64
j
T H E JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
abundant crops, even without the aid of more. Most of that section of the United States is, however, greatly lacking in available phosphoric acid. As is well known, gypsum is a prominent constituent of superphosphate. This is a substance which has a well-recognized liberating effect on the potash stored up naturally in the soil. On this account there is reason behind the suggestions which have occasionally appeared in the agricultural press to the effect that the use of more superphosphate would slightly lessen the need of potash. The superphosphate is also known to have a wonderfully stimulating effect on germination and the growth of young plants, and it aids greatly in hastening the maturity of:the corn crop. Mr. Bowker has mentioned the possibility of utilizing certain minerals for the manufacture of potash, and special attention has been called recently to phonolite, in particular, and to feldspar as sources of potash. I n general the European experiments have not been favorable to phonolite as a direct source of potash, showing that it is greatly lacking in availability, and that it cannot compete successfully with the German potash salts. Recently several processes have been patented for securing potash from feldspar, but it must be borne in mind that these all involve the mining and transportation of the product, grinding, fusion (generally), extraction, filtration, concentration, crystallization, and final grinding and bagging, a series of processes which, excepting under the most favorable conditions, are bound to make the potash so expensive that it can never compete with the products from the German mines a t the price at which they can be sold in this country. Experiments by Hartwell and Pember a t the Rhode Island Experiment Station covering two seasons, and conducted under optimum conditions as far as the moisture content of the soil was concerned, failed to show any particular value of finely ground feldspar as a direct source of potash for plants, whereas the German potash salts gave excellent results. I t should be stated that the feldspar which they used was ground so finely that all of it would pass a sieve having z o o meshes to the linear inch. These results, therefore, utterly dissipate the faint hope of the direct economic utilization of feldspar for agricultural purposes which was held out by Cushman a few years ago. Another point, touched upon by Mr. Bowker, was the possibility of the substitution of soda for potash in plant nutrition. I n regard to this matter, it has been established beyond question by various investigators that soda cannot entirely replace the potash. Nevertheless, it is true that certain classes of plants will take up much more potash than they require, if it is present in readily available form and in excessive quantities. Under such conditions, if available soda is present, it is substituted for some of the potash with no apparent disadvantage to the plant, and a t the same time the available potash of the soil is conserved. The question of the effect of soda in connection with the growth of plants has been studied continuously a t the Rhode Island Experiment Station from 1894 until the present time. Crops have been grown in the field, in pots, and also in solutions. I n this last case the possibility of any indirect or liberating action of sodium salts on potassium compounds was eliminated.
I
Vol. 7 , No.
The possibility of physical effects of the sodium salts which were in solution was also considered. As a result of these investigations, it was shown with cereals and other plants that whenever the supply of potash was insufficient, soda could partially take its place. The time a t disposal prevents the discussion in detail of the possible ways in which soda may act. It should, perhaps, be stated, nevertheless, that by supplying an abundance of all the essential elements but one, which is limited in amount, the minimum quantity of that one necessary to the production of a given amount of dry plant substance can be ascertained. When, however, the minimum amounts of all the necessary ingredients which are thus determined are added together, they are found to be insufficient to meet fully the needs of the plant. This extra quantity, above the sum of the minimum necessities, has been termed by the Germans as “Luxusconsum.” I n fact, it does not seem to matter very much whether this excess which is taken up is lime, magnesia, soda or potash. Soda, therefore, as stated before, exerts a conserving action upon the potash supply of the soil by thus aiding in satisfying this demand. Soda also doubtless serves as a neutralizing agent t o combine with the organic acids produced in the course of the synthesis of the protein compounds of plants. I t is true that sodium salts have been found to be particularly helpful to such crops as turnips, beets and radishes, although spinach and chicory do not seem to be able to make much use of it. It is probably of use in the growth of the cabbage, cauliflower and other related plants. I n some instances in the Rhode Island experiments where as much as 40 lbs. of potash were applied to the acre for mangel wurzels, which is more than six times the average amount used for the cereals in the Middle West, it was found that the application of considerable quantities of either common salt or soda ash usually greatly increased or doubled the crops. This question of the action of sodium salts has not only been studied by Hartwell, Pember, Brazeale and the speaker a t the Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station, but it has also been studied extensively in Europe by Hellriegel, Wilfarth, Wimmer and their co-workers and successors a t the Agricultural Experiment Station a t Bernburg, Germany. Many of these results have been published in the “Hefts” of the “Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft.” Some exceedingly interesting results in the same line are reported by Wagner and Dorsch of the agricultural experiment station a t Darmstadt, Germany. Smets and Schreiber in Belgium have also shown that sodium salts are of great benefit to plants under certain conditions of field culture. I n a tabulation (“Der Chillisalpeter”) of the results of experiments in Europe with nitrate of soda and sulfate of ammonia, Stutzer has shown that for beets and certain root crops, nitrate of soda frequently gave better results than sulfate of ammonia, whereas the reverse was sometimes true in connection with cereals. This, therefore, coincides with the previous reference to the fact that the beet, turnip, radish, and a few related plants can make a greater use of soda than cereals, millet, and other similar plants. THEAMERICAN AGRICULTURAL C H E M I C A L C O X P A N Y , BOSTON
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS
The Seventh Annual Meeting of the Institute was held in Philadelphia, December 2-5, 1914. The headquarters of the convention were a t the Hotel Adelphia and the technical meetings were held in the large lecture hall of the Franklin Institute. The arrangements for the meeting were in charge of the local committee consisting of the members of the In-
I
1
stitute residing in Philadelphia, with Dr. S. S.Sadtler as chairman. Great credit is due to this committee for the carefully prepared program of both papers and excursions, which insured for them the large attendance of delegates representing almost every industry and every industrial center. The first business session convened at the Hotel Adelphia,
Jan., 1915
T H E J 0 I ; R N A L OF IiYDGSTRIAL A N D ENGIiYEERING C H E M I S T R Y
65
PAPERS The Manufacture and Application of the Artificial Zeolites in Water Softening. By D. D. JACKSON.The speaker discussed the scientific principles involved in the operation of the artificial zeolites in the reversible reactions utilized for the removal of insoluble-soap-forming substances from water to be used for industrial purposes. The process of manufacture of the artificial zeolites was fully explained and illustrated by experiments. Cobalt and manganese zeolites, which have been developed for certain catalytic operations such as the oxidation and removal of chlorine from certain sterilized waters, were discussed. The speaker illustrated with lantern slides the arrangement and eauimnent of the recently completed American - plant for manufacturing artificial zeolites and showed samples of the products a t the various stages of the manufacturing process. This was followed by illustrations of working installations of the filtration plants and quantitative figures were presented showing operation results, costs, etc. The paper proved to be of great interest to the members and brought out considerable discussion. Feldspar as a Possible Source of American Potash. By ALLERTON S. CUSHMAN AND GEORGE W. COGGESHALL. This paper was preSOCIAL FEATURES sented by Dr. Cushman and The Institute banquet, the embodied a discussion of the principal social feature of the various problems-scientific, meeting, was held in the commercial, political and inGreen Room of the Hotel ternational-involved in the Adelphia. Dr. Chas. F. Mcof potash from production Kenna presided as toastthe large feldspar deposits of master. Mr. W. C. Cattell the Atlantic states. Conresponded to the toast of the siderable discussion followed. City of Philadelphia, and Distribution of Industrial gave a most charming and Opportunities. By GEORGE instructive talk on the inOTIS SMITH, Director of fluence of Philadelphia as an the United States Geological industrial center. Mr. M. C. Survey. Director Smith preWhitaker, Retiring President, sented the principal address spoke on our industrial outof the Philadelphia meeting. look and the responsibilities He optimistically indicated of the Chemical Engineer to the direction for industrial avail himself of the oppordevelopment in America, tunities which are presented and referred to many of by the foreign complications. Dr. George D. Rosengarten, the great problems of DR. GEORGE D. ROSEXGARTEN, PRESIDENT-ELECT. AMERICAN INSTITUTE os natural development which CHEMICAL ENGINEERS the President-elect of the Institute, spoke of the plans now await the attention of for the coming year. and referred especially to the coming American Chemical Engineers. This address is herewith printed semi-annual meeting, which is to be held in San Francisco in in full. conjunction with the other chemical and engineering societies. The Chemical Industries of Japan. By JOKICHI TAKAMINE. Dr. Rosengarten was followed by Dr. Wm. H. Bower, First Dr. Takamine has recently returned from a trip to Japan and Vice-president of the Henry Bower Chemical Company, who gave the institute a r6sum6 of his observations of the chemical spoke appreciatively of the work of Dr. Rosengarten, and the industries of that country. His lecture was amply illustrated future prosperity of the Institute. Prof. A. W. Smith, Director with lantern slides and conveyed a clear and instructive imof the Chemical Laboratory of Case School of Applied Science, pression of the industrial problems of Japan and the skill and Cleveland, spoke for the western delegation, and extended a thoroughness with which they are being developed. At the cordial invitation to the Institute to hold its next annual conclusion of his formal talk, Dr. Takamine was induced to show meeting in Cleveland, and Dr. H S. Miner, Chief Chemist a number of colored slides illustrating the beautiful landscapes of the Welsbach Company, spoke encouragingly of the activity and many of the domestic and social customs and conditions of the American Chemical Engineers in meeting the great of Japan. problems forced upon us by the European crisis. Hydrometallurgical Apparatus and Its Use in Chemical
and the delegates were welcomed by Mr. W. C. Cattell on behalf of Mayor Blankenburg and the city administration. At the business session which followed, the results of the election of officers for the coming year were announced. Dr. George D. Rosengarten of Philadelphia was elected President. Dr. Rosengarten is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, class of 1890. Subsequent to graduation, he traveled extensively abroad and studied for his doctorate in Jena. I n 1901 he became Vice-president of the firm of Rosengarten & Son, Inc., and took charge of the technical research and manufacture of the various products produced by that company. I n 1905 he became Vice-president of the consolidated company of Powers, Weightman and Rosengarten. Prof. John M. Stillman, of L O Angeles, ~ was elected VicePresident; Dr. John C. Olsen, of New York City, Secretary; Dr. F. W. Frerichs, of St. Louis, Treasurer; and Prof. A. W. Smith, of Cleveland, Auditor; Thomas Griswold, George C. Adamson, J. B. F. Herreshoff and Samuel P. Sadtler were elected Directors. After the election of officers the business session was devoted to the presentation and discussion of the reports of the officers and the various standing committees.
66
T H E JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
AMERICANINSTITUTE
O F CHEMICAL
ENGINEERS AT
THE WELSBACH PLANT.
Vol. 7 , No. I
GLOUCESTBR. N E W JERSEY
The Potash Industry. By H . A. HUSTON. Dr. Huston Engineering. By JOHN V. N. DORR. Mr. Dorr discussed the possibility of applying the apparatus developed for continuous discussed with considerable detail the present potash situation and its probable bearing upon the agricultural development operation hydrometallurgy to the various chemical industries in which large quantities of material are handled. He illus- of this country. His paper was fully illustrated by lantern slides and these were followed by a most interesting series of moving t r a t d the application of classifiers, thickeners and agitators pictures, showing the operations of the various departments ento a variety of problems and elaborated particularly on the gaged in mining and refining potash salts. possibilities of the adoption of the principles of continuous counter-current , decantation as a substitute for intermittent EXCURSIONS filtration. Mr. Dorr’s lecture was illustrated by a large number As is customary in the Institute, a large portion of the proof lantern slides showing the details of construction of the apgram was devoted to the inspection of industrial plants. The paratus under discussion and also a large number of working excursions were unusually well attended and the greatest ininstallations. The costs of handling both the materials and terest was shown, especially in the more modern engineering products were also carefully discussed. developments as applied to the various industrial processes. Hardwood Distillation Industry. By E. H . FRENCH AND Atlantic Refining Co., Point Breeze. The members were JAMES R. WITHROW. This paper was presented by Mr. French here enabled to see the various processes developed for the and is published in full elsewhere in this issue. A large number refining of mid-continent crudes. The ordinary refining process of lantern slides of working installations were shown and deis illustrated by a large number of installations. The Frasch scribed by Dr. Withrow. stills were seen in operation, and the Burton process for the Need of Up-to-date Manufacturing Statistics. By BERN- manufacture of motor fuel proved to be of great interest. HARD C. HESSE. Dr. Hesse called attention to the fact that United Gas Improvement Company, Point Breeze Plant. we are in serious need of up-to-date statistics in regard to the The delegates had an opportunity t o inspect the new water gas domestic manufacture and importations. These statistics are generators with the waste heat boiler installations, the physical not now forthcoming from the Government Statistical Bureaus, research laboratory and the recent developments in artificial but we are entirely dependent upon foreign sources for such illlumination and photometric apparatus. information as we are able to obtain. He urged upon the Welsbach Company, Gloucester. The members spent the chemical engineers the desirability of dependable statistics greater portion of one day in a detailed inspection of the various of the right kind, and also that they formulate their needs and operations in this plant. The inspection was carefully organized present them t o the proper federal authorities for their con- by Mr. Miner and his staff, and the visitors had an opportunity sideration. As a result of Dr. Hesse’s address, the Institute to see the manufacture of nitro-cotton, collodion, thorium authorized the appointment of a committee to cooperate with nitrate and gas mantles, The plants for the recovery of colthe other chemical societies and report upon a specific plan lodion solvents, camphor, and the recovery and distillation for the collection, formulation and presentation of up-to-date of waste ammonia liquors were also points of interest. The industrial statistical matter which is so urgently needed. Dr. Welsbach Company entertained the guests a t luncheon, which Hesse’s address appears elsewhere in this issue. was served in the engine room of the metal factory. A Study of the Cause of Paint Failure. By G. W. THOMP- The New York Shipbuilding Co. A portion of the delegates visited the plant of the New York Shipbuilding Co., in Camden, SON. Dr. Thompson presented the results of the investigations and inspected the shops and factories of this large property. which he has conducted to establish the cause of paint failure A number of large merchant and war ships were seen in process and its possible remedy. The paper was fully illustrated by of construction. lantern slides.
Jan., 1915
T H E JOURiVAL O F INDLTSTRIAL A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
Fan and Baily Linoleum Works. A large drlegation visited this plant and inspected the process and equipment for the manufacture of both inlaid and printed linoleums. The process was shown from the oxidation of the linseed oil to the finished product and proved to be a most interesting illustration of the modern developments obtaining in this industry. Commercial Museums. One of the most interesting excursions of the convention was a visit to the Commercial Museum of Philadelphia. The inspection of this unique institution was carried out under the direction of Dr. Wm. P. Wilson, the Director of the Museum, and his corps of assistants. The plan and purpose of the museum was carefully explained to the visiting delegates and the collections proved to be most interesting and instructive. The visit to the museum was followed by an inspection of the near-by laboratories and plant of the University of Pennsylvania. Barrett Manufacturing Co. An unusually large number of visitors were the guests of the Barrett Manufacturing Co. where they were shown the working up of the light and middle oils from the various crude refineries of this company. Every operation of this process was shown, from the distillation of the oils to the refining of benzol, toluol, naphthalene, phenol and other products. DISTRIBUTION O F INDUSTRIAL OPPORTUNITIES By GEORGEOTISSXITH
Four constituents enter into the reaction that we term industry. Two of these, brain and brawn, are organic compounds and two are perhaps to be regarded as inorganic-money and material. None of these components is wanting here in the United States, and in fact their abundance affords the best reason for an optimistic outlook upon the present industrial situation. While in nowise overlooking the large importanc; of labor and engineering skill and capital as factors in the establishment of new enterprises or the expansion of old industries, I wish to address my remarks chiefly to the subject of the distribution of the raw material that is no less essential to a nation’s industry. I n the highly differentiated system of production and commerce, the place factor has assumed large influence. The growth of transportation agencies makes the whole world tributary to both producer and consumer, with the result that keen competition tends to localize and specialize production. By way of contrast, think of the industrial conditions of a century ago. Our grandmothers were in a way chemical engineers. Yet to them, for instance, potash presented no international problem, but as soap-makers they utilized that home supply that gave the material its common name. I n those days, as a poet has said: “Home was a factory, life a trade, And Mother a Captain of Industry.” Today facility of transportation has changed all this and industrial opportunities distribute themselves in accord with fairly definite though often complex principles. Of the four constituents of industry, labor, capital and brains are all more easily transported generally than the crude materials upon large tonnages of which the industry must depend. Thus cheap coal will attract manufacturers just as cheap land attracts farmers. I n studying the statistical record for the years since 1880, which is the period of expansion and development of the mineral industry, I have been impressed with the marvelous increase both in output and in efficiency in operation. Such facts have significance as we face the future. For this third of a century just past the growth of the mineral industry can be summed up in the statement that the value of the output has increased nearly seven-fold, while our population has less than doubled. If we compare directly the output per capita of population, the
67
record of increase in the more important mineral products becomes really instructive or even inspiring. Thus in this period of 33 years the consumption of coal per capita has increased from less than a ton and a half to nearly 6 tons-an increase of 337 per cent. Similarly, the production of iron ore increased 357 per cent, petroleum 391 per cent, copper IZOO per cent, cement 2 0 8 7 per cent; but gold and silver increased only 23 and 2 2 per cent respectively, while with lead the increase was 125 per cent, and zinc 638 per cent. If statistics for the more important agricultural products are studied in a similar manner it is found that the total increases in the same period have not much more than kept pace with the growth in population. This is true of the two leading grains, corn and wheat, the one having somewhat more than doubled, the other not quite doubled, in the third of a century, so that the per capita production shows only a small percentage of increase. With cotton the gross increase has been larger, approaching 130 per cent, but wool has utterly failed to increase as rapidly as the population. It is only sugar that shows an increase, both in domestic production and in consumption, at all comparable with that of the half dozen minerals mentioned, the per capita increase being 394 per cent, or about the same as the other carbon compounds, coal and petroleum. An even more gratifying phase of this mining development is the marked increase in man’s productive capacity. Let us take the no-year period 1889-1909 and analyze the coal-mining record. Roughly stated, the number of mine-workers a little more than doubled in that period, the output of coal more than trebled, and the capital investment more nearly quadrupled. The exact percentages are 123 per cent increase in employees, 2 2 6 per cent increase in production, and 2 5 2 per cent increase in capital. Stated i n terms of efficiency, the mine-worker increased his individual output from 471 to 691 tons a year, while the average annual output per dQllar of capital remained nearly the same, about two-fifths of a ton, the increase in capitalization per ton of output being less than 8 per cent. Most of this increase in capital outlay was due to equipment expenditures, the improvement in mechanical equipment appreciably adding to the mine workers’ efficiency and comfort. In iron mining the record for the same period is even more striking; the number of miners increased less than one-half, the capitalization nearly trebled, and the output nearly quadrupled. I n the iron mines, then, both labor and capital became more efficient, the output per miner increasing from 385 to 995 tons and the production per dollar of capital from oneseventh to one-sixth of a ton. I n the case of coal mining we know that this improvement did not halt with the census year of 1909, for since then the coal output per miner has increased another 71 tons, or more than I O per cent in the four-year period. -411 this tells the story of steadily increasing efficiency of mine worker, mine equipment, and mining methods-that is, of the contributions by labor, capital, and engineering. When I speak of the distribution of raw materials, I do not of course shut my eyes to the influence of markets upon the location of industry. The development of transportation systems makes the problem of markets a most complex one. Cheap transportation may take away a home market from an industry or i t may furnish a foreign market. The industrial independence of the small community of a century ago has given way to the system under which your dinner table may represent the tribute from several continents. Even in a country so diversified as ours in its natural bounties domestic production of everything consumed is not desirable nor profitable. Exchange of commodities with foreign countries becomes necessary: for instance, just as soon as America can mine and smelt copper or produce and refine petroleum more cheaply than it can grow tea or raise sheep or cattle, then‘the home market for cheap meat and wool and tea necessitates a foreign market for our copper and oil.
