Iiov., 191j
T H E J O r R N A L OF ILVDL'STRI.lL
adopted the minilnum per cent of cineol could be placed a t 60 per cent without materially interfering with the California industry, but the proposed 70 per cent would entail a loss of a t least 30 per cent of the original volume to bring i t up to this figure if determined by the phosphoric acid method, and about I ,j per cent loss if the cineol is determined by the resorcin method. Il.--The solubility in 7 0 per cent alcohol by volume should lie increased to a t least 18 instead of 4 volumes, if the average raw California oils redistilled in a current of steam without
fractionating (Australian practice) are t o be included on a n equal basis with the foreign importations. \'--The by-product oil of refining as well as the crude (if sufficiently reasonable and in quantities) might be utilized for the separation of metallic sulfides by the flotation process, as extensively applied in -1ustralia and to some degrce hcrc with the foreign oil. LABORATORIES C U R T I S AXD T O M P I i l s s 108 FROKT Sr., SAX FRANCISCO
CURRENT INDUSTRIAL NEWS MARKET CONDITIONS Active inquiry, alarming advances and continued scarcity have been noted for many chemicals and raw materials during the past month. A combination of peculiar circumstances that is unprecedented has resulted in a very sensitive market. Conditions prevailing are such t h a t quotations seldom hold for more than a day. llanufacturers having a surplus of some articles are selling a t a handsome profit and small fortunes have been realized by speculators. Manufacturers in many lines have been compelled to alter their formulae to allow for the use of substitutes where the necessary materials are abnormally high or impossible to obtain. These unusual conditions are justly attributed t o the European war but there are some features only remotely connected with the hostilities of nine nations and some causes entirely independent of the European situation. The cessation of all shipments from Germany is probably the largest single factor although home requirements and embargoes have prevented England, France, Russia and Italy from permitting or making normal exportations of many commodities. The war has re' sulted in a scarcity of freight room o n ocean \-essels, higher rates for freight and insurance, and a general uncertainty. Contracts for the manufacture of esplosives for the entente Allies are responsible for the scarcity and high prices noted for carbolic, picric and nitric acid, nitrate of soda, glycerine, ether, benzol, toluol, aniline oil and many other coal-tar derivatives. Nitrate of soda in normal times enters commerce principally for fertilizer. During the early months of the war, large stocks were held a t most receiving and shipping points; with a large portion of foreign markets closed, operations in Chile mere brought almost to a standstill and prices were very low. As the war continued the demand for nitrate increased and operations a t producing points were increased t o normal with quotations slowly advancing. About a month ago unusually large purchases in Chile were credited t o explosive interests and great strength developed. Then came the last big slides in the Panama Canal and the subsequent announcement t h a t Canal traffic would be suspended indefinitely. This resulted in the market reaching $3.00, the highest point in several years. Cargoes will no\$-come "round the Horn" and increased freights and the growing scarcity will probably result in further advances. Glycerine was not attracting any particular attention in the markets a month ago and C. P. was available a t 2 6 cents and "dynamite" a t 25 cents. To-day i t is difficult for any buyer to secure supplies, except subject to delays, although the current quotation is 60 cents per pound for both C . P. and dynamite grades. One consumer was in the market a few days ago for I ,.jOO,OOC) pounds. The high prices and active demand h a w resulted in a n increased production and this is proving the most profitable business t o most of the soapmakers. 1-egetable oils are being purchased in large quantitieq for this purpo liiiseed oil appears to be the only- one not profitahlc.. Inability to securc supplies of potash salts has resulted in obnorinal price\ for tnally chemical e o ~ n p o u ~ ~ d s thc e1irni11;~xncl
1
tion of some from the market. Dealers and brokers have verily scoured every corner of thc globe in search of old stocks of German potash, so t h a t now little muriate or sulfate i.; to be had except from third hands who naturally look for a substantial profit. Muriate of potash, however, is available in a limited way a t Sz4j to Szjo per ton. Scarcity of the various forms of potash has found the soda compounds being substituted to such a degree that sharp a& vances are common. Yellow prussiate of potash is to-day selling a t 87 cents per pound as compared with I I ' I cents bcfore the beginning of the war. Red prussiate of potash commands $2.60 to $ 2 . 7 5 per pound as compared with 2 1 cents in Jiily, 1914. These advances result in such an increased use of soda compounds t h a t prussiate of soda is to-day selling a t 44 to 45 cents per pound, as compafed with 8l 2 to 8:' cents during July, 1914. Bichromate of potash is held a t 2 1 cents per pound as compared with a normal price of 7 cents or less. Bichromate of soda is selling a t 1 5 to I G cents and quoted a t 1 4 to 14' for winter deliveries as compared with 43 1 cents belore the wzr. Chlorate of potash is to-day bringing 37 to 35 cents per pound as against the old price of i1i to 7' 2 cents. Chloratc of soda sells to-day a t 2 2 to 23 cents per pound on spot with contracts for future deliveries commanding 11to 16 cents f . 0 . 11. work.;, as compared with 7' '4 t o 8 cents a little more than a year a g o . In July, 1914, aniline oil was selling at IO^,'^ to I I cents per pound while to-day one can sell a t 9 j cents to S r . j o per pound, according t o urgency of the consumer's requirements. Aiiiliiiv salts a t present command S 1 . 3 j to S I . ~ O per pound whereas 9 cents was the average price fifteen months ago. Benzol is now selling a t So to 90 cents; not long ago inany orders WI-C filled a t S I . 2 j to $1.40; just a little o\-er a year a g o , plentii'al supplies could be had a t 2 2 cents. The foregoing are only a few instances of thv up\vard trend: further reference to a price current of July, 1914, s h o w the pricr of oxalic acid a t 7 l / 4 to 7 l , P cents; this week sales were recorded a t 4 j and 46 cents and quotations are as high as 50 cents. \Ye have depended on Germany and other foreign sources to supply us with oxalic. Lead products were very high for a time but present levels are close to normal. Zinc products are high and scarce but not as high as a few months ago. Quicksilver sells to-dal- a t $93 to $95 per flask as against a normal figure of 3 7 5 . One of the principal reasons for the extreme high prices is that manufacturers ha\-c contracted for their entire output and consumers not fortunate in holding a contract for regulardeliveries are a t the mercy of second hands who arc reaping profits while they may. H o w long present conditions will prcvail is a question t h a t interests many. The duration of European hostilities is the most important factor although this may be overcome, to a degree, by more generous supplies of needed raw materials. Further ad\-ances are predicted and are to be expected for many articles. X sudden cessation of thc war would result in declines b u t well-posted factors claim that i t would be many months before the old levels were restored But few commodities have reniainctl Inictically uiichallge(l
998
T H E J O U R N A L O F I N D U S T R I A L A N D EiZrGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y
during the fifteen months of the war or have found lower levels. These include most of the vegetable oils, naval stores and a small list of articles t h a t are of domestic origin. Unusual opportunities have been opened for American chemists and manufacturers and it is pleasing t o note that most of them are being grasped and developed. T H E VALIDITY OF EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS I n a Court of Appeals of England, an interesting decision has been rendered, affecting the relation of employer t o employee. An account of this appears in the I n d i a Rubber Journal, for April 24, 1915, as follows: A draughtsman in a certain plant reached the position of chief draughtsman, and eventually became head of the sales department in the company. On attaining this position he signed a n agreement, t h a t if he left the company’s employ he would not for seven years thereafter enter the employ of any other concern in the same business. This agreement he did not observe, b u t shortly after leaving the first firm he was engaged by a second,-a competitor. Action mas taken by the first company t o compel its former employee t o observe his agreement. The trial Justice rendered a decision in favor of the employee, on the ground t h a t such a n agreement was against public policy and could not be enforced. The case was appealed, and the Court of Appeals upheld the original decision on the same ground stating: “On the one hand it was in the public interest that a covenant should be observed and enforced but it was also in the public interest that a man should be free to use his skill and experience to the best advantage.” This decision is of considerable interest to Industrial Chemists in the United States as numerous attempts have been made by employers limiting or seeking to limit the usefulness of former employees. It would seem t h a t the German industrials had found a better way out of the difficulty by keeping a former employee on half salary for five years in case he promises not to enter the employ of a competitor within that time. DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAN COPPER AND OIL RESOURCES
A recent bulletin of the South Australian Official Intelligence Bureau a t Adelaide states that with the object of making a systematic attempt to provide a means whereby the relatively low-grade copper deposits of South Australia may be turned to profitable commercial account, the Government, with the assistance of the University of Adelaide, has secured the services of a metallurgist for a period of two years, to experiment in hydrometallurgical methods. The direct aim of this experimental work will be the drawing up of working schemes, wherever practicable, for the treatment of ores t h a t have been tested. A small experimental plant will be erected in South Australia for the carrying out of a series of tests on the copper ores of the State. Should this experimental work be successful, i t is hoped that some of the copper mines of the State which are now lying idle or being worked on a restricted scale, will become important contributors t o the annual output of copper. With reference to.the offer made by the Government of South Australia of a bonus of E5000 to the person or body corporate first obtaining from a well or bore, situated in the State, IOO,OOO gallons of crude petroleum containing not less than go per cent of products obtainable by distillation, the South Australian Department of hlines reports the results of investigations into the supposed oil-bearing areas of South Australia. It is stated that the prospects of obtaining a supply of petroleum from the districts investigated are very slight indeed. The far Southcast carries a faint possibility which is based on surmise and 110 evidence. 111 the interior of thc continent the Coonanna
T‘ol.
j ,
No. I I
Bore gave some signs which have resulted in nothing tangible when tested by further boring. Shales which may produce oils on distillation are also known to occur in these far removed areas, but difficulties connected with climate, water, and communication will probably cause a long period to elapse before the actual value of these interior deposits can be adequately tested and made known, and will largely discount their economic value for many years. With regard to lignite beds which underlie areas nearer the coast, the analysis of average samples shows them to be of such poor quality that all attempts to utilize them a t present would result in financial loss. The report concludes with the suggestion t h a t the offer of the bonus should be extended so as t o include oil obtained by distillation from shales or lignites.-D. G . A N D E R S O N .
GLAUBER’S SALT FROM T H E CASPIAN SEA The Russian Agricultural a n d L a n d Gazette calls attention to the immense riches in Glauber’s salt, soda, etc., to be found in the Karabagasky Gulf, of the Caspian Sea. This gulf had been particularly investigated already in 1897, when it was shown that there are beds of Glauber’s salt, unequaled in purity by that ordinarily prepared in the chemical factories. It is estimated t h a t the deposits there contain 181,000.000 pounds of the salt. The production of this article, as well as others which do not lie deep in the gulf, might be undertaken with simple excavating machinery. Naturally, stress is laid on the value of exploiting these deposits a t the present moment, as their exploitation would free Russia of dependence on foreigners in respect to Glauber’s salt, and might bring about a complete revolution in the soda business.-A. ,
BRITISH BOARD OF TRADE During the month of August the British Board of Trade have received inquiries from firms in the United Kingdom and abroad regarding sources of supply for the following articles : Acetanilide Borax Caliper gauges Combs, vulcanite Cobalt oxide Cobalt chloride Cocaine Codeine Glass chimneys Glass ampoules Graphite Iceland spar Irish moss Leather, imitation Lithophone Magnesium ribbon Milk, powdered Mica Manure, artificial Manganese dioxide Naphthaline Papier rnache Phenazone Phenyl salicylate Rubber sponges Silica Stearine pitch Steel wool Tungsten powder Wood wool
Acetyl-salicylic acid Asbestos and asbestos goods Boxes with aluminum lids Compressed air brushes for applyir ig color Copper tubes, elliptical section Felt tape for insulated wire covering Glass capsules for holding soup Glass tubes for pills Hexamethylenetetramine Horn a n d tortoise shell waste Incandescent mantles MACHINERY FOR MAKING: Metal clips Press buttons Safety pins T i n cans Stamping ivory nut buttons Grinding barytes Wire-stitching Paper for wrapping crystallized fruit Phosphor bronze, hard spring quality Pumice, rough lumps Quebracho extract Resin powdered Spirit’ level bubbles as used iu clinometers Steel cylinders for compressed gas Steel rings, polished, 1 i,n, diameter Steel wire for bookbinding Tinfoil for packing Ultramarine-blue powder
Firms who may be in a position to supply any of the abovc articles are asked t o communicate with the Director of the Commercial Intelligence Branch, Board of Trade, 7 3 Basinghall Street, London, E. C.--.4. POTASH DEPOSITS IN SPAIN Extensive deposits of sulfate and carbonate of potassium are reported to have been discovered a t Cordova. A Belgian company paid Lzo,ono lor an option 011 the hulk ol t h c deposit.;
Nov.. 1 9 1 j
T H E JOCRA'AL O F 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
and has now taken over all the land on which i t had an option. Sinking operations to determine the extent and commercial value of the deposits are still being carried on,however, and the deposits are, so far, not being worked as a commercial success, being hardly out of the experimental stage.-A.
CHINA CLAY The export of China clay from Cornwall has been prohibited except to British possessions or protectorates, but supplies will be allowed under licenses granted by the War Office Department. It is feared, however, t h a t licenses will not be granted very easily and difficulty may arise in Cornwall from which about 60 per cent of the clay exported goes t o the United States. Representations are being made t o the British Government that the export trade in China clay with the United States should be continued as what is sent there is so used t h a t there is little chance of i t finding its way into the hands of the enemy. --A. ~~C~IILLAN.
PRODUCTlON OF ZINC -4ccording to the Chemical News, the Swansea Vale Spelter and Zinc Smelting Works, Wales, which were built and until recently controlled by Germans, have now been taken over and will henceforth be under the control of a n entirely English group, with the consent and approval of the British Government. The works, which have been erected upon the most modern principles, are likely t o be enlarged on a n extensive scale and the development of the zinc ore deposits of Great Britain is likely t o be encouraged. The head of the group is Mr. R . Tilden Smith, who is associated with many important enterprises of the kind, including the zinc mines of Burma from which he intends to obtain supplies of metal. The plant is exactly similar to those which have been erected in Germany, Belgium and France, and was part of the organization which enabled the owners to dominate the zinc market of Europe.-M.
CONCRETE PLUGS IN MINES Concrete plugs have been used by the A'anvickshire Coal Company a t their colliery a t Keresley, near Coventry, England, in order to stop the inrush of water and as a result of the treatment in one shaft practically no water is being met with instead of 2,600 gal. per minute before applying this treatment. A concrete plug 2 0 feet thick was placed at the bottom of each shaft which cut off completely the water and allowed boring (twelve holes in each shaft) for the injection of cement from t h e bottom of the shafts.-M.
TUNGSTEN MARKET IN GREAT BRITAIN According to the Engineer the British-made tungsten powder market is being well supplied from various sources. T h e element tungsten is recovered from Kolfram ore, well nigh inexhaustible supplies of which are available within the British Empire. In order t h a t these ore reserves may be better handled, the Government has assumed control of them and now it is understood t h a t it has decided to control the tungsten supplies. One of the first evidences of this is seen in the regulation of values. After the outbreak of war the price quoted was about four times the price of pre-war days. It appears t h a t under the Government scheme the market is fixed a t $1.24per lb. for tungsten powder and 4 cents less for ferro-tungsten. In some quarters, exception is taken t o this arrangement, but if the scheme gets into working order, high-speed steel makers should benefit considerably.-hf.
999
T H E NEED FOR PETROL SUBSTITUTES Professor Vivian B. Lewes, lecturing recently a t the Royal Society of Arts, London, stated t h a t the need of petrol substitutes lay principally in the fact t h a t in the next, say j o years, the natural supplies would be diminished t o such a n extent t h a t the depth from which the oil would have to be obtained would render them practically commercially unavailable. The world's total output of crude oil, which in 1914amounted to 97 million tons, had, he said, increased at a n annual rate of only 6 per cent for the past three years and the amount of petrol obtainable from the crude oil could be put a t only IO per cent. America itself used no less than 1,200,000,000 out of the world's 1,700,ooo,ooo gallons and England in 1914 imported 120,000,000 gallons, making a total of 1,320,000,000gallons, leaving only 380,000,000gallons for the remainder of the world.-M.
HARDENED FILTER PAPER Writing in the Pharmaceutical Journal on a process for toughening ordinary filter paper, Mr. W. R. Rankin states t h a t a substitute for the smooth, hardened filter paper of German make may be prepared by dipping the best English filter paper very quickly in nitric acid (sp. gr. 1.4), draining and washing in running water until most of the acid is removed. The remainder is neutralized by immersion in 0.5 per cent ammonia solution. The paper is afterwards washed thoroughly, pressed and dried a t 100' C. When dry, the paper is subjected t o the same treatment. Excessive temperatures should be avoided in drying, as the cellulose is nitrated t o some extent. A shrinkage of about I O per cent should be allowed for. An inferior substitute may be got in a single operation by dipping filter paper in a mixture of 6 j parts sulfuric acid (sp. gr. 1.84)and 3 j parts nitric acid (sp. gr. 1.42).-M.
.
BORNEOL FROM WASTESULFITE LIQUOR I n a note on the distillation of waste sulfite liquor given in Papierfabrikant, the isolation of inactive borneol is described. When methyl alcohol is distilled from waste sulfite liquor, a heavy oil is recovered towards the end of the distillation. This oil contains furfural and, when cooled, deposits small crystals. These are washed and crystallized from petroleum ether. They form large, flaky, translucent crystals which have a camphorlike odor. The results of elementary analysis, the melting point, boiling point and the fact t h a t it forms bornyl chloride on treatment with phosphorus pentachloride, confirm the substance as being inactive borneol.-M. T H E WORLD'S COAL SUPPLY A matter of great interest, though not a n acute problem a t present, is the probable nature and extent of the coal fields yet in reserve and of known locality. According t o the 12th International Congress of Geology held a t Toronto, close on t o 72 billion tons are still available. Common Anthracite coal (in million (in million tons) tons) America. . . , . . . . , , , , . . 22,542 2,271,080 Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407,637 760.098 Europe.. . , . . . , . . . . . . . 54,346 693,162 Australia. . . . . , , , , , . , . 659 133,481 Africa.. , , . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,662 45,123
_
T o t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496,846
_
3,902,944
Lignite (in million tons) 2,811,906 111,851 36,682
5,105,528 1,279,586 784,190
36,270
170.410
TOTALS
1,054
57,839
2,997,763
7,397,553
_
_
Naturally it is impossible t o claim great accuracy for the above estimates and for years to come we may reasonably expect the discovery of further deposits t h a t will compensate for current consumption.-M.
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