(5) Determinatiou of the ignition temperature of cokes, by heating the powdered coke in a silica tube through which air is drawn a t a constant rate. ( 8 ) Rqactivity of mke with carbon dioxide is also determined in a simdar silica tube furnace. (7) Investigation of liquid purification of gas with mdium carbonate, including a study of the equilibria between NaHS, H,S, HCO,, and COS. ( 8 ) Study of action of pyridine on coal heated to various temperatures.
I t will be observed that most of these problems have to do with coke. Ur. Hunk stated that the big problem before the gas industry was to make a more desirable domestic fuel. Evidently, gas coke lacks popularity in Germany as well RS in other countries. The Bergius Process
The Bergius process for the hydrogenation and liquefaction of coal, and for the cracking and hydrogenation of oil, was first described by the inventor in 1912. It consists essentially of heating the coal or oil in an autoclave to 300' to 400" C . in an atmosphere of hydrogen of 100 t o 150 atmospheres pressure. About 1919 a commercial size plant for the treatment of oil was built by the Deutsche-Bergin A. G. at Rlieinau near Mannheim, Germany. The capacity of the plant is 50 tons of oil daily. It was evident that tremendous sums of money had been spent on experimental work, and that under present economic conditions the capital and nieint.enance costs are probably too high to compete with exishing cracking methods of lower cost and less efficiency. The large plant has never been used for the hydrogenation of coal. However, a small unit of 0.5 to 1 ton per 24 hours capacity was in operation on coal. From his own observations and from the work of Sbatwell and Graham at the University of Birmingham, the writer believes that the hydrogenation process works, although i t is still in an experimental stage. Whether it can be carried on a t a profit has not yet been demonstrated. liergius claims that 1 ton of crude oil can be produced from 2 tons of coal for 30 sliillings (then about 46.90), covering interest
on investment, amortisation, repairs and labor, for a plant in England.
Comparison of American and European Fuel Research The Fuel Research Station in England reminds one of the Fuel Testing Plant established by the United States Government in St. Louis a t the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1903. There is a similarity of magnitude and of purpose in so far as surveys of national fuel resources are concerned. However, the St. Louis investigations and the subsequent work of the Bureau of Mines were concerned inostly with the combustion of coal, whereas the British plant is concentrating on the carbonization of coal. American powerplant operators have been quick to take advantage of the results of iherican government research organinations. The tremendous progress made in modern American power plants has placed them far ahead of most European plants. To an outside observer it appears that the gas and cokeoven industry of England does not keep so closely in touch with the Fuel Research Station as is done in America. In fundamental scientific research on the constitution of coal and on flame propagation British investigators lead the world, but there i s a well-defined gap between them and the industries-a gap that is not observed in Germany, or in America. The close relations between German government and university investigators and the industry before the war is well known. This relationship is even stronger today, since institutional endowments have disappeared and these institutions are obliged t o subsist on direct contributions from industry. However, regardless of how fuel research may be supported in European countries, they all recognize the basic nature of t,he fuel problem in relation to the industrial life of the nation and, bearing in mind the general lack of funds, they are carrying on much more research than our own far wealthier country. The successful development of a synthetic methanol industry in Germany is a sufficient. proof of the value of such research.
A Simple Electric Water Still By Ralph W. Gelbach WIIBnIUNETON
STAT* COLLHOH.
T H I S apparatus can be operated on the ordinary 110-volt alternating current. Besides being very efficient it entirely eliminates the usual "bumping" which is iiearly always present in stills heated by gas or other external methods. This, obviously, tends toward a better quality of water. The best sample obtained with this apparatus had a specific conductivity of 2 .X. IO-' mhos. The apparatus consists of a Pyrex balloon flask connected to a block tin condenser by means oi a fractioiiatiiig column. A 12-liter flask is very convenient, but larger or smaller sizes may bc used. The condenser may be constructed by bending B piece of 3/s-inch block tin pipe so as to connect with the still liead sild passing it through an ordinary condenser jacket. Tobr n is provided for refilling the still without thc inconvenience of disconnecting the apparatus. The heating element is a 20o i ~ mcoil of No. 24 nichrame wire, which is immersed directly into the alkaliile permanganate solution and m a y rest on the bottom of the flask without danger of cracking the glass. The ends of the coil arc attached to heavy copper leads, which are passed through the rubber stopper. They arc bent in semicircular form in order to space them farther apart and thereby reduce the conduction through the solution. With a solution containing about 750 mg. potassium hydroxide and 200 mg. potassium permanganate per liter the ~~
1
Received Augur1 3 1825
PVLLMAN
W*l"
water is distilled a t the rate of 2 liters per hour. required for such a set-up is about 11amperes.
The
CUI
rent
