RECENT ROOKS PROCESSEQUIPMENT DESIGN. Herman C. Herse, Prafessor of Engineering Drawing and Design, and J o h n Henry Rushton, Prafesxlr of Chemical Engineering. University of Virginia. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., New York, 1945. vii 580 pp. 451 figs. 101 tables. 15 X 23 cm. Trade edition $7.50. Textbook edition $6.00. This is an unusual book in many respects. I t is unusually good in part and unusually bad in part. I n so far as the present reviewer is aware, this is the first occasion on which a professor of engineering drawing and design, and a professor of chemical engineering have joined in producing a textbook on design of nrocess eauioment. Considerine the fact that verv few chemical engineers, particularly those occupied in teaching, can design anything structurally more elaborate than a chicken coop, one may rejoice t o note that a t least one professor of chemical engineering has concerned himself with the design of process equipment. It must be said, however, that one might peruse the book here under review without knowing a t once that a chemical engineer had been concerned in its production. A list of the chapter headings will perhaps give point to this assertion. They are:
pate that a t last the chemical engineer will really go places. Not SO in the present book. And so one comes finally to Chapter 18 on special stress applications, still hoping and still doomed to disappointment if his quest is for contributions obviously from the hand of a chemical engineer. All that has been said above gives a wrong impression of this book as s whole. I t is packed with useful information, and beautifully illustrated with drawings such as one would expect from a professor of engineering drawing and design. The book does. however.. trv to cover too manv fields and in "laces becomes superficial The present reviewer's chief complaint is that Professor Rushton, who is quite capable of writing on the design of process equipment, missed so many opportunities of getting chemical engineering into the picture. The book carries many useful examples of how t o solve problems, and a list of problems a t the end of eachchapter. The hook is well bound, the type clear, and the text unusually free from typographical errors. This reviewer, being a chemical engineer, and having long complained that chemical engineers do not know how t o design anything, now expresses the hope that Professor Rushton, having remained so shyly in the background in this venture in the world of design, will strike out boldly on his own. HARRYA. CURTIS
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Materials of Construction Mechanical Properties and Strength of Materials Riveted Pressure Vessels Welded Pressure Vessels Mechanics Threaded Fasteners and Combined Stresses Structural Analysis Trusses and Truss Adaptations Piping Attachments and Closures Nonferrous Construction Concrete Construction Wood and Other Nonmetallic Construction Belt and Chain Drives Toothed Gearing Shafting and Bearings Handling Equipment and Mechanical Frames Special Stress Applications
I~NIVBRSITY OF M I S S O O X ~ COLUMBIA,
MISSOYPI
C o ~ r o r oCHEMISTRY (Theoretical and Applied). Collected and edited by Jerome Alerender. Reinbold Publishing Corpora1256 pp. Illustrated. tion, New York, 1944. Vol. V. vi 15 X 23 em. $20.
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Thechapter on materials of construction barely introduces the subject. One would expect a chemical engineer t o devote more than six lines to carbon and a dozen lines to plastics. Chapter 2 is likewise a nibble a t the subject. The authors remark in their preface that "for college curricula, in which courses in mechanics and strength of materials are taught prior t o the design course, Chapters 1 , 2 , and 5 may be omitted or used forreview." If they are not intended for review, it is not evident what purpose these chapters may serve. Chapters 3 and 4 are goad as far as they go, which isn't very far, considering the importance of pressure vessels as process equipment. Chapter 5, on mechanics, is a brief review of some of the topics ordinarily covered in a course in mechanics. Chapter 6 lightly hits the high spots, and Chapter 7 is a brief chapter with a big name. A chemical engineer who undertakes to design trusses on the basis of Chapter 8 cannot be accused of lack of courage. The chapter on piping is a verygood introduction to the subject. That on attachments and closures covers some of the simpler types. I n the chapter on nonferrous construction one wishes that the chemical engineer had had more t o say. Chapter 12, onconcreteconstruction, i s a g a y little review of plain and reinforced concrete construction, or, rather, a few topics in this field. I t is not evident t h a t the chemical engineer was present when Chapter 13 a n wood and other nonmetallic construction was written. H e wasn't needed when Chapter 14 on belt and chain drives was written, and no mechanical engineer would ever let any other kind of an engineer share in the joy of writing about toothed gearing. Shafting and bearings (Chapter 16) have given many a chemical engineer a headache, hut the mechanical engineers claim them as their awn. When we reach Chapter 17, on handling equipment and mechanical frames,however, weantici-
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This valuable compendium of the work of many distinguished authors, ably edited by Jerome Alexander, is the fifth large volume in a series dealing broadly with colloid chemistry and related fields. Another will be forthcoming in due course. Twenty-five chapters deal with theory and methods while thirty-five present biology and medicine. Besides sections by the editor such authors as Harkins, McBain, Gerrner, Hickman, Mark, Sollner. MacInnes, Sheppard, Eyring, and many others contribute to the first part. The case for biology and medicine isargued by Elvehjem, Booker,Kamm, Wald, Stanley. Meyerhof, Menkin. Loeh, Carlson, Spiegel-Adolf, Jennings, Cannon, and other well-known scientists. The range of topics is wide, perhaps almost too wide for consistency, yet every chapter is so useful and interesting that the reader will not object. Among the chapter headings are Films, Applications of Electron Diffraction and X-rays, High Vacuum Distillation, Polymerization, Thevitreous State, Ultrasonic Waves, The Betatron, High-speed Centrifugation. Measurement of Surface Areas, Photosynthesis, Plant Cell Membranes Action, The Visual Process, Viruses, Genes, Protoplasm, Inflammation, Blood Coagulation, Immunology, Cancer, Infective Aerosols, Lipids. Psychiatry, Allergy and Anaphylaxis. Some of the chapters are so detailed as t o amount t o monographs, notably the 90-page chapter by Harkins on surface films. A chapter by Prebus of 83 pages on the electron microscope is a close second while Wanda Farr devotes 57 pages t o plant cell membranes. Two or three chapters dealing with vitamins, minerals, and nutrition 05- a n excellent treatment of those subjects. The reviewer cannot resist the temptation t o quote Axelrod and Elvehjem. "In 1937 Lohman and Schuster demonstrated in a now classic paper that cocarboxylase is the pyrophosphoric acid ester of thiamine. Our present understanding of the biological activity of thiamine stems largely from this observation." Later, Lela E . Booher states, "Vitamin E is reported to exert a sparing effect on vitamin A, and more so on carotene, resulting in improved utilization of vitamin A or carotene for growth and vitamin A storage." Lauffer and Stanley include this statement: "Langmuir and Schaefer found that they were able t o adsorb a film of tobacco mosaic virus on a surface containing a monolayer of egg albumin.
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By a n interference method they found the thickness of the film to be 12.5 mm." The discussion of inflammation by Valy Menkin can well be applied to capillary permeability in shock. He compares the conflicting theories as t o the role of histamine and leukotaxine and pronounces in favor of the latter as the effective agent in increase of capillary permeability. He describes in detail his preparation of leukotaxine and its properties. In such great dilution as 1:10,000,000 i t shows an appreciable effect on capillary permeability. The molecular weight is about 5000. Beverly Clarke points out t h a t Goppelsroder began his work with spot tests (diffusion rings) as early as 1861. Clarke considers the more recent Tswett column work as a n extension of this diffusion ring study. The chapter by XfarInnes and 1.ongworth on Elccrrophorctic Study of Protein, is esperially rlpar a n d hrll,ful. Rheology is given theoretical treatment. Hickman records the development of his molecular still and its present uses. notably the concentration of fish liver oils for the vitamin A market. I t may seem that this volume stresses tools and methods of physics but colloid chemists need t o consider the possibilities of such tools in their own field. Alexander and his numerous associates deserve high praise for putting into a single large volume a small library of invaluable and stimulating information, Scientists in all fields will profit by reading it. H ~ R N. Y HOLMES OBBBLXN COLLEGE OBBRLZN, OH~O
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Pvaous UN,vess,r" INDIAN*
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I. Frederic Walker, Chemical Research DiviFORMALDEHYDE. sion, Electrochemicals Department, E . I . du Pant de Nemours & Company, Inc., Niagara Falls, New York. Reinhold Pub398 pp. 28 lishing Corporation, New York. 1945. xii figs. 3 1 tables. 15 X 23 cm. $5.50. Formaldehyde is Number 98 of the A. C. S. Monograph Series. According to the author. "the growing importance of formaldehyde as a commercial chemical, its many unique characteristics, and its varied applications have created a definite need for a systematic and critical account of formaldehyde chemistry." I t is the only current hook, in the English language, which is devoted exclusively t o the chemistry of formaldehyde. The chapter headings are: Formaldehyde Production (17 pages), Monomeric Formaldehyde (10). State of Dissolved Formaldehyde (11). Commercial Formaldehyde Solution (9). Physical Properties of Pure Aqueous Formaldehyde Solution (10). Distillation of Formaldehyde Solutions (6). Formaldehyde Polymers (38). Chemical Properties of Formaldehyde (15). Reactions of Formaldehyde with Inorganic Agents (21). Reactions of Formaldehyde with Aliphatic Hydroxy Compounds and Mercaptans (12), Reactions of Formaldehyde with Aldehydes and Ketones (12), Reactions of Formaldehyde with Phenols (29), Reactions of Formaldehyde with Carboxylic Acids, Acid Anhydrides, Acyl Chlorides, and Esters (8). Reactions of Formaldehyde with Amino and Amido Compounds (28). Reactions of Formaldehyde with Hydrocarbons and Hydrocarbon Derivatives (17). Detection and Estimation of Small Ouantities of Formaldehvde . (11). . . Quontitattvr A n ~ l y i i sof F~rmalddlydcSolutioni and Polynwrs (?I I , I l c x a m e t h y l e r ~ c t c t r ~ m i121; ~ ~ e I l a e i of Furrnaldrhyde, Formaldrhyde Polymers, and I l c r a m c t h y l ~ n r r r t r ~ m i ~ Part t c , I , 1%. ibid., Part I1 (55). One expects a book of this type t o be comprehensive in its scope, hut a consideration of t h e discussion on the reaction of fonnaldehvde with the "nitro-hvdrocarbons" leaves the reviewer with the impression that the suivey is lacking in its coverage of the field. This hook is, nevertheless, indispensable to any worker in the field and should be found on the shelves of every library. ED. F.DEOEnrNQ I,*sruerm.
THEFUTURE OF INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH. Frank A. Howard, Vice-President, Standard Oil- Company (N. J.), and President, Standard Oil Development Company; George W. Lewis, Director of Aeronautical Research, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics; and Others. Standard Oil Development Company, New York. 1945. viii 173 pp. 15 X 23 cm. This is a collection of the papers given at the Forum in October, 1944, sponsored by the Standard Oil Development Company on t h e occasion of its silver anniversary. The general subject of the Fomm was "The future of industrial research." Three themes were used: (1) What should be the guiding principles and objectives for the commercial PCOgranIS of industrial research and development organizations? (2) How can small business serve itself and be served by industrial research and development? (3) What place should industrial research and development organizations allocate t o future work directed primarily toward national security? There are 13 papers presented by outstanding industrial research men, several of which were published in the News Edition of Indudrial and Engineering Chemistry. I n addition, there is the discussion by 22 others. The hook is attractively hound and printed, and isvery worth-while readingfor teachersand students of chemistry. Further information concerning the availability of the book may he obtained by writing to: Standard Oil Development Company, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20, New York. A. A. VERNON
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OUTLINEOP THE AWINO ACIDS AND PROTEINS. Edited by Meluille Sahyun, Vice-president and Director of Research, Frederick Steams and Company, Detroit, Michigan. Reinhold Publishing Corporation, New York, 1944. 251 pp. 16 tables. 8 figs. 15 X 23 cm. $4.00. According to the preface and the foreword the purpose of this book is to outline the essentials of thechemistry and the biochemistry of amino acids and proteins. There are 12 chapters and a n appendix by 13 well-qualified authors, three of whom were cantributors to Schmidt's compendium on amino acids and proteins. Six chapters (102 pages) are devoted to the discovery, isolation, synthesis, and analysis of amino acids and to the occurrence. properties, structure, analysis, hydrolysis, and amino acid content of proteins. Six chapters (84 pages) are concerned with the relation of amino acids to immunity and biologically important products, the role of amino acids in detouication, and the metabolism and nutritional value of amino acids and proteins. A list of 142 U. S. Patents on amino acids and related organic compounds is givenin the appendix. I t seems inevitable t h a t all collaborative works shall have shortcomings and the present boak is no exception. The following examples illustrate this point. The mechanism of protein hydrolysis, the racemization of optically active amina acids, the resolution of racemic amino acids, the nomenclature of natural amino acids, and other concepts employed in the text are inadequately explained. The accepted symbols for the natural amino acids are given on page 37, yet natural valine is designated on thispage as 1(+)- and on page 22 as d-. Duplication of information occurs throughout Chapters VIII t o X I I . Some key topics (such as transmethylation) discussed in the book do not appear in the subject index. There is no indication that foreign patents may be as important as those issued in this country. Some of the information in the tables on pages 67 and 131 is less reliable than that published in the 1944 literature. The introduction of photographs of 13 classical workers is a pleasing innovation but it could be inferred that Curtius, Drechsel, Ehrlich. Ellinger, Sorensen, and certain other individuals made less important contributions to the field of amino acids and proteins. I t might be assumed from the placement of their photographs that Fischer, Kossel, and Weyl were
