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News Edition INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY s t r i c t l y chemical industries, the research Chemistry Aids i n Solving Cold Storage Problems and control laboratory has spread to
K a n s a s City Laboratory C o n d u c t s Tests o n Effect of T e m p e r a ture, H u m i d i t y a n d A t m o s p h e r i c Conditions o n Cold Storage Foods B Y J A M E S C.
T h e program of cooperation developed by the United Stated Cold Storage Company and carried on by the Kansas City Cold Storage and Warehouse Company led t o t h e establishment of a research laboratory a t the latter plant. Although this step was unique in the annals of the cold storage industry, it was t h e natural outcome of a growing realization among those interested in t h e industry from any angle t h a t t h e cold storage warehouse is not merely a place in which material may be placed until needed, b u t an organization for receiving, delivering and keeping in best condition t h e commodity stored. T o this end t h e laboratory is being developed t o give a three-fold service. First, to determine, in actual storage, conditions such as temperature, humidity and ventilation which will maintain any commodity in t h e condition received, or, in some cases, to improve it in storage to the point desired for marketing. Second, to maintain in t h e various rooms of the warehouse t h e atmospheric conditions most suitable to t h e commodity stored. Third, t o provide for the analysis of foodstuffs or other material for t h e storer, or buyer, as well as for the operation of the plant. M u c h experimental work has been done a n d various agricultural stations are continuing tests towards determinations of suitable t e m p e r a t u r e conditions which, in most cases, is t h e lowest a t which the material undergoes n o physical or chemical change. If ripening in storage is desired it m a y be advisable to employ a higher temperature so t h a t m a t u r i t y m a y be reached a t t h e time planned for marketing. Definite results can be obtained only after storage for long periods, b u t valuable indications m a y be obtained under abnormal conditions which t h e chemist m a y employ. Among t h e latter are the determinations of freezing point, which is a danger point for m a n y commodities, and t h e r a t e of ripening a t higher temperatures which m a y in a few days provide d a t a for t h e estimation of ripening through m o n t h s of storage. H u m i d i t y is a factor which is open to considerable study. A deficiency of moisture in the atmosphere of t h e room will cause excessive shrinkage due to evaporation from t h e material in contact with it, b u t too m u c h moisture induces t h e form a t i o n of molds. Storage alone will determine t h e humidity which will develop t h e molds peculiar t o any one material, b u t t h e laboratory m a y easily determine the atmospheric humidity which will maint a i n t h e original moisture content in the material. This "equilibrium humidity" does n o t necessarily correspond to the percentage moisture content of t h e material in question, and m a y be higher or lower. T o determine t h e optimum hum i d i t y it is therefore necessary to t r y the equilibrium h u m i d i t y in t h e storage atmosphere a n d reduce this, if i t is too high, to a point a t which molds are not developed.
IRWIN,
every branch of manufacturing a n d commerce, not t o belittle personal j u d g m e n t and "rule of t h u m b " m e t h o d s b u t verify their value, s u b s t i t u t e b e t t e r where advisable, and lay a firm foundation for c a r r y i n g on present good practice and improving where present practice is not all t h a t can be desired.
JR.
Closely allied with h u m i d i t y is t h e consideration of ventilation. F o r m e r l y the sole object of ventilation, -which includes t h e ' circulation of the a i r in t h e room, was t o equalize the t e m p e r a t u r e in a refrigerated space and provide for the rapid cooling of commodities placed in it. Recent investigations, however, have shown t h a t , besides maintaining a n even temperature, ventilation i s an i m p o r t a n t factor in the final condition, especially in the case of fruits a n d eggs. This may be simply explained by t h e washing action of a current of a i r which removes from the surface of the material substances which would introduce u n desirable flavor, odor, or appearance. Further, it reduces mold formation, a n d , in general, maintains in direct contact with the material, conditions similar to those of its natural growth. The above outlines some of the problems which the cold storage laborator} r has to work on so t h a t not only good but t h e best conditions m a y be prescribed for each commodity. T h e Research L a b o r a t o r y of the Kansas City Cold Storage a n d W a r e house Company is continually seeking t h e cooperation a n d accumulating in its library the reports of t h e various government, state,- a n d university laboratories which are working on t h e subject. This provides to t h e clients of the company t h e latest information on storage conditions for their commodities. T h e second function of the Research Laboratory assures that prescribed conditions will be maintained as closely as possible with t h e aid of the latest devices and instruments. The daily humidity readings are checked, a n d the operating department advised as to methods for maintaining conditions. Inspection of commodities in storage is made frequently to verify experimental results. The analytic service provides convenience due t o the location of the laboratory in the same building. Of even more importance is the increased facility for obtaining a true sample. Representative samples c a n be taken by t h e chemist following approved methods w i t h which he is familiar, a n d within a few minutes be subjected to t h e desired t e s t . T h i s is of especial value in t h e analysis of foodstuffs which m a y undergo m a r k e d changes through s h o r t exposure t o higher temperatures. An example of the u s e of this service was an analysis of cider which had been in storage for a long period. The alcoholic c o n t e n t was reported t o be under the required "one-half of one" so the day after the sample was submitted the owner was able t o remove the cider from storage with a clear conscience. Organized during t h e past winter, the Research Laboratory of the KLansas City Cold Storage a n d Warehouse C o m p a n y is now developing its field of service, a n d it is soon expected to be a n o t h e r example of the value of the industrial laboratory which has achieved such an important place in t h e last few years. From the
M e t r i c S y s t e m Dropped from U . S. P. H. Specifications for D r u g s Following the lead of t h e Medical Dep a r t m e n t of the A r m y , t h e U. S. Public H e a l t h Service h a s dropped t h e metric s y s t e m from its specifications covering the purchase of drugs a n d medical supplies for u s e in t h e marine hospitals a n d public health service. T h e General Supply Comm i t t e e of t h e T r e a s u r y D e p a r t m e n t has likewise fallen into line. T h e question of eliminating t h e m e t r i c system from specifications of other purchasing d e p a r t m e n t s of t h e government is understood t o be pending before t h e N a v y D e p a r t m e n t and the Veterans' B u r e a u . Elimination of t h e metric system from government specifications is declared by those interested t o be in accord with commercial practice a n d in line with t h e policy of t h e Commerce D e p a r t m e n t to bring about simplification of practices, waste elimination, standardization a n d economies in industries. T h e avoirdupois a n d apothecaries systems of weights a n d measures n o w supersede t h e metric system on t h e supply tables of three i m p o r t a n t government purchasing agencies as a result of conferences between government officials and trade representatives. T h e r e a r e certain exceptions t o the rule in t h e case of t h e public health service, it appears. These relate to laboratory reagents, pituitary extract and certain other special products wherein t h e metric system has been universally adopted as a part of commercial practice. R e c e n t l y Surgeon General H. S. Cummin gs of t h e public health service stated t h a t h e was favorably impressed with the suggestion of eliminating t h e metric system. However, public health officers realize t h a t t h e metric system m u s t be used in certain instances, as in t h e case of ampoules, solutions regularly prepared by the t r a d e wherein t h e strengths are^ so specified, a n d possibly laboratory stains, which m a y be sold regularly in containers, t h e sizes of which are based upon the metric system. T h e Treasury, through D a n C. Vaughan, director of supply, will in future specify quantities in t h e avoirdupois and apothecaries systems where one or t h e other of t h e m is applicable. M r . Vaughan states t h a t he believes this procedure will result in receiving wider competition on our requirements a n d consequent advantage to t h e government. T h e a t t i t u d e of other d e p a r t m e n t s has been made plain to t h e Veterans' Bureau. T h e m a t t e r is being considered b y t h e medical a n d purchasing heads of t h e bureau and action against t h e metric system is predicted in some quarters before long. After t h a t t h e guns of opponents of the metric system will be trained on. t h e N a v y D e p a r t m e n t and Marine Corps, it is understood.—Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter.
