John H. Howard, secretary of Eastman Kodak's committee on aid to higher education, had some thoughts on how to correct the problem. He believes that the chemical industry should seek greater understanding and recognition by the academic community. In addition, the chemical industry and business should improve its voice in the development and administration of public policy at the national level in science and technology. "The fact that there are so many academic scientists and educators serving on important national committees and involved in the determination of national policy is indeed a compliment to them. On the other hand, does not the chemical industry also have some very able scientists and executives who would be equally valuable for such assignments and would not such service in the long run be advantageous to the industry?" Mr. Howard asked. "The recognition, rewards, and opportunities for professional and public service which are now associated with academic life have made it a very attractive career. The chemical industry needs to improve its appeal to this group if it is to attract the number and caliber of research scientists which it will need in future years." Most of the speakers in one way or another stated or alluded to the fact that the industry is not communicating with students and teachers. Mr. Reynard suggests an eight-point program. • Have a liberal policy of publishing the results of industrial research. • Expand the use of academic consultants. • Encourage summer and sabbatical employment for academic staff members, especially younger ones. • Develop meaningful summer employment for college students. • Encourage employees in key positions to take leaves of absence for visiting professorships. • Provide a climate in industry in which young graduates will be encouraged to utilize their training. • Use key spokesmen to tell the industrial story to high school, college, and university groups. • Develop increased liaison with teachers and students at the secondary school and junior college levels.
HIGH. Two miles above sea level at Climax, Colo., this tank thickens molybdenum ore fraction before treatment
AMAX starts up plant to recover molybdic oxide In the little town of Climax, Colo., more than 2 miles high on the Continental Divide, Climax Molybdenum Co., an American Metal Climax division, is making molybdenum oxide in a new $18 million plant. The plant is unique, AMAX claims, in that it isolates molybdenum oxide from ore. Until now, all of the world's supply of molybdenum has been recovered as the sulfide by flotation. Roasting converts the sulfide to the oxide; hydrogen reduction yields the free metal powder. The new Climax plant has an annual capacity of some 3 million pounds of contained molybdenum. This new source of the metal comes at a time when growing demand for molybdenum has been squeezing supply. Free World supply last year, which amounted to 99 million pounds of contained molybdenum and 3 million pounds released from U.S. Government stockpiles, barely topped the 100 million pounds consumed. This year consumption should reach 114 million pounds; mine production will total about 118 million pounds. But actual consumption figures don't necessarily tell the whole story. More molybdenum would probably be used if more were available. In one form or another, molybdenum finds its way into a wide range of products. The ferrous metals industry alone uses in alloys some 80% of the element's annual consumption. Molybdenum is also the basis of catalysts, pigments, and lubricants; structural parts that resist acids and that can withstand temperatures exceeding 2000° F.; and special components for the electronics industry. Although molybdenum is a fairly common constituent of mineral deposits, there are only a few locations where it exists in concentrations high
enough to warrant economic recovery. The major Free World sources are mines in Colorado, New Mexico, and British Columbia. The balance is a by-product of copper production. Five years ago, Climax Molybdenum began to study the feasibility of recovering molybdic oxide from the ferric molybdate that occurs in the upper levels of the company's mine in Bartlett Mountain and Ceresco Ridge near Climax. The molybdate is the result of natural oxidation, aided by bacteria, of the sulfide in the presence of ferric sulfate that took place over millions of years. Until now, the ferric molybdate was discarded as "tailings" after recovery of the sulfide. In the first step of its new process, Climax Molybdenum separates the finely granular "slime" from the tailings left over after molybdenum sulfide separation. From a settling tank, the thickened slime passes to leaching vessels where the ferric molybdate reacts with sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid to form colloidal acid molybdic oxide, called molybdenum blue because of its color, and ferrous sulfate. Live steam maintains the reaction temperature at 140° F. Concentrated sulfuric acid accelerates the reaction and enhances adsorption of the molybdenum on charcoal by keeping the p H of the mixture between 1.2 and 1.4. Excess sulfur dioxide is stripped under vacuum, and the molybdenum blue solution, still at 140° F., passes over activated charcoal. The charcoal selectively adsorbs the molybdenum complex. After a washing step, an air-ammonia mixture removes the molybdenum from the loaded carbon. The air acts both as an oxidant and a coolant, while the ammonia reacts with the molybdic oxide to form soluble ammonium paramolybdate. The latter crystallizes during carefully controlled evaporation. Calcining at 1075° F. in an indirect-fired kiln converts the ammonium paramolybdate to molybdic oxide. DEC. 5, 1966 C&EN
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