The Svedberg, in charge of nuclear chemistry at the University of Uppsala, has been named honorary president of the meeting to b e held in Stockholm and Uppsala. Prof. Svedberg, whose work on determination of high molecular weights using the ultracentrifuge is well known, is shown at the poles of his giant magnet in Uppsala. This photograph and one on page 2 6 7 2 by K. W . Gullers
Chemical Research in Scandinavia Delegates a n d visitors to the coming Xlllth Congress of Pure a n d A p p l i e d Chemistry ROBERT L. LOFTNESS, Former Science Attache, American Embassy, Stockholm, Sweden
w i l l have a chance to acquire a first-hand k n o w l e d g e of t h e expansion of chemical research in Scandinavia since W o r l d W a r H as shown by n e w research councils a n d cooperative laboratories a n d emphasis upon applied research
V>EDEMICAL RESEARCH in Denmark, Nor-
way, and Sweden, is both old and new. Old is the tradition for basic investigation of m e n such as Arrhenius and Brônsted. N e w is t h e expansion into a dozen fields of applied chemistry. Delegates and visitors to the coming XIII International Congress of Pure and Applied Chemistry to b e held July 2 9 to August 7 in Stockholm and Uppsala will have a chance to acquire a first-hand knowledge of this tradition and expansion. Until t h e second world war, research in chemistry was largely the responsibility of t h e various universities. Industries had only small laboratories or none at all. T h e stimulus of wartime scarcities and the necessity of finding substitutes started a remarkable expansion of research. Not 2670
only was more money provided to university laboratories but government research councils were organized, cooperative government-industry laboratories were estab-
lished, and industries built lar^ equipped research laboratories ι own. Although the emphasis h upon applied research, institutes
Robert L. Loftness, until recently a science attache at the American E m b a s s y in Stockholm, was educated at the College of P u g e t Sound and the University of Washington, a n d later took a P h . D . at the Swiss Fed eral Institute of T e c h n o l o g y in Zurich. Prior t o going to work for the State Department he did research at the University of California Radiation Laboratory and at North American Aviation, Inc.
C H E M I C A L
A N D
E N G I N E E R I N G
I
in basic research have also benefited greatly by the increased public interest in science and technology. Perhaps the two most prominent fea tures of the expansion during the past decade are the new research councils and the cooperative laboratories. Research Councils
Kach of the countries has organized various technical research councils since 1942 (Table I ) . These councils usually have 10 to 25 members who are chosen from academic and industrial circles. Membership on the councils is for limited periods, assuring a representation of all interests over an extended period. The National Science Foundation in the United States has functions similar to those of the various Scandinavian research councils. The councils support chemical research by making research grants, awarding fellowships, and supporting
V O L U M E
3 1,
NO.
26
»
,
»
publication of scientific research. They also help finance the travel of scientists. In Sweden and Denmark the research councils operate on funds received di rectly from the government. The Nor wegian councils receive most of their funds from the receipts on football betting pools. Income from this source is now about $1.4 million a year. Research in Norway and Denmark has received considerable impetus from Mar shall Plan technical assistance funds. In Denmark, $485,000 has been allotted for the purpose of scientific equipment and another $1.4 million set aside out of counterpart funds for scientific apparatus. Cooperative Research Bnstitutes
Typical of the development of research in Scandinavia has been the formation of cooperative research laboratories. These in stitutes, listed in Table II, were established on the initiative of groups of industrial
» JUNE
2 9,
1953
firms who approached the government for help in erecting laboratories. In many cases the government financed the labora tory buildings while industry provided the operating funds. In Sweden, the Wood Products, Textile, Metallographic, and Cement and Con crete Research Institutes are substantial establishments with separate laboratory buildings and research staffs numbering from 30 to 150. Th.e creation of addi tional cooperative research institutes is not likely in Swederu A recent proposal to establish an electronics research insti tute was vetoed o n the grounds that existing laboratories at t h e various uni versities already perform this work satis factorily. The development of cooperative re search laboratories has been somewhat delayed in Norway because of the war. The fact that many branches of industry are not sufficiently large to support a cooperative institute of their own has led to the establishment of a Central Insti tute for Industrial Research in Oslo. This institute will rent quarters to single indus trial firmSj to groups o£ firms, and to government agencies, and will provide a contract research service as well. Con struction on a $1.7 million building will begin this year. At present the institute has temporary quarters a t the University of Oslo. Several of the larger Norwegian industrial groups—paper, cement and con crete, and electrical products—will build separate laboratories adjacent to the Cen tral Institute. Denmark differs from the other two Scandinavian countries in having no large cooperative research institutes. The bakery, tanning, plastics, and cement and brick industries have small laboratories at the Industrial Arts Institute, while the paint and varnish laboratory and the tex tile research laboratory are housed at the Danish Technical University. The Acad emy of Technical Sciences supports 12 laboratories (refrigeration, acoustics, weld ing, optics, geotechnics, electronics, mi crowaves, textiles, flax, paint and varnish, timber, and technical terminology). About $200,000 is spent annually for these labo ratories. The Academy of Technical Sci ences also has a number of committees to study various technical and scientific problems and to suggest research pro grams. Under consideration in Denmark is the construction of a central research institute which would house the various cooperative laboratories, the laboratories of the Academy of Technical Sciences, and a productivity center as well. Private industrial research institutes of the Β attelle or Mellon type do not exist in Scandinavia. Only a few private coop erative or consulting research laboratories are found even in specialized fields. The 200-year-old Swedish Ironmaster's Asso ciation has a research program which is carried out at the various member indus tries. The Norwegian Industries Develop ment Association i n Oslo maintains a number of small research, laboratories for the benefit of member industries. This association also publishes the largest tech2671
low power research reactor in Stockl which will operate on uranium meta covered from shale, and will use h water as a moderator. The chem section of this company is engaged h of the chemical operations for t h e duction of uranium from the benefice of ore to the p u r e metal. T h e Norwegians have h a d their rei at Kjeller in operation for about a 3 This reactor uses natural uranium ι fuel and heavy water as a moder; T h e chemical work for this reactor been performed b y the Norwegian Def Research Institute and the Norwe Atomic Energy Institute. Academic
T h e Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden is o n e of the many universities a n d institutes of technology that have built new chemistry buildings since W o r l d W a r I I nical abstract journal in Scandinavia. T h e Topsoe Research Laboratories in Copen hagen performs consulting work on petro leum refining problems and catalysts. T h e Central Co. for Chemical Industries in Stockholm maintains a consulting staff for general chemical engineering. The Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences in Stockholm has been instru mental in organizing m u c h of the applied research in Sweden; it also operates a research station w h e r e quarters are avail able for industrial or government groups on a rental basis.
propane, butane, and lime b y - p r o d u c t s from t h e shale distillation. T h e Atomic Energy Co. is b u i l d i n g a
Government
Norway
Research
Institutes
Government participation in chemical research is of long standing in these coun tries where universities are supported b y the federal governments. In addition to supporting research at the universities, t h e Danish government h a s chemical labora tories at their institutes tor materials test ing, vitamins, industrial hygiene, fisheries, serums, a n d fruit and vegetable utiliza tion. Among t h e Swedish government research institutes where some chemical research is performed are: forestry, geotechnics, public health, roads, materials testing, and defense. In Norway, t h e government laboratories for fisheries, de fense, whaling, a n d r a w materials engage in chemical research. Sweden has started two governmentowned companies which are engaged in chemical research. T h e Swedish Shale Oil Co. was begun during the war to produce oil from shale. Although this company produces only 2 or 3 % of Sweden's oil requirements during peace time, this amount forms a very necessary reserve in time of war. Operation of the company today is considered to be on an economically competitive basis in spite of t h e poor quality of t h e shale. This has been possible b y utilization of sulfur, 2672
T a b l e I.
Research
The important role of basic researc t h e universities and institutes of t nology in Scandinavia has by no mi decreased with t h e expansion of apr: research. As a matter of fact, gre d e m a n d s than ever have been p u t υ t h e academic laboratories for research larger numbers of graduate scientists 1 b e e n needed. In Sweden, new chemi buildings have b e e n erected at t h e R< Institute of Technology, the Univei of Uppsala, and Chalmers Institute Technology. T h e subject matter of the two symp to b e held in conjunction with the ΧΓ
Research Councils
Sweden Agriculture Medicine Technical Science Natural Science Atom Committee Agriculture Technical Science General Science
Year Established
Anni Bud£
1945 1945 1942 1946 1945
$ 56,' 230,i 212,! 253,< 360,1
1949 1946 1949
80,1 400,1 345,(
1946 1952
50,( 300,(
Denmark
Technical Science General Science
Table I I .
C o o p e r a t i v e Research Institutes
Year Started
Annu Budg
1942 1944 1945
$110,( 18,(
Sweden
W o o d Products, Stockholm Textile, Gothenburg Metallographic, Stockholm Peat, L u n d Cement a n d Concrete, Stockholm F o o d Preservation, G o t h e n b u r g Paint & Varnish, Stockholm Glass Institute, Vaxjo
30,C
1945 1945
Norway
P a p e r Industry, Oslo Norwegian Development Association, Oslo Central Institute for Industrial Research, Oslo Silicate Research Institute, T r o n d h e i m F o o d Preservation, S t a v a n g e r Herring Oil and Meal
1920 1943 1950 1948 1930 1947
90,0 50,C 35,0 57,0 63,0
Denmark
Industrial Arts Institute
C H E M I C A L
1907
A N D
E N G I N E E R I N G
Ν Ε NX
Congress of Pure a n d Applied Chemistry provides a cue to t h e emphasis on chemistry in Sweden. Both the symposium on t h e "Chemistry of W o o d and Wood Constituents" a n d that on "Maeromolecules" are natural choices. T h e vast natural wealth of forests in Sweden has m a d e t h e chemistry of wood, cellulose, lignin, a n d natural organic products of greatest importance. On the other hand, the lack of such basic chemical r a w m a terials as petroleum a n d coal has caused the field of synthetic organic chemistry to t a k e a secondary place in research. T h e interest in the chemistry of natural products has led, in Sweden, to a merging of the fields of organic and biochemistry. Some of the institutes carrying on research in wood, cellulose, a n d lignin are found at the Royal Institute of Technology, t h e Swedish Wood Products R e search Institute, t h e University of U p p sala, t h e Norwegian Paper Industries' R e search Institute, a n d the Norwegian Instit u t e of Technology. T h e work of T h e Svedberg in determination of high molecular weights using the ultracentrifuge has been outstanding. Prof. Svedberg is now in charge of nuclear chemistry at Uppsala. Arne Tiselius, currently president of the IUPAC and head of the department of biochemistry at t h e University of Uppsala, received the Nobel Prize in 1948 for his work on electrophoresis a n d adsorption analysis. His n e w institute has received a grant of $100,000 for equipment from the Rockefeller Foundation. Also working in t h e field of large molecules is Nils Gralén at Chalmers Institute of Technology, Gothenburg. Prof. Gralén, w h o is director of t h e Textile Chemistry Research Institute, is interested particularly in the structure of textile fibers in relation to other physical a n d chemical properties. Both Denmark and Norway maintain textile research institutes as well. Also at Chalmers is Arvid Hedvall, director of the Silicate Chemistry Research Institute. His research group is concerned with solid state reactions, diffusion phenomena, ceramics, glass, and other refractories. The Danish Technical University and the Norwegian Institute of Technology have silicate research institutes engaged in somewhat similar research. Of interest in Copenhagen is Jannik BjerrimYs work on measurement of rates of reaction of complex compounds. By experiments in alcohol solution at —80° C , Prof. Bjerrum h a s been able to slow t h e reaction rates to measurable speed. At t h e Danish Technical University, H e n rik D a m is continuing his research on vitamins Κ and Ε for which he received t h e Nobel Prize in 1943. T h e research in tissue cultivation and enzymatic processes at t h e Carlsberg Laboratories in Copen hagen is world-known. A m o n g t h e prominent Norwegian labo ratories are those in Oslo of O d d Hassel, w h o is working on structural chemistry using x-ray and electron diffraction tech niques, a n d of Η . Κ. Haraldsen, who is V O L U M E
3 1, N O .
26
Institution
Table III. Academic Chemical Research Specialties Professor
Sweden University of Lund Physical and inorganic
Bodforss
Organic
Larsson
University of Stockholm Organic and biochemistry
Myrbâck
Inorganic and physical
Olander
University
of
Hâgg
Organic
Fredga
Physical
Claesson
Nuclear Biochemistry Chalmers Institute of nology, Gothenburg Theoretical
Svedberg Tiselius
Crystallography, b o r i d e s , carbides, solid solutions Stereochemistry, r e a c t i o n k i netics, sulfur c o m p o u n d s H i g h polymers, proteins, cellulose Nuclear transformations Adsorption analysis, proteins
TechBâckstrom
Industrial Nuclear Silicate
Samuelsson Zimen Hedvall
Organic Petroleum
Adler Schjanberg
Textile
Gralén
Royal Institute of Tech· nology, Stockholm Inorganic
Sillén
Applied inorganic
Stelling
Theoretical
Lamm
Applied electrochemistry
Angel
Organic Applied organic
Erdtmann Groth
Food
Lundin
Paint and varnish
Nylén
Reaction kinetics, p h o t o c h e m istry I o n exchange, cellulose, lignin Radiology, nuclear reactions Reactivity of solids, c e r a m i c s , glass, diffusion rates, crystallography Lignin Petroleum products, sulfur a n d oxygen removal, by-product utilization Physical a n d chemical p r o p e r ties of n a t u r a l a n d synthetic fibers Polarography, spectrograph^ spectrophotometry, i o n e x change Organosilicones, rubber, fluorides, silicates Radiology, isotope s e p a r a t i o n , diffusion, conductivity, k i netics Electrolytic production of a l kali, chlorine, l i t h i u m , calcium, b o r o n , beryllium W o o d and lignin, glucosides Synthetic organics, r u b b e r , teirp e n e , wood tars alcohol Pectins, quick freezing, riboflavin production, fat m e t a b olism, yeast Testing methods, r a w materials
of Oslo
Inorganic
Haraldsen
Organic
Berner
Physical
Hassel
X-ray study of binary alloys, polarography, thermal analysis, magnetochemistry D i e n e synthesis, c a t a l y t i c g a s reactions, optically active compounds, synthesis Structural chemistry, x-ray electron interference analysis, dipole moments Biochemistry chemistry
University of Bergen Biochemistry Norwegian Institute of Technology, Trondheim Inorganic
Raeder
Organic
Sorensen
Chemical engineering
Terjesen
» » » » JUNE
F e r m e n t a t i o n , carbohydrates, vitamins, enzymes Acetylene, crystal structure, complex chemistry, i o n exchange
Uppsala
Inorganic
Norway University
Electrochemistry, c o m p l e x c o m p o u n d s , photochemistry Heats of combustion of h a l o g e n and sulfur c o m p o u n d s , r e tenes, silicones
and
agricultural
Gaarder Analytical techniques, surface tension, overvoltage c h r o m a tography, Se, T e , S Zooplanton, kelp, algae, fish o i l , etheric oils, tanning agents, carotinoid pigments Absorption, distillation, charcoal, wood tars, terpenes
Continued on next page
2 9,
1953
S673
Table III.
Academic Chemical Research (Continued)
Institution Technical organic
Proiessor Notevarp
W o o d products
Andersen
Theoretical
Finbak
Denmark University Physical
of
Copenhagen Christiansen
Organic Organic
Langseth Jensen
Inorganic University
specialties Foods, bacteriology, lipoids, biochemical production, syn thesis problems Alkyllignins, lignins, sulfite cel lulose, peat, lignin derivatives Electrochemistry, bonds in or ganic compounds, x-ray crys tallography, phase studies
Bjerrum of Aarhus
Organic
Lund
Biochemistry
Schonheydei
Danish Technical Copenhagen Technical
Catalytic and enzymatic reac tions, kinetics Molecular structures Plant growth substances, com plex compounds, stereochem istry» dipole moments Complex compounds, rare earths Acetylene chemistry, synthetic dyes, thermodynamics Enzymes, kinetics of phospha tase action, animal lactases
University, Raaschou
Silicate
Andreasen
Organic
Veibel
Inorganic
Asmussen
Biochemistry
Dam
Technical
Jorgensen
biochemistry
Table IV. Industrial Laboratory Company Employees AB Astra, Sodertalje 75 Pharmacia, Uppsala 50 AB Bofors Nobelkurt, Bofors Bolidens Gruv AB, Boliden Hoganas-Billesholm AB, Hoganas Mo & Domsjô, Ornskoldsvik
120
Uddeholms A B , Skoghall Svenska Qljeslageri AB, Gothenburg Stora Kopparbergs Bergslags AB, Falun Stockholms Superfosfat Fabriks AB, Ljungaverk Swedish Cellulose Co., Sundsvall Sadolin & Holmblad, Copenhagen Norsk Hydro, Rjukan Borregaards
61
80 65
105
Ion exchange, aluminum hy droxide studies, vanadium analysis Glass viscosities, surface areas of powders, hardening proc esses Heterocyclic nitrogen com pounds, enzymatic hydroly sis, kinetics Crystallography, dielectics properties, magnetic proper ties of organic compounds and metals Vitamins Ε and K, blood coagu lation, dental decay, fat oxi dation Problems in preservation of fruit and vegetables
Chemical Laboratories Products and research Pharmaceuticals, penicillin Pharmaceuticals, dextran Explosives, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals Copper, lead, gold, arsenic, selenium Bricks, Sulfate and Paper,
stoneware, tile, alumina pulp, organic chemicals from alcohol turpentine pulp, alkali, chlorine, solvents
40
Resins, lacquers, detergents, linseed oil Iron, steel, pulp, paper, acids, turpentine, alcohol Nitrogen compounds, nitrogen gas, nitric acid, calcium carbide, synthetic rubber
90
Cellulose, chlorine, alkali, alcohol
60 40
Paints and varnishes, furan chemistry Electrochemicals Cellulose, pulp, paper
studying binary alloys and magne istry. There are, of course, many more cal laboratories at the various uni where equally significant researcl ing performed. Table III lists the laboratories and their principal 1 research. Industrial Research Sweden, with twice the popul; either of its neighbors, has the derant number of industrial resean ratories. This is partly - because started intensive industrial resear ing t h e recent war; Norway and Ε were obliged to wait until after of the war before they could b build up industrial research labo Practically all of t h e larger ! chemical firms have built n e w ι laboratories since 1940. Pred among the industrial concerns eng research are the pulp and papc panies; M o & Domsjô, Uddehol· and the Swedish Cellulose Co. concerned with improvement of c products and the utilization of by-r. from the manufacture of pulp anc Penicillin is produced b y t w o c firms, AB Astra and Kabi AB. Ph has developed and produces the plasma substitute, dextran, as ^ pharmaceuticals of many kinds. AB Bofors Nobelkrut has been mental in the development of s organic chemicals. From an init duction solely of explosives, the f expanded its production of oth thetic organics—phenol, insectieid< stuffs, and intermediates—to th< where today it represents half of production of chemicals. T h e Svenska Oljeslageri AB, < burg, has extended its prewar pre of linseed oil-based paints to inch thetic lacquers, detergents, wetting and a number of other organic ch Extensive water power in north has l e d to the production of ele cally produced nitrogen compour carbides at Stockholms Superfosf; This company undertook the pre of synthetic rubber during the Λ has since discontinued this produc T h e first company to produci based paints in Scandinavia is Ss Holmblad in Copenhagen. T h e : laboratory at this firm has also pe extensive research in furan chemi Norsk Hydro in Rjukan, Norw well-known producer of heavy wa basically produces nitrogen and fe The Borregaard Co. in Norway of t h e largest research programs country for cellulose products.
See Dflaes 2701—07 f o r comofefe Droaram of ** ϋ £M jl· X^i^j Ά
XI 11th International Conaréss of Pure and AooKed Chemistrv XV91th Conference of the Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry Sfeekheim, Swedes. JeSy 29 * a Aye. 4s Upeseks. Sweden, Aue. 5 f© 7
2674
C H E M I C A L
AND
E N G I N E E R I N G
I
