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T H E J O C R S ; I L OF I S D U S T R I A L AdVD EA’GIL17EERI177GCHEJIISTRY
The raw material of the rice starch industry is broken rice, and from a chemical point of view the process is simply t h e solution and separation of the proteids and fiber by treatment with a weak alkaline solution. Rice starch is said to be unequaled as a cold water laundry starch, as it easily penetrates the fabric, owing t o its very small granule and is swollen during the ironing process. There are I O t o IZ plants in operation, but only 3 or 4 of these are large. Wheat starch is the best starch for linen dressing and finishing, and the location of two plants in the north of Ireland follows the natural course. The raw material in the modern process is wheat flour, and the gluten is recovered instead of being lost as in the old fermentation process. THE SULFITE WASTE LIQUOR PROBLEM I n THISJOURNAL ( 5 , 78-9) is published some correspondence relating t o the utilization of the waste liquors of sulfite cellulose mills which recently appeared in several German journals. It is of interest t o again note t h a t the controversy is still in progress in the columns of our foreign contemporaries in regard t o the practical and economical utilization of the waste liquors from the sulfite cellulose process, and the author of an article in Papier Zeitung, which a later correspondent criticized, comes to the defense of his paper in a recent issue of t h a t publication, in a communication t h a t forms an addition to the literature of the subject. He says, in part, according to Paper: “ I n no respect is the article in question directed against the utilization of sulfite waste liquors; on the other hand a possibly profitable process is heartily recommended to cellulose manufacturers. But when a daily paper of the importance of the Frankfurter Zeitung publishes inadequately verified technical articles, there is danger t h a t cellulose manufacturers or capitalists may be tempted to invest money fruitlessly in waste liquor utilizations. And there should particularly be a warning against the production of products of low value that afford no promise of interest on capital. “Such, however, is notably the process of coal briquetting with unpurified waste liquor, rich in ash, which is commended in the Frankfurter Zeitung. There is no significance in the fact t h a t Privy Mining Councilor Francke has written on the subject in 1910;rather this is proof of the slight extent t o which the value of the experiences described has been recognized. Even the Frankfurter Zeitung is as yet unfamiliar with the failures t h a t have been encountered in the employment of unpurified sulfite waste liquors and cellulose pitch in coal briquetting. Neither neutral concentrated cellulose pitch nor acid concentrated waste liquor furnish unobjectionable briquettes; only purified, consequently to a certain extent ashless, liquor could be employed for coal briquetting. Almost all the large German banks have had propositions for coal briquetting with sulfite waste liquors submitted to them and the unanimous opinion of experts has been to the effect t h a t the briquettes were of low value or unfit for use.” How waste liquors could be freed from acid or purified, it was not the purport of this paper to discuss, the author continues; i t was intended only to warn against extravagant expectations, for, until to-day, the commercial value of sulfite briquettes has been nowhere proven. In cellulose manufacturing circles so far, the more rational decision has been arrived a t to profit by the failures of others before throwing away money on undertakings devoid of prospect. Against ore-briquetting with sulfite waste liquors nothing is said, only the fact is noted t h a t the few furnaces t h a t have so far used the process, have kept their experience secret and that, for this purpose, license-free concentrated sulfite waste liquors can be used just as well as patented, solid cellulose pitch. “If the agriculturist wishes to obtain lime for fertilizing pur-
Feb., 1913
poses, he can do so cheaper by methods other than the use of sulfite waste liquors, the product of which, under the most favorable circumstances, is gypsum. Agricultural expert authorities are, however, uttering earnest warnings against the overplastering of the soil (by means of superphosphate, for instance). The organic nutritive substances of the sulfite waste liquors, which are always of value to plant life, have not hitherto been furnished to the farmer in their best available form. Least of all are cellulose pitch or concentrated liquor adapted for this purpose, for their hygroscopic properties and their crust-forming tendency are serious disadvantages, apart from the fact t h a t the material is much too expensive for the farmer. If sulfite waste liquors are to be utilized in agriculture, unobjectionable products must first be obtained from them. The advertisement of sulfite-waste liquor that has been concentrated by any means is no assistance. “Against the possibility of ‘ donating’ sulfite waste liquors for road sprinkling, there is no objection to be made. But in the Frankfurter Zeitung there is no mention made of ‘donating,’ rather the millions to be earned in Germany by concentrating plants was enlarged on. For this reason, to prevent misunderstanding, the fact mas mentioned, that the cities, in spite of exhaustive tests, would have nothing to do with wastesulfite liquor for road sprinkling. They prefer to use chloride of calcium, because experience with it has been more satisfactory. The disinfectant properties of sulfite liquor are also exposed to grave doubt. “The utilization of sulfite liquors for tanning extcacts was not mentioned by the Frankjurter Zeitung, therefore there was no reason fo refer to them. The writer referred to said he was familiar with the extent t o which among tanners and leather chemists, controversy rages for and against their use. It is therefore the work of these trade authorities t o collect the results of experience in this new field. If the new tanning extract proves satisfactory, the German technique can be trusted to make use of it because for the tanning substances now most in use duty must be paid. On sulfite liquor-tanning extract from abroad duty would also have to be paid.” “SACCHULOSE” It is well known that the industrial utilization of the alternative chemical substances which wood is capable of yielding has received a new impetus by the application of several processes, A . Zimmermann (Chem. Trade J., S I , 5 8 8 ) discusses the “Classen process,” as used in England. I n this process sawdust is subjected in closed retorts to digestion with a weak solution of sulfurous acid and under a pressure of about 6 to 7 atmospheres. Of the resulting product, sugar is a n important constituent, of which i t contains about 2 5 per cent. This sugar is drawn equally from the soluble and insoluble carbohydrates; i t is dextra in part and is fermentable t o the extent of about 80 per cent., the rest being pentose. So far i t has not been possible to obtain a crystalline sugar on a commercial scale. According t o the original scheme, the sugar produced was, in effect, worked into alcohol, and the maximum yield was about 30 t o 35 proof gallons per ton of wood. The English Spirit Act of 1880 contains, however, so many restrictions in the manufacture of spirit from anything but the conventional sources t h a t i t was found t o be practically useless to pursue the matter. Zimmermann has found wood sugar, or “sacchulose,” to be of value as a n article of food, particularly as a feeding-stuff for horses, and states t h a t a probable use is also in the preparation of caramel. According to his findings, a factory capable of treating 200 tons of sawdust per week can turn out between 300,000 and 400,000. gallons of proof spirit per year. This also gives by-products of 50 tons of acetic acid, I O tons of furfural, and 2,000 gallons of: methyl alcohol for recovery.
