Oct., 191.5
T H E J O U R N A L O F I N D U S T R I A L -4N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
90.5
BOOK REVIEWS Chemical Technology and Analysis of Oils, Fats and Waxes. Fifth edited by GEORGEH. Edition. Vol. 111. By J. LEWKOWITSCH; WARBURTON. London: Macmillan & Co., 191j . Price, $6 50 This new edition of Vol. I11 follows the well-known fourth edition so closely as not t o require a detailed description. The total number of pages is increased from 407 to 483, the new matter consisting chiefly of details added t o the various sections of the fourth edition to bring them up t o date. An exception may be noted in the case of the new section of seven pages devoted to the hydrogenated oils and fats. I n general more space and attention are devoted t o the descriptive chemistry of t h e materials and products of the oil, fat, and wax industries than to the engineering of factory processes. The tabulations of statistical data, which in the fourth edition ended with those of the year 1907, have in the present volume been brought down t o 1912 (inclusive) and in some cases t o 1913. A general subject index of 29 pages covers the three volumes of the present edition and, in conjunction with the index of botanical and zOalogica1 names appended t o Vol. 11, will suffice t o make easily accessible the vast amount of reference material contained in t h e completed work. H. C. SHERMAN The Rare Earths-Their Occurrence, Chemistry and Tedhnology. By S. I. LEVY, B.A., B.Sc., -4.I.C. Price, $3.00 net. Longmans, Green & Co., 1915. This work aims, as is well expressed in the preface, “to give a general but fairly comprehensive account of the Rare Earth group.” The author has treated his subject principally from a chemical point of view, and has followed the usual custom of including Thorium and Zirconium in his classification. No one will take exception to this, but many will consider it superfluous to include Titanium among the Rare Earths, as is done in this work. The book, which is attractively edited, has a very gracious and complimentary introduction by Sir William Crookes. The author has divided his work into three parts: I, Occurrence of the Rare Earths (I I I pp.) ; 11, The Chemistry of the Elements (154 pp.); and 111, The Technology of the Elements (77 pp.). In the first part of the book credit is given to Dr. Carl -4uer von Welsbach for inspiring much of the research work that has been done in this branch of chemistry during the past thirty years. The list of minerals given is complete and well arranged, and the classification very logical, special importance being placed upon those minerals t h a t possess a commercial interest. The treatment is first general and then specific, making this a valuable feature of the work. An entire chapter is devoted to Monazite Sand, the American and the Brazilian deposits receiving particular attention, and the methods of mining and concentration being described a t considerable length. This part of the work closes with a well written chapter on Radioactivity, which is exceedingly clear and very appropriate in a book of this character. I n the second division of his work, the author has treated the chemistry of the Rare Earths in a very Comprehensive manner. The elements are classified under the Cerium, Terbium, Erbium and Ytterbium groups, and the chemical data of both of the groups in general, and the specific elements themselves is very attractively arranged, special emphasis being wisely placed upon Titanium, Zirconium and Thorium. An extremely valuable chapter is devoted t o the methods of separating the various elements of these groups. Part I11 is introduced by a chapter on the incandescent mantle industry. I n the historical treatment of this subject, no reference is made t o the pioneer work of Prof. Robert Hare of
Penna., U.S.A , , who in 1801 produced the oxy-hydrogen blowpipe or “lime-light,’’ thus antedating by just twenty-five years the work of Drummond, to whom the credit is given for this invention. This priority, which is well authenticated, has evidently escaped the author’s notice. There are a few other minor omissions mainly of American inventions. The work of Dr. Auer in developing the Virelsbach system of illumination is treated in considerable detail, and is very logically followed by a chapter on the chemical treatment of Monazite, in which the author has assembled a great deal of information relative to the technical manufacture of thorium and cerium nitrates, including a digest of the methods of analysis of this, the only commercial thoria mineral. Tw-o chapters are devoted t o the manufacture of incandescent gas mitntles. The artificial silk industry is also reviewed, and its application t o the mantle industry is treated both historically and technically. The work concludes with two chapters on the various uses of the Rare Earth group, both, suggestive and practical, in which the subject of pyrophoric alloys is treated quite fully. The book is profuse in references to the chemical and patent literature of the world, making the work so complete that it should be in the library of every rare earth chemist. The author has succeeded in presenting this subject in a very attractive manner, and such a comprehensive and reliable work ,in the English language should be welcomed by all, especially those who are unfamiliar with the German and French languages. H. S.MINER
A Manual of Oils, Resins and Paints. By HARRYIKGLE, DSc., P H . D , F.I.C. Vol. I, 129 pp., 6 illustrations. London: Chas. Griffin & Co.; Philadelphia: J. P. Lippincott Co., 191j . Price, $1.25. This volume is devoted to the analysis and valuation of the materials treated of. I n it an attempt is made to give in a very brief form the whole subject of the analysis of oils, resins, paints, varnishes, fats, and waxes. The introduction states that the book is designed to provide students and analysts who have had little or no experience with oils with a short account of the methods used in the analysis of this class’of substances. It is natural t h a t in so brief a review of the subject, the details of the analytical methods and of the apparatus used should be very largely omitted so t h a t the reader can hardly hope by following the text to find enough information to enable him t o carry out any method without reference to larger works, but there is, however, a brief reference t o most of the important methods of analysis, so that the reader who has little or no knowledge of the subject whatever will find the most important methods and principles set forth in a concise form. That part of the work devoted to the analysis of oils is much more full and satisfactory than the parts devoted to paint, resins, and soap. I n some cases the abbreviation has been carried farther than is perhaps wise. For example, in describing the method for determining the combined insoluble fatty acids and unsaponifiable matter on page 40, the step which consists in removing the alcohol by evaporation has been omitted, and in the determination of glycerin by the acetin method, no instructions are given for obtaining from the fat or oil the crude glycerin which is to be examined. Although the permanganate method of determining glycerin has considerable space devoted to it, the dichromate method, which is much more frequently used, is not mentioned. This book gives general information concerning operations which require skill and experience, but does not pretend to take the place of larger and more elaborate treatises which are now available. PARKER C. LICILHINEY
