Jan., 1915
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
45
I-Are the agronomic conditions of the “Smoke Zone” such visible smoke from t h e roaster stack (the only source as to conduce to high agricultural development? of visible smoke) could be eliminated. The Comz-Does there exist in the “Smoke Zone” any soil trouble mission’s request was made October 25, 1913,and the which is responsible for any poor condition of plant growth installation of the baghouse was completed April I, which may exist? 1914,a t an expense t o t h e Selby Smelting and Lead 3-Has the soil of the “Smoke Zone” been polluted by mateCo. of approximately $35,000. rials deposited therein from smelter smoke? I n order t h a t full information might be a t hand upon 4-If such pollution exists, is it of economic importance? May it influence the growth of crops or plants for good or for ill? which t o base recommendations for the subsequent The yield of crops in the area are below the average operation of the smelter, in the event t h a t a nuisance for areas in other sections of t h e state having the same was found t o exist within the “Smoke Zone,” the Comclimate. T h e poor quality of t h e soil and the poor mission early undertook certain studies t o determine agricultural practices are sufficient t o account for t h e t h e possibility of eliminating t h e sulfur dioxide from existing bad conditions as t o crops and crop yields. the smoke of t h e plant before t h e latter is sent into the N o soil trouble exists, other t h a n t h e poor quality of atmosphere. An investigation was conducted t o determine the t h e soil, t o which t h e existing conditions of plant growth possibility of operating t h e Dwight and Lloyd Sintering can be traced. I n t h e matter of soil pollution, an extensive in- machines of t h e plant in such a manner as would allow vestigation was conducted. Samples of soil were taken the production of a gas with a sulfur dioxide content from various portions of t h e area and subjected t o sufficiently high for its recovery as a by-product. examination t o determine t h e presence of lead and As a result of this investigation, it was found t h a t b y arsenic. These metals were found t o be natural con- a proper preparation of t h e charge and the recirculastituents of t h e soils of the “Smoke Zone” and the tion of a part of the gases, t h a t 80 per cent of the total country surrounding the “Smoke Zone.” A slight sulfur dioxide eliminated b y the machines can be increase in t h e lead and arsenic present in the soil concentrated in a volume containing 7.5 per cent sulwas found in the area nearest t h e smelter, b u t this in- fur dioxide. With this concentration i t is possible t o crease was shown t o be of no economic importance. apply a commercial scheme for recovery by t h e producSupplementing this work, t h e d a t a collected by Mr. tion of sulfuric acid, liquid sulfur dioxide or sulfur. Wells on the presence of lead and arsenic in t h e air FINDINGS O F COMMISSION before t h e installation of t h e roaster baghouse proved From the personal investigations b y the Commission t h a t although lead and arsenic were present, t h e amount was unimportant from t h e point of view of soil and from a study of t h e various reports presented, the Commission finds t h a t : contamination. I-The Smelter Company violated t h e injunction EFFECT OF SMELTER FUMES ON HORSES u p to April, 1914,with respect t o damage t o certain The veterinary survey included the identification horses in t h e “Smoke Zone,” and t h a t this violation of every horse and t h e enumeration of all t h e other ceased when the roaster stack baghouse was installed. important domestic animals within t h e Zone. The 11-The Smelter Company has not violated t h e listing of the horses developed t h e fact t h a t 3 1 horses injunction with respect t o disagreeable odor maino u t of a total of 308 within t h e “Smoke Zone” were tained in t h e “Smoke Zone,” nor with respect t o suspected as being of the type known as “roarers;” injury produced on crops or vegetation or on domestic 1 2 of these 31 were diagnosed as “roarers,” t h e “roaranimals through emitting sulfur dioxide into the ating ” condition being brought about directly by the mosphere. paralysis, either partial or complete, of certain muscles 111-The Smelter Company will not violate the inof t h e throat and neck, which causes improper func- junction if i t discharges less t h a n 80 tons of sulfur tioning of t h e respiratory system, so t h a t under exercise dioxide per 2 4 hours into the atmosphere, and cleans t h e animal so affected breathes with a peculiar roaring the smoke of its visible element. sound. IV-The Smelter Company will not violate the inIt was t h e opinion of t h e experts t h a t t h e condition junction, if for purposes of cleaning or repairing the of these roarers was due t o chronic lead poisoning and baghouse, visible smoke is discharged for periods not t h a t t h e animals had been injured b y smelter smoke. t o exceed a total of 48 hours in any one month. INSTALLATION
OF
BAGHOUSE
FOR
ELIMINATION
OF
VISIBLE S M O K E
Soon after beginning its investigations, the Commission came t o t h e conclusion t h a t a study of t h e a t mosphere of t h e “Smoke Zone” uncontaminated b y t h e visible element of t h e smoke of the Selby Smelter would be highly desirable. The Selby Smelting and Lead Co. were, thereupon, requested by t h e Commission t o take steps t o remove all solids from t h e smoke t h a t was being discharged from t h e plant. The Selby Company, with commendable promptness, began t h e erection of a baghouse, b y means of which t h e
SELBYSMELTER COMMISSION 325 MONADNOCK BUILDING. SAN FRANCISCO
A TITRATION TABLE By R. S. POTTERAND R. S. SNYDER Received October 17, 1914
I n t h e course of some work which was being carried on here a t one time, twelve different standard solutions were required and a space-saving disposition of these was necessary. The arrangement which has been found very practicable is shown in t h e accompanying illustration. Others might find something similar
46
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D L S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y
of some use, SO a brief description of t h e a p p a r a t u s shown will be given. F r o m t h e large bottles which are kept on t h e floor under t h e table a n d which contain t h e various solu-
Vol. 7, No.
I
excess r u n s into t h e waste jar. If a solution which is t o be protected f r o m t h e carbon dioxide is t o be used, t h e operation is just t h e same, except t h a t a n y excess solution in t h e overflow cup must be gotten rid of b y opening t h e corresponding pinch-cock in t h e overflow tube. Siphon tubes are kept in t h e t w o waste jars t o draw off t h e waste solutions as t h e y accumulate. As t h e rapidity with which t h e solutions are drawn u p depends upon t h e rapidity with which a partial vacuum is created, it is better either t o have t h e waste jar t o t h e right small, or as we have done, keep a large one nearly full of water. It is scarcely necessary t o s t a t e t h a t all t h e overflow t u b e s might have been connected t o t h e one bottle shown a t t h e right, b u t space i n t h e rubber stopper prohibited. T h e a p p a r a t u s here shown was set u p eight months ago a n d no changes nor repairs have been necessary during t h a t time. This scheme has t h e following advantages: I-The minimum table space is t a k e n up. 11-The solutions left i n t h e burettes a n d delivery tubes can be automatically returned t o t h e respective stock bottles whenever t h a t is desirable. 111-A leak will n o t cause a loss of solution a n d a sometimes disastrous flood, as is t h e case when t h e stock solution is k e p t on a shelf above t h e burette. SOILCHEMISTRY LABORATORY STATECOLLEGE EXPERIMENT STATION AMES,IOWA
A BLAST LAMP FOR NATURAL GAS By HAROLDCANNINGCHAPIN Received December 7 , 1914
TITRATION TABLE
tions, delivery t u b e s r u n u p through suitable holes i n t h e back of t h e table t o their respective burettes. T h e burettes used are of t h e three-way stopcock, overflow, zero point t y p e . Tubes from t h e overflows of t h e six burettes a t t h e right, which do not need t o be protected from t h e air, lead t o t h e large waste bottle at t h e right a s shown. Entering this bottle is a t u b e connected t o a n ordinary air p u m p . T h e disposition of t h e burettes which are used for solutions t o be protected from carbon dioxide is somewhat different. T h e tubes from t h e overflows lead t o t h e large, open waste jar as shown. A t t h e rubber connection of each of these overflom-s is a pinch-cock, which is k e p t closed. except a s will be pointed out below. T h e upper openings of all t h e burettes are connected as shown, a n d a soda lime t u b e placed next t h e first burette, whose solution is t o be protected from carbon dioxide. An open T t u b e is placed i n t h e series of connections as shown. T h e operation of t h e a p p a r a t u s is as follows: T h e p u m p is t u r n e d o n ; t h e open e n d of t h e glass T is closed with t h e finger a n d if it is desired t o use one of t h e six solutions t o t h e right, t h e respective stopcock in t h e burette is opened; t h e solution is drawn u p a n d t h e
T h e simple arrangements here illustrated, having served this laboratory for a year, m a y be of interest t o others using natural gas. For complete combustion methane requires four times as much oxygen a s does either hydrogen or carbon monoxide. Hence natural gas, which averages over go per cent methane a n d related hydrocarbons, will not burn completely
~
FIG. I
FIG. I1
i n t h e a m o u n t of air which suffices for a n equal volume of coal or water gas. Adjustment of a coal gas burner for natural gas requires cutting down of t h e gas-air ratio, which unfortunately is opposed b y t h e higher pressure a t which natural gas is usually supplied. T h e best flame obtainable with a blast l a m p in t h e ordinary way is not very hot a n d smells of escaping gas, which is not only disagreeable b u t also likely t o
