fte r th e provisional specifica­

tio n is lodged, w hen in d icatio n of “ p a te n t applied for ” m u s t be m ade to be w ith in th e law . C ertain in d u s tria l ex h ibitions,' also, are described as licensed by th e B oard of T rad e w ith in th e m ean in g of th e P a te n ts A c ts ; in c e rta in circu m stan ces, th o se w ho exhibit th e ir in v en tio n s here before final pro tectio n is o btained are in no w ay p rev en ted from o b tain in g a valid p a te n t. I t is w ell th a t it is so, for trad e an d in d u s try alike obtain th e benefit of in fo rm atio n w hich m ay go far in b e tte rin g th in g s w here im pro v em en t is needed, th u s avoiding the delays con seq u en t upon th e tim e req u ired to o p erate th e official m a c h in ­ ery of g ra n tin g a p a te n t. “ B rita in Can

M ake I t ” , is to be th e title of th is su m ­ m e r ’s display of hom e-produced goods in L o n d o n ; and it is largely th a n k s to th e in ­ g en u ity of h er inventors th a t th e co u n try is able, a t th is difficult stag e in h er h isto ry , to provide m a te ria l for such a show .

T h e publication of lists of new p a te n t a]¡plications an d of full specifications is no idle w aste of p ap er in th e "technical an d tra d e P ress. As a service to th e read er it is com m ended. B u t th is in fo rm atio n m ig h t becom e all th e m ore valuable if readers considered th ese lists from every a sp e c t of service to in d u s try an d tra d e . J u s t as th e g re a t lib ra ry a t th e P a te n t Office in L o n ­ don m ay be looked upon as a g ath erin g of all th e floating lite ra tu re w hich concerns m a n u factu res or processes, so m ay p a te n t lite ra tu re be regarded as revealing c u rre n t in v en tio n and discovery. T he w ise m an looks th ro u g h th e s e lists and digests som e of th e th in g s w hich he learn s by h is re a d ­ in g ; h is b ra in , likew ise, m ay becom e active in th e in v e n tin g d irectio n , an d h e w ill g et a n e x tra feeling of buoyancy in life.

T he addresses a t w hich a n in v en to r m ay be found are o b tain ab le from inform ation filed a t th e P a te n t Office, b u t a v is it, e ith e r p ersonally or th ro u g h a n ag e n t, is necessary to obtain it, w ith previous know ledge of th e reference n u m b e r of th e application or p ub lish ed specification. B enefits becom e m u tu a l w hen in v en to rs an d p o te n tia l u sers m ake c o n ta c t. T herefore, it is w ell to keep in jtouch w ith th e c u rr e n t p a te n t lite ra tu re . T he ad v an tag es to be ob tain ed a re often im m easu rab le in term s of the cost of n e g o tia tio n s : for th is is a q u estio n of m ak in g th e fullest use of th e in v en tio n s a n d discoveries of th e h u m an brain . T he tim ely adoption of a new safety device, for exam ple, m ay p re v e n t a fa ta l a c c id e n t;

th e in s ta lla tio n of a n im proved process m ay appreciably c u t th e cost of m a n u fa c tu re of som e p ro d u c t, w hich, in its su b seq u en t u tilisa tio n in a m an u factu red a rtic le , once again a ttra c ts re a l benefit to th e u ser.

N ev er before th e p re s e n t day h as th ere been so m u ch call, n o t only for com plete co-operation betw een th e m a n u fa c tu re rs and th e u sers of goods, b u t also for th e added co-operation of th e in v e n to r, th e m an w ho has m ade a discovery or an im p ro v e­

m e n t. As to th e in v en to rs th em selv es, once th e y h av e assu red th em selv es of th e p ro tectio n afforded by P a te n ts A cts, le t th e m have 110 h esitatio n in bringing due notice of th e ir in v en tio n s an d discoveries to those p ap ers w hich b est serv e th e ir field of usage.

M a y ii, 1 9 4 6 TH E C H EM IC A L A G E ₅₁₉

N O TES A N D

Campaign for Research

F

U R T H E R em phasis w as laid on th e im p o rta n c e of fu n d a m e n ta l rese a rc h by i) r . A\ . H . G lover in d eliv erin g th e M a th e r L e c tu re a t th e a n n u a l m e e tin g of th e T ex tile I n s t i t u t e a t B ra d fo rd on M ay 1 . A lth o u g h i t w as g en erally realise d , h e said , t h a t th e volum e of o u r ex p o rts m u s t be raised to a m u ch h ig h e r level th a n in p r e ­ w ar d ay s, i t h a d n o t in th e p a s t been as re a d ily accep ted t h a t a n im p o rta n t r e ­ q u ire m e n t in ach iev in g th is w ould be a w idespread in crease in scientific research th ro u g h o u t in d u s try , and th e im m e d ia te p ractical- a p p lic a tio n of th e re s u lts . N ew in d u s trie s 'a n d novel p ro d u c ts w ere c re a te d by th e re s u lts of fu n d a m e n ta l re se a rc h . D r. G lover illu s tra te d th is b y recallin g t h a t tw o la b o ra to ry w o rk ers, C ross and B ev an , stu m b led alm o st accid en tally on th e discovery on w hich th e viscose- rayon in d u s try is based.

Creating N ew Products

A

C C O R D IN G LY , in d u s tria l rese a rc h should be encouraged to th e u tm o s t in u n iv e rsitie s , in rese a rc h associations, an d in in d u s try itself. T h e c re a tio n of new p ro d u c ts in in d u s tria l research la b o ra ­ to rie s added to th e p o te n tia litie s of o u r e x p o rt m a r k e t. T he m a in te n a n c e and im p ro v e m e n t of th e q u a lity of o u r p ro d u c ts w as p e rh a p s th e m o s t im p o rta n t re q u ire ­ m e n t so f a r as th is c o u n try w as concerned.

H e re a g a in c o n s ta n t rese a rc h w as e ssen tial.

F u r th e r , applied rese a rc h should re s u lt in re d u c tio n s in th e costs of p ro d u ctio n . F ir s t, th e n , th e r e m u s t he fu n d a m e n ta l re s e a rc h , an d -seco n d , its im m e d ia te a p p li­

ca tio n in in d u s try itse lf if th e su rv iv al of B r it a in ’s e x p o rt tr a d e — a n d , th e re fo re , th e c o u n try itse lf as an in d u s tria l n a tio n —w as to be assured.

Production Drive

T

H E G o v e rn m e n t’s so-called “ P ro d u c ­ tion D riv e ” (alias “ P ro s p e rity C am ­ p aig n ” ) does n o t a p p e a r to be m e e tin g w ith th e m e a s u re of success d e sire d , so m uch so t h a t f u r th e r ste p s are to be ta k e n in an effort to w hip u p som e s o r t of e n th u ­ siasm for th e schem e. I t all arises o u t of th e fa c t t h a t th e to ta l m an-pow er a v a il­

able 10 in d u stry falls sho rt of th e figure considered n e cessary to a tta in th e d esired o b jectiv e of in creasin g th e volum e of o u r ex p o rts to 175 p e r c e n t, of th e 1938 figure.

C O M M ENTS

T he cry con seq u en tly is for g re a te r effici­

ency on th e p a r t of m a n a g e m e n ts an d m ore in d iv id u al co-operation on th e p a r t of w orkers. T he P rim e M in iste r began i t by com ing on th e w ireless a few w eeks b ack and te llin g us (in effect) to ta k e off our ja c k e ts an d g e t on w ith th e job. W e do n o t consider we are doing h im an in ju stic e w hen w e say he m e t w ith a cold recep tio n .

Further Appeals

M

R . A T T L E E ’S- b ro a d c a st w as fol­

low ed by tw o London co nferences—

one of em ployers and th e o th e r of tr a d e u n io n ists— a t w hich th e fa c ts of th e po sitio n w ere p u t by C ab in et M in isters.

T h en cam e a series of regional conferences in w hich w o rk ers an d em ployers co­

o p e ra te d , th e first being ad d ressed by M r.

M orrison. Now, according to a s ta te m e n t m ad e a t a P re ss conference la s t w eek, a second series of co n ferences, on sim ilar lines, is being p lan n ed and o th e r efforts to roach th e public and d riv e hom e th e position a re to be m a d e by m ean s of p o ste rs, film s, an d discussions on th e w ire ­ less. W h en th e q u estio n w as asked w h e th e r use w ould be m ad e of P ress a d v e rtisin g , th e naive response w as f o r th ­ com ing th a t th e G o v ern m en t considered th is w ould p u t an u n fa ir w eight on th e space for w hich th e y could le g itim a te ly ask. W e d o u b t w h e th e r i t is w ith in th e ir p rovince to ask fo r any space.

Home Goods First

S

OM E in d ic a tio n of w h a t in d u s tria lis ts feel a b o u t th e G o v e rn m e n t’s a tte m p ts to in crease our e x p o rt figures m ay be g a th e re d from th e p re lim in a ry ag en d a for th e an n u a l g en eral m e e tin g and tr a d e con­

ference of th e N a tio n a l C h am b er of T ra d e , w hich is to be held a t S carb o ro u g h on M ay 20-22. One of th e reso lu tio n s to be p u t before th e conference is w orded as follow s: “ T his C h am b er, w hile realisin g th e n e c e ssity for a h e a lth y e x p o rt m a r k e t fully to a ssist th e n a tio n ’s econom ic r e ­ covery, u rg e s t h a t th e B o ard of T ra d e keep p ro m in e n tly in view th e need fo r a m o re ra p id release of con su m er goods fo r

• th e hom e m a r k e t. I t is of th e opinion t h a t th e G o v ern m en t w ill fail to build up a. p rosperous e x p o rt tr a d e on d isc o n te n t an d fr u s tr a tio n cau sed b y con d itio n s w h ere th e hom e m a r k e t is s ta rv e d in o rd e r, a rtific ia lly , to s tim u la te e x p o rts. T he

5 2 0 T H E C H E M IC A L A G E Ma y i i, 1 9 4 6

n e e d fo r a re s to ra tio n of th e b ala n c e as betw een hom e an d e x p o rt m a r k e ts de­

serves th e m o s t u rg e n t co n sid eratio n of th e G o v e rn m e t.” W e a re convinced th e re is m u c h to be said for th is p o in t of view . T h is conference should provoke som e lively discussions, ju d g in g by th e v a rie ty of topics on th e agenda.

Synthetic Rubber Reports

I

T is e v id e n t from th e sp a te of re p o rts on s y n th e tic ru b b e r, e m a n a tin g b o th from th is c o u n try and from th e U n ited S ta te s , t h a t th e position of th e supplies of ru b b e r an d its s u b s titu te s is cau sin g som e concern in th e in d u s tria l w orld. Two B ritis h re p o rts, issued u n d e r th e U .S .- U .K . L iaison S chem e, a re com piled from in fo rm a tio n supplied from v ario u s sources to th e R ese a rc h A ssociation of B ritis h R u b b e r M an u factu rers. U n fo rtu n ately , th e M in istry of Supply, w hich publishes th e s e re p o rts , h a s n o t y e t recovered from th e a tta c k of a secrecy induced by th e w a r, and th e c o n te n ts of th e re p o rts has to be reg ard ed as confidential. The A m erican re p o r t, how ever, d en o m in ated

“ F ir s t R e p o rt of th e In te r-A g e n c y Policy C o m m ittee on R u b b e r,” b e a rs no such p ro v iso ; and i t is, in fa c t, a m uch m o re general d o cum ent. C h aracteristically , it is p rin te d on one side of th e p a p e r only.

I t is well w o rth re a d in g , and co n ta in s tw o lists of reco m m en d atio n s for fu tu re policy, d is tin g u ish e d as “ sh o rt-ru n ” an d “ long­

te r m ” reco m m en d atio n s. T he g eneral a im of th e fo rm er is to m a in ta in sto ck s of ru b b e r in th e U .S ., and it is advocated th a t G o v ern m en t pow ers to allocate ru b b e r sh ould be e x ten d e d a f te r J u n e 30, th e p re s e n t d a te of th e ir expiry.

State Control to be Relaxed

A

L T H O U G H for th e tim e being it is th u s recom m ended t h a t th e G overn­

m e n t should c o n tin u e to own and o p e ra te enough sy n th e tic ru b b e r p la n ts to sa tisfy d o m estic n eed s, it is ca te g o ric a lly s ta te d a m ong th e lo n g -te rm reco m m en d atio n s t h a t p riv a te ow nership and o p e ra tio n of th e . sy n th e tic ru b b e r in d u s try should be a m a jo r o bjective. T he C o m m ittee feels t h a t th is w ill provide an im p o rta n t con­

tr ib u tio n to re se a rc h and d e v e lo p m e n t;

a t th e sam e tim e th e G o v ern m en t should a c c u m u la te an d m a in ta in a s tra te g ic stockpile of n a tu r a l ru b b e r, held w holly a p a r t from sto ck s in co m m ercial c irc u la ­ tio n . W hile th e re should be legislation

a ssu rin g a m in im u m u se of s y n th e tic ru b b e r, th is should be b ased on a policy of m in im u m G ov ern m en t in terfe ren ce 'a n d of m ax im u m scope fo r p riv a te e n te rp rise . I t co n tin u es to be e v id e n t t h a t p riv a te e n te rp rise is n o t y e t, in th e U n ite d S ta te s , th e econom ic crim e t h a t i t is considered in m a n y q u a rte rs h e re , an d t h a t i t is even recognised th e re as th e m o st likely m o tiv e pow er for useful research w ork. A v a lu ­ able fe a tu re of th e A m erican re p o rt is th e sh o rt final g lossary of v ario u s ru b b e r types and ru b b e r te rm s— a useful aid to m em ory in th ese m u lti-a lp h a b e tic a l days.

The Ball-C lay Industry

T

H E in tro d u c tio n of lab o u r from o u t­

side th e ball-clay d is tric ts a n d , as an u rg e n t e x p e d ie n t, th e em p lo y m en t of G e r­

m a n p riso n ers of w a r, in o rd e r to m e e t th e in creased d e m a n d , are am ong th e reco m m en d atio n s of th e c o m m itte e s e t up byr th e ’ B oard of T ra d e recently1 to in q u ire in to th e difficulties affecting th e ball-clay in d u s try . T he re p o rt of th e c o m m itte e h as ju s t been published as a W h ite P a p e r.

T he reco m m en d atio n s m e n tio n e d are along th e sam e lines as th o se re c e n tly m ade in resp ect of th e china-clayT in d u s try . U n lik e th e l a t te r , th e B ritis h b all-clay in ­ d u s try is n o t confined to one a re a , b u t is to be found in th re e d is tric ts — N o rth D evon, S o u th D evon, and D o rse t. T he

90 ,1 )0 0 to n s of ball-clay p ro d u ced in 1 9 4 5

included 3 0 , 0 0 0 to n s of th e w h itew are clays, an d it is e s tim a te d t h a t th is y e a r a f u r th e r 4 0 ,0 0 0 to n s of su ch clays w ill be req u ired fo r th e p o tte ry in lu stry .

Danger of Extinction

W

AYS are su g g ested for speeding up m e c h a n isa tio n , especially in th e open-cast w orks, and em p h asis is placed on th e im p o rta n c e of b u ild in g up a d e q u a te sto ck s of th e w h itew are clays. T he n eed to in s titu te co n tro l ov er th e e x p o rt of such clays is also stre sse d . I n th e opinion of th e c o m m itte e , th e o u tp u t of th is sm all h u t v ita l in d u s try w ill g ra d u a lly d im in ish , w ith severe consequence fo r th e p o tte ry in d u s try , unless som e s o rt of lo n g -te rm policy is fo rm u lated . C o-ordination of th is re p o r t w ith t h a t on th e ch in a-clay in d u s try

( i c e T h e Ch e m i c a l A g e , 1 9 4 6 , 5 4 . 2 5 2 )

w as d o u b tless m a d e e a sie r by th e a p p o in t­

m e n t of th e sam e c h a irm a n a n d se c re ta ry (Professor W . 1L Tones and M r. T . K.

R ees) to each.

Ma y i i, 1 9 4 6 T H E C H E M IC A L A G E 521

R ecent W ork on Casein

R esearch in Sw itzerland

('Jrom a Special Correspondent

)

I

N T E R E S T IN G contributions to the now form idable lite ra tu re of casein research (cf. bibliography in S uterm eister & Browne, 2nd ed., 1937, and U .S. Cliam. A b s. indexes) have recently appeared in Sw itzerland by N itschm ann and collaborators and in the U .S.A . by W . G. G ordon et al. [Ind. Eng.

Client:, 1946, 90). The present review deals mainly w ith N itschm ann and L au en er—or o th er co-workers—whose work is described in a series of articles in Tlelv. Chim. Acta, beginning w ith P a r t I in 1941 (24, 237), con­

tinued to date, and presum ably not yet com pleted.

D e te r m in a t io n of F o r m a ld e h y d e The first p a rt describes a method for the determ ination of form aldehyde in form alin- hardened casein, and exemplifies inciden­

tally the difficulties attending the q u a n tita ­ tive determ ination of the amino acid con­

te n t of proteins referred to by S uterm eister and Browne (p. 39). I t had been sup­

posed th a t the method of H ighberger and Retzsch for estim ating form aldehyde in tanned leath er (J. Amer. Le ath er Client.

Assoc., 1938, 33, 341) would be equally a p ­ plicable in the case of formaldehyde- hardened casein; but it was found th a t the results obtained by this method of analysis were too low. T his w as attrib u te d m ainly to the action on the form aldehyde of the increased concentration o f sulphuric acid du rin g distillation. N itschm ann adopted the following modification w ith which he obtained consistent results.

A sample weighing g. is placed in a 500 c.c. distilling flask together with 230 e.c.

of 0.1 .1/ phosphoric, o r 0.01 N hydrochloric o r sulphuric ac id ; the end of the condenser or ad ap te r is inserted below the surface o f 8 c.c. of 1 per cent, hydrogen sodium sulphite solution in a 250 c.c. volum etric flask. D istillation is done at such a ra te th a t about 7-10 c.c. rem ains in the distilling flask a fte r about 1J hours. A trace of stearic acid may be added to the sam ple to reduce foaming. It is essential to rinse down the sides of the flask occasionally and carefully to prevent sticking of the casein particles. A fter distillation also rinse the condenser and ad ap te r and add the rinsings to the condensate in the receiving flask.

D ilute to exactly 250 c.c. and allow to stand for an h our to form the form alde­

hy d e/sulphurous acid complex completely.

T o a 50 c.c. portion of this solution add 5 c.c. of 0.5 p er cent, starch solution and titra te with 0.1 N iodine solution; then add 10 c.c. of 95 p er cent, ethyl alcohol and stir,

a fte r which add 3 c.c. of a 5 per cent, sodium carbonate solution. A t this point the solu­

tion is colourless. T itra te quickly w ith 0.01 .V iodine solution. The maximum e rro r by this method is said to be about I per cent, of the form aldehyde formed. B lank tests made with comm ercial and purified casein showed an a p p aren t form aldehyde content of 0.03 per cent.

In the second article of the series (loc.

cit., 1943, 2(1, 1069) work 011 the determ ina­

tion of form aldehyde in hardened casein is continued. T he method previously des­

cribed, of distilling w ith dilute phosphoric acid and titra tin g the form aldehyde in the distillate according to C lausen’s m ethod, is modified by addition of more w ater a fte r the first d istillatio n and repeating the d is­

tillation. In th is way it is possible to split off form aldehyde quantitatively from all cold-hardened casein. W ith heat-hardened products (70°C.) it is necessary to distil again a t the end w ith stronger phosphoric acid (15 c.c. cone, phosphoric and 120 c.c.

w ater) and to make sure th n t th e final m ate­

rial distilling over is free from form alde­

hyde as shown by th e colour reaction of Rim ini and Shryver w ith phenylhydrazine/

hydrochloric acid an d potassium fe rric cyan­

ide thus (2 c.c. C„HJN H N H J.IIC1 + 1 c.c.

5 per cent. K ,Fe(C N )„ + 5 c.c. cone. HC1).

T his gives a fuchsin red colour in tlie pre­

sence of formaldehyde.

P a r t 3 is a qu an titativ e study of the bin d ­ ing of form aldehyde in th e hardening of casein Hoc. cit , 1943, 26, 1075), using eith er form aldehyde solution or gaseous form alde­

hyde. H ardened casein prep aratio n s were m ade, in some of which th e casein was im ­ mersed in form aldehyde solutions of differ­

ent concentrations, while in others form ­ aldehyde vapour w as allowed to act upon dry casein. In both types the time curve of formaldehyde com bination was studied over a period of 30 days. - Although th e rate of form aldehyde binding had in every case gradually dim inished it had in 110 case ceased. The form aldehyde content of the p rep aratio n depends 011 how long it is washed a fter hardening, or how long, in the case of gas hardening, it is exposed to air.

W a te r - A b s o r p t io n C a p a c ity W ater-ubsorption capacity of various hardened and unhardened caseins, in re la ­ tion to the relative w ater vapour pressure of the equilibrium atm osphere, was d e te r­

mined (loc. cit., 26, 1084). T his absorption capacity' is reduced by hardening, the elfect being g re a te r in proportion to the relative