BOOKS
BEYOND T H E FLYLEAF A Problem in Chemical Engineering De sign: T h e Manufacture of Mononitrof o l u e n e . Rev. E d . J. M. Coulson and F . E. W a r n e r , editors. 5 5 pages -f- 2 fold-out charts. T h e Institution of C h e m i c a l Engineers, 5 6 Victoria St., L o n d o n , S.W.I, E n g l a n d . 1949. $2.17. R e v i e w e d by J. W . CLI-CG, Battelle M e morial Institute. JL H E r a t h e r long title of this unusual little book defines its contents precisely. T h e a u t h o r s h a v e described t h e design of t h e essential e q u i p m e n t to produce 20 tons p e r w e e k of mixed mononitrotoluenes. Al t h o u g h t h e y u s e economics only casually in selecting process steps or e q u i p m e n t . t h e i r w o r k will be of value in d e m o n strating t h e application of chemical en g i n e e r i n g principles to a m a n u f a c t u r i n g p r o b l e m . The book is based on notes for a four-lecture refresher course given at t h e University of Manchester in 1947. After a careful statement of t h e p r o b lem a n d derivation of a quantitative flow s h e e t from t h e basic d a t a , t h e a u t h o r s w o r k through t h e design of a nitrator, w a s h e r , distillation column, a n d crystallizer. All of t h e operations are continuous. T h e t r e a t m e n t of t h e design is a d e q u a t e . T h e example of calculation of t h e still for rectifying t h e three-component mix t u r e of mononitrotoluenes should be h e l p ful for t e a c h i n g purposes. T h e discussion of t h e fractional crystallization is some w h a t short, a n d v a g u e in spots. A brief section o n mechanical design completes t h e story. T h e b o o k is weakly b o u n d in c a r d b o a r d covers. T h e actual writing is, i n general, poor. L o n g , v e r b o s e sentences with con fusing p u n c t u a t i o n seem to b e t h e rule. Nevertheless, t h e organization is orderly, a n d t h e h a n d l i n g of t h e various equations a n d t h e i r m a n y symbols, good. F o r t h e general reader, this book will p r o b a b l y be of little interest. T o in structors of chemical engineering, par ticularly those w h o a r e responsible for u n d e r g r a d u a t e or g r a d u a t e courses in p l a n t design, it should b e useful. Primary WOOD
Batteries. VINAL.
1st
xi -f-
ed.
GEORGE
336 pages.
John
W i l e y & Sons, I n c . , 4 4 0 F o u r t h Ave., N e w York 16, Ν. Υ. 1950. $5.00. R e v i e w e d b y C. C. R O S E , Willard Stor a g e Battery C o . T H I S book is a fitting c o m p a n i o n to "Stor a g e Batteries,"' which h a s b e e n a c c e p t e d as t h e most u p - t o - d a t e a n d authoritative r e f e r e n c e in its field. T h e r e h a s b e e n n o concise a n d reliable s u m m a r y of the tech nical information on this subject, t h e science a n d a r t of w h i c h have m a d e rapid strides within t h e past .10 years. T h e author is eminently qualified to w r i t e this book because of his close association with most of these d e v e l o p m e n t s . T h e history, chemistry, a n d electrical V O L U M E
2 8,
NO. 40
»
characteristics of the various primary couples a r e discussed, w i t h good tables ol d a t a , curves, a n d cuts, all of w h i c h m a k e a n excellent reference for comparing them as a power source, for further research, or for a modern revision of electrochemical texts. Following t w o short chapters on t h e history a n d theory of p r i m a r y cells, a p proximately the next h u n d r e d pages ( three c h a p t e r s ) a r e d e v o t e d to dry cells. W h i l e t h e expert in t h e particular field might disagree, to this reviewer the subject seems to have b e e n given excellent cover age. American S t a n d a r d s Association sizes a n d tests are briefly d e s c r i b e d a n d t h e problems of low t e m p e r a t u r e operation a r e discussed. An excellent chapter is devoted to s t a n d a r d cells, on which the a u t h o r is an international authority. This is of real value to those c o n c e r n e d as t h e reference t o the current status of this subject. The rest of t h e book ( a b o u t 120 p a g e s ) more briefly but adequately covers other p r i m a r y couples such as air cells; copper oxide—caustic soda cells; silver o x i d e zinc; or silver chloride—magnesium cells; lead p e r o x i d e - l e a d cells w i t h electrolytes other t h a n H2SO4, in which t h e p r o d u c t s of reaction a r e soluble; t h e R u b e n or mercuric oxide—zinc cell, and finally v a n a d i u m pentoxide cells a n d fused electrolyte cells w h i c h are m e n t i o n e d briefly. No attempt is m a d e t o describe m a n u facturing processes. T h e best of current publications is q u o t e d b u t no p a t e n t refer ences are given. T h e chief adverse criti cism of this reviewer is that n o mention is m a d e of t h e m a g n e s i u m dry cell a n d t h e cuprous chloride magnesium couple, both of which have shown great promise, a n d are in limited p r o d u c t i o n a t t h e present time. T h e book is interesting reading and is highly r e c o m m e n d e d .
M E T A L L O Y ' S IITHIUM PROGRESS * REPORT
1942.-1950 To A i d Industry, M e t a l l o y Has Pioneered the Manufacture of Lithium in These Forms: Lithium Metal • • β •
Cup Η lb. · Shot Extruded R o d Η " Wire h " Dia. · Ribbon Cartridge ( e n c a s e d in c o p p e r t u b i n g ) 4 . 5 0 , 9 . 0 & 1 0 8 . 0 gram
Lithium
&
4 - 8 mesh ·}& " D i a . Κ " 2.25,
Hydride
Fine G r o u n d
Lithium
Amide
Crystalline Specialists, M e t a l l o y has d e v e l o p e d special forms of L i t h i u m a n d L i t h i u m C o m p o u n d s for many s p e c i a l i z e d a p p l i c a t i o n s . C h e c k this list of ever e x p a n d i n g L i t h i u m Salts, e x c l u s i v e with M e t a l l o y :
LITHIUM • • • •
Aluminate Cobaltite Manganite Silicate
· Titanate · Zirconate · Zirconium Silicate
As α Contribution to organic research, Metalloy'» technical staff has p r e p a r e d an A n n o t a t e d B i b l i o g r a p h y on t h e use of O r g a n o l i t h i u m C o m p o u n d s i n O r g a n i c Synthesis. A n n u a l S u p p l e m e n t s w i l l follow. L e t M e t a l l o y a n d L i t h i u m go to w o r k for y o u , t o d a y ' W r i t e D e p t . Β for specific data o n a n y of t h e a b o v e . If It's L i t h i u m — I t ' s M e t a l l o y
METALLOY CORPORATION BAND T O W E R
MINNEAPOLIS,
MINN.
2>ÛAUÙM* Q,3 \? SU 3 ίΌ u ï l CORPORATION fSBBBBBBES^ ° f A M I R I C A , I N C . . s e s e s
r^-^43 j ^ . r^r )' and paper comp-any New York Centrai Bldg. 2SG Park Avenue New York 17, H. Y.
3456
Pure Oil Bldg. 35 E. Wscker Drive Chicago t , Illinois
Lincoln-Liberty Bldg. Broad and Chestnut Sts. Philadelphia 7, Pa.
Leader Bldg. 526 Superior Aveu, N.W. Cleveland 14, Ohio
C H E M I C A L
! "Building the Peace" is the title υί a | leaflet prepared by t h e Department of j State outlining the growth a n d purposes ' of t h e United Nations. Discussion of t h e formation of a world government with t h e UN as its nucleus is included. "Facts a n d Figures about the United Nations" s u b titled "A n e w dimension in world co operation" is contained in a 16-page leaflet which lists a n d discusses t h e a c complishment of the UN in handy outline form. T h e leaflets a r e for sale by t h e Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington ', 25, D. C , at 5 cents each, with a 2 5 % discount for quantities of 100 or more. | T h e above were published in connection ! with t h e observance of United Nations ι Day, on Oct. 24. A third publication, a graphics primer on t h e United Nations, is being planned and is expected to b e avail able soon.
ftlEW
BOHiCS
Frictional P h e n o m e n a .
ANDREW G E M A N T .
xi + 4 9 7 pages. T h e Chemical Publish ing Co., Inc., 2 6 Court St., Brooklyn 2 , Ν. Υ. $ 1 2 . Mid-Century; T h e Social Implications of Scientific Progress. J. E . Burchard, edi tor. 5 6 9 pages. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 4 4 0 Fourth Ave., N e w York 16, Ν. Υ. Also Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press, Cambridge, Mass. $7.50. Progress i n Coal Science. Vol. I. D . H . Bangham, editor, xi -\- 456 pages. In terscience Publishers, Inc., 250 Fifth Ave., N e w York 1, Ν. Υ. $7.00. Symposium on Steroid Hormones. E . S. Gordon, editor, xiii + 396 pages. T h e University of Wisconsin Press, 811 State St., Madison 5, W i s . $6.50. Synthetische M e t h o d e n der Organischen C h e m i e . Repertorium 4. W . T H E I L HEIMER. xi -f 3 6 0 pages. S. Karger Ltd., Holbeinstrasse 22, Basel, Switzer land. $8.64. Thin Films and Surfaces. WINIFRED L E W I S , vii -f- 120 pages. Chemical Publishing Co., I n c . , 26 Court St., Brooklyn 2, Ν. Υ. $4.75. Titanium i n Steel. G. F . COMSTOCK, S. F . U R B A N , AND M O R R I S C O H E N ,
vii +
320
pages. Pitman Publishing Corp., 2 W e s t 45th St., New York 19, Ν. Υ. $7.50. A N D ENGINEERING
NEWS
