S E P T E M B E R 20. 1939
Divisional Reports
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N THE reports which follow unfortunately all of the divisions have not ineluded the names of their newly elected officers. I n the October 10 N E W S E D I TION, however, we will print a complete list of the divisional officers. Agricultural a n d F o o d Chemistry
N E W S EDITION of lignin, the configuration of cellulose derivatives» cellulose textile materials, growth of the cotton fiber, and some of the physical and chemical properties of cellulosic materials. Particularly enthusi astic discussions followed the papers on lignin and growth of the cotton finer. T h e meeting was well attended throughout. The divisional luncheon succeeded ad mirably in its purpose of giving members an opportunity^ t o develop personal ac quaintances. During the afternoon ses sion a business meeting was held, at which time officers for the coming year were elected as follows: Chairman, M. L. Wolfrom; Vice Chairman, W. O. Kenyon; Secretary-Treasurer, C. R. Fordyce: Ex ecutive Committee, George L. Clark and E. E. Harris. CHARLES R. FORDYCE, Acting Secretary
Chemical Education HE Division of Chemical Education T held three sessions, the first being devoted to a Symposium on Training
G. Ά. Fitzgerald HE division held four sessions includT ing two symposia, a joint session on vitamins, and a general session. The general session on Monday morning containing ten papers was followed on Monday afternoon by a six-paper Symposium on Plant Hormones which attracted an audience numbering as high as 240 persons, ample proof that this unusual field of endeavor of the borderline science of plant physiology is of more than passing interest to chemists. Owing t o the type of the Symposium on the Nitrogen-Free Extract of Food-and Feeding Stuffs t h e division was able to conduct the above symposium in conflict with the afternoon session of the joint program on vitamins held in collaboration with the Division of Biological Chemistry. This was accomplished through the scheduling of those vitamin papers of most interest t o the Division of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in the morning and the Symposium on the Nitrogen-Free Extract of Foods and Feeding Stuffs in the afternoon. At the business meeting it was voted to consider the possibilities for the program at Cincinnati of a Symposium on the Economic Significance of the Sterols and Phosphatides in the Agricultural and Food industries and on the Industrial Utilization of Agricultural Wastes. For the Detroit meeting a Symposium on Fruit and Fruit Products was highly favored.
GERALD A. FITZGERALD, Secretary
Biological Chemistry HE new officers for the Division of Biological Chemistry are: Chairman, T G. O. Burr; Secretary-Treasurer, H . O. Calvery; Executive Committee, E. J . Cohn, V. du Vigneaud, C. A. Elvehjem, Ν . Β. Guerrant, and J. J. Pfiffner. GEORGE O. B U B B , Secretary
Cellulose
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Chemistry
HE Division of Cellulose Chemistry held its session on Thursday, with a group luncheon at noon. Papers pre sented during the day dealt with various phases of cellulose chemistry, including studies of the structure and possible uses
and Opportunities for Women in Chem istry. This session was particularly suc cessful and well attended. During the last session especial interest was shown in some lecture experiments by P . H. Fall, the new secretary of the division. The Student Breakfast, sponsored by the division, lived up to expectations. Nearly 50 heard Presi dent Conant, of Harvard, speak at the luncheon.
601 Officers elected were ι Chatrman, Ξ . B· Siems; Secretaryt C. A- Butt. Ο. Α. ΒΌΤΤ, Acting Secretary Gas a n dFuel Chemistry
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HE division held four sessions, one of which was devoted to papers on car bonization of coal, one to papers on hydro génation, and two to a symposium of eleven papers on the combustion of solid fuels. The papers on carbonization and hydrogénation were notable for .their consideration of the effect of pétrographie composition on the behavior of the coals. A paper by Hottel and Stewart on the "Space Requirement for the Combustion of Pulverized Coal" deserves recognition as the first approach t o a rational treatment of the subject. Papers by Seyler and Jenkins and Mayers and Landau continued their expositions of the significance of measurements of ignitabiiity. The division has preprinted the papers of the symposium and plans to continue their discussion at the spring meeting in Cincinnati. Copies maybe obtained from the division secretary for 75 cents. Newly elected officers are: Chairman, H. H. Storch; Vice Chairman, H. C. Howard; Secretary-Treasurer, Gilbert Thiessen; Executive Committee, F. H. Reed and A. W. Sanger. GILBERT THIESSEN, Secretary
N . W. RAKESTRAW,
Secretary Fertilizer Chemistry HE Division of Fer T tilizer Chemistry had a one and one-half day meeting which was at t e n d e d by a b o u t 100 members. A diversified a n d s t i m u l a t i n g pro-am was enjoyed, and i s c u s e i o n e following p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e papers indicated a wide interest in the subjects. The papers c o v e r e d new methods developed by the Bureau of Agri cultural Chemistry and E n g i n e e r i n g for t h e granulation of fertilizers, and use of magnesium recovered from sea water as a fertilizer ingredient. Plant h o r m o n e s and minor elements, particu larly boron in plant food, received considerable att e n t i o n . The present status of growing plants in n u t r i e n t solutions and sand and gravel cul tures was interestingly p r e s e n t e d . The con stantly growing impor tance of magnesium as an essential element of p l a n t food w a s e m phasized. I n t e r e s t i n g papers were presented on an alytical procedures and refinements of presentday methods of analy sis. The application of spectroscopic m e t h o d s for the determination of trace elements was ably presented.
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Th© L u n c h e o n of th© Division o£ I n d u s t r i a l a n d E n g i n e e r i n g Chemistry
VOL. 17, NO. 18
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
602
problem, calling for careful chemical and engineering investigation as a preliminary to successful plant operation. A n ex ample was given in which the research and development cost was returned more than tenfold in two years. No industry was mentioned which did not have in operation some process recovering products of value from special or segregated wastes. On the other hand i t was strongly emphasized that most waste treatment processes can not be operated at a profit and industry in general should recognize that waste treat ment is an essential part of manufacturing operations.
History ©f C h e m i s t r y HE Division of t h e History of Chem istry held two successful sessions. T R. K. Carleton's summary of the organiza tion and work of t h e New England As sociation of Chemistry Teachers^ Wilhelm Segerblom's review of a Boston journal of the early 1870's, and A. D . Bliss's story of men and machines in Harvard science gave the meeting a real N e w England atmos phere. Contributions t o cnemistry of Anselme Payen, William Higgins, William Prout, Nikolai Zinin, and three early Irish-American refugee chemists were dis cussed. E. Berl'e summary of industrial chemistry during t h e lifetime of Georg Lunge was appropriately given within a few days of the 100th anniversary of Lunge's birth. At the business meeting James F. Couch of the U. S. Bureau of Animal Husbandry was elected chairman. A number of the division members visited the Lyman C. Newell Memorial Collection a t Boston University.
C . R. HOOVER,
Symposium Medicinal
MILDRED W. GRAFFLIN, Secretary
Symposium o n Industrial Wastes HE Divisions of Industrial and Engi T neering Chemistry and Water, Sew age, and Sanitation Cnemistry cooperated in an all-day meeting Tuesday on the treatment and utilization of the waste products of industry, at which 13 papers were presented. The attendance was very good and remarkably continuous through out all the meetings. The morning session consisted of four addresses on fundamental aspects of waste disposal applicable to industry in general. The discussion of atmospheric pollution included interesting suggestions regarding the control of local atmospheric conditions for air transportation. The general consensus of opinion expressed during the discussion of legal aspects of pollution, especially with respect to regu latory federal legislation, seems to be that it should be advisory rather than pro hibitive and that all parties concerned
M. X . S u l l i v a n
Top t o Bottom. H . H. Willard, C . N . Frey, a n d G. B . H a f e r should be given carefully weighted con sideration. State and local control, with due appreciation of the special nature of the problems each industry appears to offer, is the most practical method of approach, but uniformity of legislation is needed in fairness t o industry and the general public. The steady progress of industry in broadening the scope of waste recovery from a few simple obvious prod ucts to a most impressive list of valuable interrelated major and minor products was graphically described by one speaker. The afternoon session was devoted pri marily to reviews of the technical methods of waste treatment and recovery in seven basic industries—namely, chemical, fer mentation, paper, petroleum, textile, fer rous, and nonferrous metals. Two papers discussed engineering equipment and types of biological processes generally applicable to waste treatment. It was emphasized that waste treatment is a complicated
H. S. BootK a t work
Secretary pro tern.
Qhemistry
&τ THB Monday session the division JL\ sponsored a Symposium on Sterols and Related Compounds. T h e chemistry and physiology of the bile acids and bile salts, the cardiac glycosides and recently elaborated substances of a n estrogenic nature formed the subject matter of inter esting presentations by leading investiga tors in this field. Louis F. Fieser opened the session with an instructive survey of the field of sterols and their derivatives, ΐ The complex nature of sterols and re lated derivatives accounts for the rela tively slow and painstaking progress being made in this field, b u t discoveries are progressing at a more rapid rate owing t o more effective methods of synthesis and accumulated knowledge. The many existing sterol-like sub stances, synthesized by Nature and pos sessing potent physiological activity, naturally attracted the attention of the world's foremost investigators in the fields of organic synthesis and pharmacological research. Many interesting papers, presented a t the general program o n Tuesday, indi cated the increasing efforts of the medici nal chemist in his search for new and potent therapeutic agents. Newly elected officers of the division for the coming year are : Chairman, Fred erick Fenger; Vice Chairman, J. B . Petersen; Secretary-Treasurer, H. J. Fosbinder. The new officers and the past chairman, Walter H . Hartung, constitute the executive committee. R. J. FOSBINDER,
Secretary-Treasurer
Paint and Vamisii
Chemistry
WINQ t o participation in the Sym O posium on Plastics and Resins from Hydrocarbons with t h e Division of P e -
HoltKofiE ta&ofl t e a
NEWS EDITION
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 , 1939
603
Continental by R- M. O., Inc.
E . B. Babcock
Alfred A . G l i d d e n
R . W . ΪΛ1Π21
G. K. Hinshaw
speakers on the program^which was broadcast, were JP. W . Litchfield, Karl T . Compton, and J. B . Conant. This gala occasion will long be remem bered by all who attended. T h e arrangements for both of these functions were in the hands of Mr. Bierer and his committee composed of C. R. Boggs, A. A. Somerville, W. B. Wiegand, G. K . Hinshaw, and Ε . Β . Curtis, and were as near per fection a s possible. T h e technical sessions com prised 25 papers. Of these, 16 were devoted t o a Symposium the Council o f t h e SOCIETY t o on t h e Vulcanization of Rub chaoge tïae najne of the division ber. One of the most inter to "Division of Paint, Varnish, Photo by Bachrach esting developments discussed and Plastics Chemistry". I t uohsi M . B i e r e r in these sessions was t h e W. A. G i b b o n s was also decided t o ask t h e advance in t h e art of vulcani Division, of Cellulose Chemzation with agents other istry to join, this division a t than sulfur. The attendance at these the aiext meeting in a Symposium on CelPhysical a n d Inorganic meetings averaged about 500. I n a d lulose in Plastics and Paints. Chemistry dition t o the above program, t h e di T l i e attendance at the sessions was very vision participated in t w o symposia ar satisfactory, and the new method of disNE hundred and twelve papers were ranged b y otner divisions—Plastics and tribiiting preprints was highly successful. presented before the division in eight Resins from Petroleum and X - R a y Studies T h e joint ainner with the N e w England sections on physical chemistry, t w o on of Substances of High Molecular Weight Paiot and Varnish Production Club was inorganic chemistry, and one on analytical The division a t this meeting established attecnded by over 200 people w h o were dechemistry. Included w a s a Symposium Charles Goodyear Lectureship, t h e liglrtf iiUy entertained and instructed by an on Low-Temperature Research and an- the purpose of which will be t o stimulate inter address b y F_ Alexander Magoun on "The other o n Compounds with Elements in est in fundamental research on rubber and Art of H u m a n Relations." Unusual States of Valence. T h e Presito recognize those who have made out dential Address on "Solutions in N o n T h e n e w officers of the division are: standing contributions t o t h e science of aqueous Solvents" b y President C . A. Chadriticzn, E . J. Probeck; Chairman-Electy rubber and related subjects. Kraus was presented before this division G. G . Sward 5 and Secretary, A. C. Elm» The following officers were elected for on Thursday afternoon. T h e divisional G. G. SWAKD, Secretary the coming year : Chairman, Ε. Β . Curtis ; dinner was an outstanding success with Vice Chairman, R. H. Gerke; Secretary, Donald Menzel taking us away from H. I. Cramer; Treasurer, C. W. Christenterrestrial chemistry t o the chemistry of E^etreriei&m C h e m i s t r y sen; Sergeant-atrArm»t C. P. Hall; Direc the sun. tors, G. K. Hinshaw, E. B . Babcock, W. F . s i Symposium o n Plastics and Resins HAROLD C. U R E T , Secretary Busse, A. H. Nellon, and J. H . Ingmanson. irono. Hydrocarbons sponsored jointly The Boston meeting w a s undoubtedly witii t h e Divisions of Rubber Chemistry the most outstanding and colorful which and Faint and Varnish Chemistry was Rubber Chemistry the Division of Rubber Chemistry has well attended. M o s t of the time the room held in the 20 years of its existence. HE celebration of the Centenary of was filled to capacity. Nine papers were H . I. CRAMER, Secretary the Discovery of Vulcanization of Rubpresented duiring this part of the program. ber by Charles Goodyear was the high Seventeen papers were given in the genpoint and main theme of t h e program of eral program, of t h e division, some of which Sugar Chemistry and the Division of Rubber Chemistry. T h e are of outstanding importance. Anentire SOCIETY joined with the division nouncement was made of a Symposium on Technology in commemorating this most significant the TheimocSynaniic Properties of HydroIVE papers were presented on subjects contribution to the welfare of mankind b y carbons to hxe held a t Cincinnati under the ranging from Egyptian molasses t o devoting the program of the General chairmanship of Frederick D . Rossini, sugar-cement mortar in Maine. Lantern Meeting and of the Subscription Dinner t o National Bureau of Standards. slides or blackboard illustrations formed an this theme. A t t h e business meeting all of the presintegral part of every paper, adding to the Participating in t h e program of t h e ent offiœre were reelected for t h e ensuing interest and enabling one t o understand General Meeting a t Symphony Hall, o n year. Wednesday afternoon, were Ε. Β. Bab- the subject as presented, even when foreign *Fhe d i n n e r held a t the Engineers' Club to his particular field. T h a t each paper cock, A. A. Glidden, W . B . Wiegand, and w a s attended b y 140 who were royally evoked keen interest was attested by t h e W. A. Gibbons. That evening 965 mem entertained by five of our most famous ensuing questions and discussion. bers of the SOCIETY, who were so fortunate members—W. G . Whitman, chairman, T h e paper o n the spontaneous combus as t o procure tickets, enjoyed a sumptuous W. E. McAdams, C . S . Venable, T . H . tion of molasses, b y C. A. Browne, indi banquet a t the Copley-Plaza Hotel. Mr. Rogers, a n d C. A. Thomas. We hope cated that molasses was more susceptible Bierer, General Chairman of t h e Centen thesy c&n all ihe with u s again a t Cincinnati. (Continued on page βΟβ) C. R . W A G N E R , Secretary nial Committee, was toastmaster. T h e
troleum Chemistry and t h e Symposi^im o n X - R a y Studies of Substances of H i g h Molecu lar "Weight with several other divisions, the Division of Paint and Varnish Chemistry had perhaps its longest meeting since i t s organization. T h e division's o w n meetings were held on Thursday and Friday. Outstanciing o n Thursday afternoon w a s a series of papers on (trying oiLs. Following "the last session a business meeting was held i n which it -was decided t o request
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VOL. 17, NO. 18
INDUSTRIAL AP*D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY The noticeable weakness of the snorter was attributed to a retardation in t h e "set" of the mortar. The following officers were elected for the year 1939-40: Chairman, J. M. Brown: Vice Chairman, R. M. Goepp; Secretary, B. W. Rice; Executive Committee: A. R. Nées, G. T. Peckham, F. J. Bates, and K. Ward. J. M. BROV/N,
Acting Secretary Water, S e w a g e , and S a n i t a t i o n Chemistiy HE d i v i s i o n cooperated with the Division of Industrial and E n g i n e e r i n g Chemistry in a Symposium on Industrial Wastes which is described separately. This division profited J. Bennett Hill enjoyed Petroleum Dinner. McAdams and Venable in solo acts by the discussion of one of its important fields of interest from the industrial p i n t of view. Divisional Reports At the regular session of the division held on Thursday morning seven techni{Continued from page 60S) cal papers and one historical review were presented and discussed. Four of the to deterioration if alkaline, of high density, papers were concerned with analytical and if stored hot. and interesting contributions The treatise on bone-char revivification, procedures, were made to simplifying and improving by J. M. Brown and W. A. Bemis, de- existing methods. Three papers discussed scribed experiments performed byM. I.T. water purification, several sugstudents on the reactivation of bone char gestions as well asincluding results of practical under varying conditions of time and operation of new treatment plants. temperature. Subsequent thermocouple An event of major significance was the measurements of cross-sectional areas of retorts indicate that the rate of heat trans- excursion to the Lawrence Experiment fer greatly influences the degree of revivi- Station on Thiirsday afternoon. This fication. That this rate was very slow etation is almost a shrine to workers in was confirmed by Dr. Barrett during the the water and sewage field, as it is the subsequent discussion, who cited experi- oldest center of tiie research and practical ments in heating bone char for pigment experimentation on sewage and waste treatment in this country. use. The division's dinner on Tuesday eveAn electrometric method for the determination of reducing sugars was described ning was noteworthy in that it was atby S. M. Cantor and G. J. Leuck, in a tended by all but three of the fourteen paper presented by the former. It was living past presidents of the division. stated that results with this method on Edward Bartow, first president of the various reducing sugars agreed very closely division and prime mover in the formawith older gravimetric and volumetric tion of the division, spoke on the approcedures, and that with a little practice propriate topic of the history of the this determination could be made more division. * C R. HOOVEB, Secretary easily and quickly than by present methods. W. L. Morgan presented a new technique for the pasting and identification of starches, which embraced a preliminary identification of types under a microscope, L. S. 0 · G. B r e a k f a s t subsequent combination according to analysis, and measurement of pasting by HE Local Section Officers Group breakmeans of turbidity determinations in a fast was held at the Engineers Club, specially designed apparatus employing a and was attended by 56 members. The constant voltage light source, a Weston discussion, led by F. C. Whitmore, cencell and microammeter, and a controlled, tered around the problem of helping the uniform-temperature increase. His data small sections. One suggestion advanced indicated definite limits for each type of was that the smaller sections should not starch. try to put on a full program of 8 or 10 W. L. Gilliland, in collaboration with meetings. R. L. Annis and i i C. Jenness, presented Dr. Degering called on Dr. McCoy to the results obtained from a study of the read the report of the nominating comeffect of various sugars and related sub- mittee. The committee nominated the stances upon the strength of mortar. following officers for the coming year: The conclusion reached was that these sub- Chairman, F. E. Brown; Chairman-Elect, stances, with the possible exception of H. E. MorreU: Secretary, A. A. Ross. In erythritol, produced marked weakness in the absence of any nominations from the mortar, in both the conventional 7- and 28- floor, the secretary was instructed to cast day tests, but that in larger concentrations a ballot. some of this strength was later recovered. F. O. RICE, Secretary
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D i v i s i o n a l Officers G r o u p ΗΞ breakfast meeting of the Divisional Officers Group was almost entirely de voted to a discussion of plans for the Cin cinnati and Detroit meetings. The offi cers elected for next year are: Chcdrman, C. S. Hamilton; Secretary, A. M. Buswell.
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N. W. RAXESTBAW, Secretary
F u t u r e A. C· S. M e e t i n g s Spring of 1940 Fall of 1940 Spring of 1941 Fall of 1941
Cincinnati. Ohio Detroit, Mich. St. Louis, Mo. Atlantic City, N. J.
New Graduate Course at Poly technic Institute of Brooklyn NDER the general direction of J. C. U Olsen, assisted by lecturers who in clude a group of leading technical men in
the petroleum field, a new graduate course in petroleum refining, beginning Septem ber 27, at 8:00 P. as., is being offered. This course will cover chemical engi neering processes and equipment used in the petroleum industry and the various phases of refining crude petroleum into its several products. Modern methods will be studied as well as the theory, design, construction, and operation of the different unite and equipment. Transportation and storage will be discussed ana costs of reduction analyzed. M i n i m u m Wages for t h e Fertilizer i n d u s t r y HE Secretary of Labor has established T minimum wages for the fertilizer in dustry pursuant to the provisions of the
Walsn-Healey Act. These minimum wages are to apply to employees engaged in the performance of contracts, bids for which are solicited on or after September 12, 1939 (when the amount involved in the contract is $10,000 or more) with agencies of the United States Government for the manufacture or sup ply of superphosphate and concentrated superphosphates; and for the manufacture or mixing of concentrated fertilizer from superphosphates, potash, and ammoniates.
Boston Meeting Abstracts HH A. O. S. News Service, 708 T Mills Bldg., Washington, £>. C , will supply abstracts of papers pre
sented at the Boston meeting as g heretofore. Sets axe not guaranteed | to be complete, but contain abstracts from all divisions as submitted by authors. The abstracts will be mailed as soon as possible after re ceipt of order. This enterprise is undertaken in a spirit of service and not for profit. Sets are offered on the following To members of divisions who for ward receipt for dues with remit tance and order, 50 cents. To those without receipt for divisional dues who remit with order. SI .00. To those who fail to enclose re mittance with order, thereby requir ing correspondence, $1.25. To those who require bills to be rendered, §1.50.
