Mar., 1912
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y .
fore undertaking co-operative work, we worked on samples of Muriate, Sulfate and Kainit. Our results clearly show t h a t when impurities exist in sulfate there is a decided loss by using the official method for mixed fertilizer, this loss being 0 . 9 4 per cent. This sample of sulfate tests 48.12-48.154 8 . 2 0 potash b y Official Method for Potash salts. On the muriate which tested 5 2 per cent. there was very little loss. On the kainit scarcely any loss Mr. Baker, in commenting, says the following: “ T h e ignitions were made very carefully, and I a m certain t h a t the lower results were not due t o loss in burning. I note that the sulfate gave a precipitate with ammonia b u t none with ammonium oxalate. The muriate gave no precipitate with ammonia, but quite heavy precipitate with ammonium oxalate. Kainit-precipitate with ammonia, none with ammonium oxalate. “The sulfate did not behave properly with the Official Method. There were apparently impurities in the precipitate, and for this reason I believe the lower result t o be more accurate. “I did not note any particular differences in the precipitates of the muriate and kainit. The variation for the muriate is not much, and for the kainit practically none. I may say, however, t h a t in the past I have, upon other samples, obtained much greater differences. I think the indication is t h a t the use of ammonia and ammonium oxalate will produce more accurate results, b u t in order t o draw definite conclusions, it would seem to me t h a t more work should be done along this line.” Mr. Porter remarks: “ I regret t h a t we have not been able to do more work on this subject t o report a t this time. It has been our experience t h a t some muriates check by the two methods while others show more than two per cent. difference.” The same has been my experience. I n view of these facts i t seems t o the committee best to recommend further work and an effort be made t o have these facts recognized as it is a serious problem for the’manufacturer t o buy potash on one test and suffer such a loss when tested for in mixed goods. J. E. BRECKENRIDGE, Chairman.
COMMITTEE ON PHOSPHATE ROCK. FERTILIZER DIVISION.’
Work is being done on the molybdate method and the acetate method in the sub-committee on iron and alumina. I t is proposed, also, t o continue work on the determination of moisture and of total phosphoric acid and t o describe the procedure for these determinations very carefully. A recent letter from the Bureau of Standards states t h a t on account of press of other work, they have been obliged t o postpone further work on the sample of phosphate rock they were analyzing for the committee, b u t will return to i t as soon as possible.
Your committee desires, a t this time, merely t o report progress and ask to be continued. I t has seemed best not t o call for co-operative work until improvements in methods now under consideration have been brought into such shape t h a t the committee can confidently recommend them. ALFREDM. PETER,Chairman.
COMMITTEE ON NITROGEN. FERTILIZER DIVISION.’
Preliminary results of co-operative work on t h e analysis of a small sample of commercial nitrate of soda were reported a t the summer meeting a t Indianapolis, and this report was published in THISJ O U R N A L for October, 1911. In the meantime the committee has undertaken the preparation and standardization of a larger sample of commercial nitrate of soda. This sample is now ready t o be sent out, and it is expected that the results of co-operative work on this sample will be presented a t the coming summer meeting. PAULRUDNICK, Chairman.
COMMITTEE ON STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS AND METHODS OF ANALYSIS. INDUSTRIAL DIVISION.’
The Committee on Standard Specifications submits the following report of its work since the last meeting of the Society in Indianapolis, June, 1911. At t h a t time a report was submitted covering the progress of the nine sub-committees in charge of the preparation of specifications of the various materials under consideration. The sub-committees on Bleach and Solder had completed their work temporarily and submitted specifications which were embodied in the form recommended by your committee and presented in our report as Provisional Speci fications. The specifications for bleach have not been criticized b y the members of the Society during the period since the last meeting and we now believe t h a t they should be submitted to a number of the larger manufacturers for their criticism, after which we would recommend t h a t some action be taken b y the Division in regard t o them. The specifications for solder have been criticized and we have referred these criticisms back to the sub-committee. The sub-committee on Soda Ash have submitted data which will enable us t o prepare specifications for the two grades most commonly used. The sub-committee on Turpentine have considered the subject assigned t o them in a most creditable manner and have accumulated considerable data. More or less opposition t o specifications was encountered in the case of gum turpentine from the largest producers and sellers, but such a condition is in nowise different from t h a t met with in the case of many other products where the producer does not desire
Presented at the forty-fifth meeting A. C. S., Washington, December, 1911.
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Presented at the forty-fifth meeting A C. S.. Washington, December, 1911.
THE J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y .
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t o be hampered b y restrictions. I n the case of wood spirit of turpentine less objection was encountered b u t in both cases it was felt t h a t in order t o draw stringent specifications i t would be necessary t o carry on considerable experimental work in order t o determine the effect in practice of the variation in gravity, boiling points, etc. It will undoubtedly be possible, however, t o prepare a general specification which will enable the consumer t o obtain a fair quality of material free from adulteration and escape the gross adulteration which has been practiced in the case of turpentine. The CommRtee on Nitric and Mixed Acids has found some inertia on the part of its members, b u t is of the opinion t h a t specifications for these materials are superfluous and unnecessary. So far as mixed acids are concerned your committee is inclined to agree with its sub-committee, since the strength and quality vary in almost every case where they are employed. I n the case of nitric acid, however we are of the opinion that a general specification should be prepared covering the usual grades for the guidance of those who have only general knowledge regarding the material. The Committees on Muriatic Acid and Sulphuric Acid have submitted progress reports and i t is to be hoped that communications from the other committees will be received in time to present a t the Washington meeting. Your committee feels that it is unwise t o submit further specifications a t this time, owing to the fact t h a t * considerable discussion has arisen as to the proper procedure to be followed in the case of specifications involving methods of analysis. This matter has been made the subject of a communication t o the Executive Committee of the Industrial Division, who will undoubtedly outline a definite order of procedure for its committees. H. J. SKINNER, Chairman; F. G. STANTIAL, ROBERTJ O B .
COMMITTEE ON DEFINITION OF INDUSTRIAL TERMS. INDUSTRIAL DIVISION.' REPORT O F C O M M I T T E E .
Your Committee on the Definition of Industrial Terms has the honor t o report t h a t i t has, by correspondence and otherwise, made continued efforts since our last report of a year ago, t o determine whether'it will be possible t o accomplish the objects for which the Committee was formed. In t h a t report it was shown that the efforts of the Committee had met with little support and approval, and in many cases with direct opposition. Since that- time there 'has been no improvement in the situation. The general inertia and decided opposition t o the definition of industrial products, especially by manufacturers, has continued. I n ad1
1911.
Presented at forty-fifth meeting A. C.
s.,Washington, December,
Mar.,
1912
dition, the requests of the Committee for the expression of individual opinion on this subject and approval of the project have met with no general response. It seems t o the Committee that the difficulty arises from the fact that neither it, the Division of Industrial Chemists and Chemical Engineers, nor the American Chemical Society have any authority to define industrial terms, nor to enforce their use after they are defined. We are in much the same position as if the Society, before the passing of the Pure Food Act by Congress, had attempted t o define and enforce definitions of what constitutes pure' food. If industrial terms are t o be defined, this will have to be done so that definitions can be enforced, or at least accepted. It is suggested that the Bureau of Standards can take this matter up and make recommendations to Congress, but it hardly seems possible that the American Chemical Society can do much in this direction, unless it sees fit t o memorialize Congress on the subject. The Division of Industrial Chemists and Chemical Engineers has a Committee on Standard Specifications, covering materials for which definitions are in almost all cases necessary. I t seemed t o your Committee on the Definition of Industrial Terms that in drawing specifications for various materials that definition of the material would be necessary, I t has, therefore, communicated with the various subcommittees on specifications, with a view of obtaining an expression of opinion from their chairman, as to whether, in preparing their specifications, they would undertake t o define industrial terms, and as t o whether they thought i t practicable t o do so. Replies to the inquiries have been received from the chairmen of all the sub-committees, and in general are unfavorable. Under the circumstances, your Committee can do no more than make a statement of the present situation to the Division for its information. It is possible that some lines of less resistance than have been encountered in the past may be developed in the future, and the Committee does not, therefore, ask to be discharged a t the present time, unless it is the opinion of the Division that this would be the most satisfactory thing t o do. At any rate, the subject should be discussed carefully by the Division, and an expression of opinion given in regard t o what is considered the best method of procedure in the future. If no general interest in the matter develops, it would seem that i t had better be abandoned. CLIFFORDRICHARDSON, Chairman, GEO. P. ADAMSON, J . B. F. HERRESHOFF.
-----COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL CODE OF ETHICS. INDUSTRIAL DIVISION' Received January 5 . 1912.
Your Comm3ttee beg t o report that after a careful consideration of the subjects, i t is their belief 1
Presented at the forty-fifth Meeting A. C. S . . Washington. Decem.
bur. 1911.
