Divisional Reports Agricultural and Food Chemistry r
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T His division enjoyed one of the most stimulating and largely attended meetings that has been held in many years. An unusually large number of chemists brought their wives or other members of the family to enjoy the sunshine, sights, and entertainment of Atlantic City. Again the huge success of well-planned symposia on live subjects has been demonstrated by the record-breaking attendance figures and active interest at the sessions on New Analytical Tools for Biological and Food Research, Insecticides, Fungicides, and Hormone Sprays, and Vitamins. At all these meetings the attendance was from 120 to 380 at all times. The 13 papers covering new tools show that biological and food chemists can benefit greatly by introducing many techniques in their laboratories, now used only by biologists, physicists, or other specialists. There seems to be no waning of interest in vitamins, nor is there likely to be so long as the public remains nutritionminded. The 19 papers covering this field of research were particularly timely and useful in unraveling the vitamin riddle. Twelve papers covered the insecticide and fungicide field—a subject which had not been considered by any division of the SOCIETY for several years. Twelve general papers dealt with starches, fats, animal nutrition, and chemical methods. The meeting facilities were excellent in every particular. At the business-luncheon meeting on Wednesday noon .a new set of divisional officers was elected and other business transacted. A new Committee on Pectin Nomenclature was authorized and appointed by the chairman. CARL R. FELLERS, Secretary
Analytical and Micro Chemistry r 1
¥ HB meeting of this division consisted of four sessions; 9 papers on analytical chemistry and 24 dealing with various phases of micro chemistry, many of an analytical character, were presented. At the business meeting, held during the divisional luncheon, various committee reports were read and election of officers held. The Committee on Standardization of Microchemical Apparatus reported through its Chairman, G. L. Royer, that in addition to the recommended specifications for the carbon-hydrogen and the Dumas nitrogen apparatus recently published in the Analytical Edition of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, a similar set of specifications for the apparatus for sulfur and halogens was well under way.
The Committee on Micro Balances reported through its Chairman, C. J. Rodden, that it had discussed performance specifications and standard conditions of testing, and is sending out requests to members of the division to conduct carefully controlled tests for the reproducibility of various micro balances under ordinary conditions of use. FRANCIS W. POWER, S.J., Secretary
Biological Chemistry A T THE St. Louis meeting the Executive "^^ Committee of the division agreed that the Secretary-Treasurer should have a term of office longer than one year. The Chairman was requested to appoint a special committee to propose amendments to the Bylaws to be presented at the Atlantic City meeting. This amendment, making the term of office for the Secretary-Treasurer three years instead of one, was presented at the business meeting of the division by W. C. Russell and unanimously adopted. The following officers were elected: Chairman, B. H. Nicolet; Secretary-Treasurer, E. Brand; Executive Committee, H. O. Calvery, F. C. Bing, H. A. Shonle, W. H. Griffith, N . B. Guerrant. .On Tuesday the division participated in the Symposia on Physicochemical Methods in Protein Chemistry (jointly with the Division of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry) and on New Analytical Tools for Biological and Food Research (jointly with the Divisions of Agricultural and Food Chemistry and of Medicinal Chemistry). On Tuesday afternoon a special symposium was held on the Chemistry of Aging. It was unusually well attended, which was in no small measure due to the inspiring chairmanship of that "elder statesman" among American biologists, Anton J. Carlson. The division is greatly indebted to Professor Carlson for making a special trip to preside at the symposium. The division also appreciates the cooperation of the other speakers on the program. The growing importance of the aging problem was brought out clearly, and the special significance of biochemical research in. aging was stressed. Wednesday a series of interesting and stimulating papers on proteins was presented: the chemistry of proteins, protein viruses, protein horH. 1035
mones, protein and sulfur metabolism, and the chemistry of the sulfur amino :.,cids. Almost without exception the presentations were followed by animated discussion in which a large part of the audience took part. The Vitamins session was held on Thursday in cooperation with the Divisions of Agricultural and Food Chemistry and of Medicinal Chemistry. This program has now become a well established feature of A. C. S. meetings and always draws a capacity crowd. E. BRAND, Secretary
Cellulose Chemistry T P H B Division of Cellulose Chemistry met on Wednesday and Thursday. The Wednesday afternoon session was a joint meeting with the Divisions of Biological, Organic, and Sugar Chemistry to hear the presidential address. During the other sessions 25 papers were presented dealing with various phases of cellulose chemistry, and including a half-day session on lignin. The customary divisional luncheonwas held Wednesday noon. During the Thursday afternoon meeting election of officers for the coming year took place. CHARLES R. FORDTCB, Secretary
Chemical Education T P H B division held six sessions. The program arranged by the Student Chemists Committee of the Philadelphia Section attracted a large audience and merited the high praise given by many students, teachers, and industrial chemists who attended. Also the Symposium on Professional Training of Chemists or Chemical Engineers, with papers and discussions by able men from various types of institutions and from industry, proved clarifying and stimulating, though deficient in unanimity of ideas. The demonstrations given by R. D. Billinger and assistants were good enough to hold a large audience for over an hour late into the afternoon. A goodly number of papers particularly helpful to teachers were presented. Sixty-
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Vol. 19, No. 18
The Mont e Carl o carniva l Monda y even ing lured throng s o f A . C . S . Member s
About 4 0 layouts of standard apparatus for games of chance were secured oy the host section from a the t era of legalized gambling in Atlantic City. Games were operated strictly according to Hoyle in gambling resorts, with one exception— special coupons in lieu of money—regretted'* b y neither the players nor the house at alternating intervals of the evening.
September 25, 1941 five attended the Student Breakfast and 86 the divisional luncheon. PAUL H. FALL, Secretary
Colloid Chemistry HPHB Division of Colloid Chemistry presented a program of 13 papers dealing with electrophorens, several hydrous oxides, surface-active agents, sorption studies on silica gels, x-ray diffraction and spectroscopic analysis of proteins, and reversible syneresis. At the afternoon session the seating capacity of the meeting room was exceeded, and for a time not even standing room was available. At the annual business meeting Tuesday afternoon the following new officers were elected: Chairman, Fred Olsen; Vice Chairman, W. O. Milligan; Secretary-Treasurer, J. W. McBain; Executive Committee, H. A. Abramson and C. E. Marshall; Colloid Symposium Committee, A. M. Buswell. W. O. MILLIGAN, Secretary
Fertilizer Chemistry H P H B meetings of the Division of Fer•** tilizer Chemistry were exceptionally well attended, and a diversified program presented During a joint meeting with the Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry a Symposium on Phosphates was held. Uses of phosphates in agriculture and industry and methods of manufacture were discussed. Recent industrial and agricultural developments were reported. CHARLES A. BUTT, Secretary
History of Chemistry H P H B Division of the History of Chemistry, celebrating the 20th anniversary of its
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establishment, held three sessions at which a total of 19 papers was presented including a coloredfilmwith sound effect on the history of gelatin capsule manufacture. The papers induded topics ranging from the Greeks to modern times. The 400th anniversary of the death of Paracelsus was observed with a paper by C. A. Browne which presented the modern appraisal of the character and contributions of that famous figure. Harrison Hale was elected Chairman and Ralph E. Oesper was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer. The attendance was approximately 100. JAMBS F. COUCH, Chairman
Industrial and Engineering Chemistry T P H E sixth Symposium on Unit Processes was held during an entire day and included 13 papers. The attendance reached a maximum of 200 to hear and discuss "Chlorination of Methane" by McBee, Hass, and Neher. The group of papers by Otlimer and his students on the manufacture of oxalic acid from sawdust re-examined, in the light of modern knowledge, this old abandoned process. The Illinois work on utilization of sulfur dioxide was further reported by Johnstone and Darbyshire. Other researchers reported on nitration, saponification, and esterification. A seventh symposium will be planned for September 1942. A joint Symposium on Phosphates with the Division of Fertilizer Chemistry was held, and 6 papers were presented in a Symposium on Electrical Insulation Materials. Thursday afternoon was devoted to a number of widely differing subjects covering both unit operations and unit processes with a maximum attendance of 93. The paper exciting most interest was by Hixson and Tenney on "Chlorine and Salt
1037 Cake from Salt and Sulfur". This paper presented detailed chemical data pertaining to the making by a new process of both chlorine and*'salt cake. WHITNEY WBINRICH
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Secretary-Treasurer
Medicinal Chemistry 'T'HE Division of Medicinal Chemistry enjoyed an unusually successful session at Atlantic City. The general session for contributed, papers occupied one full day and was marked by most gratifying interest and attention. In addition, this division cooperated with other divisions in the symposia on New Analytical Tools for Biological and Food Research and Vitamins, both of which proved to be of great interest to our members. At the annual business meeting, the following officers were elected: Chairman, John H. Gardner; Vice Chairman, Maurice L. Moore; Secretary-Treasurer, John H. Speer. These officers, who, with the retiring chairman constitute the Executive Committee, had a short meeting at which preliminary plans for the Memphis program were laid. The divisional luncheon on Thursday was attended by about 65 members, and was considered by all to be an outstanding social, professional, and gastronomic event. JOHN H. SPEER, Secretary
Organic Chemistry THHB Division of Organic Chemistry met for * three full-day sessions. Many interesting papers, covering a wide variety of subjects, drew a large audience, and were the subject of numerous informal discussions. The meetings were highlighted by two special addresses. At the opening of the Wednesday afternoon session,
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President William Lloyd Evans delivered
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Ralph E . Gibson, Secretary of the Division of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry his Presidential Address, before the joint meeting of the division with the Divisions of Biological Chemistry, Cellulose Chemistry, and Sugar Chemistry and Technology, on "Some Less Familiar Aspects of Carbohydrate Chemistry". Karl Folkers immediately followed with an address in connection with the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY Award in Pure
Chemistry. Dr. Folkers discussed one field of work cited in the award, the title of his paper (of which Frank Koniuszy and John Shavel, Jr., were co-authors) being "Erytkrina Alkaloids. X I . A Review and N e w Structural Studies". A t t h e business meeting, Lee I. Smith was elected chairman of the division and Homer Adkins to membership on the Executive Committee, of which Nathan L. Drake and William G. Young are also members. Dr. Drake is the retiring chairman, while Ralph L. Shriner and Cliff S. Hamilton retire as members of the Execut i v e Committee. Final plans for the Ninth National Organic Chemistry Symposium, t o be held at Ann Arbor, Mich., December 29 t o 31, 1941, were made a t the Executive Committee meeting. Further announcements concerning t h e symposium will be published i n the October 10 and November 10 N E W S EDITION. ARTHUR C. C O P E , Secretary
Paint, Varnish, and Plastics Chemistry ^ T ' m s division had a very successful •*• meeting. The first meeting day was devoted t o paint and varnish matters, while the papers of t h e second meeting day reviewed the progress made in recent years i n the field of high polymer plastics. The widespread interest in problems of the paint, varnish, and plastics industries is evidenced in that over 700 members and guests were present during the presentation of some of the papers. Briefs of the papers containing the essential information presented were made .available t o members. Those who did sn»it attend the meeting and were unable
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to collect the booklet reserved for them will receive it through the mails. On Tuesday evening the Paint, Varnish, and Plastics Division was entertained at dinner and an excellent floor show by the Philadelphia Paint and Varnish Production Club. About 260 members and guests attended this joint meeting. The officers are making plans for the spring meeting t o b e held in Memphis, Term., and request all paint and plastic chemists who wish t o present papers at that meeting t o communicate with the Secretary. A. C. E L M , Secretary-Treasurer
Petroleum Chemistry A TTENDANCE a t each of t h e four ses**"** sions of t h e Division of Petroleum Chemistry averaged approximately 300. The 24 papers presented covered a wide range of topics of interest t o petroleum chemists. There was a notable increased attention t o fundamentals as evidenced by the thermodynamic discussions of isomerization, t h e oxidation of pure hydrocarbons, t h e mechanism of alkylation, and the analysis of fuels with respect t o molecular species present. L. M. HENDERSON, Secretary pro tern.
Rubber Chemistry H P H B status of our supply of crude . rubber and other compounding materials in face of the present emergency and the steps which are being taken t o conserve present stocks of crude rubber and to increase our capacity t o produce synthetic rubber were ably reviewed in a Symposium on Rubber for Defense. This symposium comprised four excellent papers which will appear in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry for November 1941. Eleven contributed papers were presented during t h e general sessions. I n spite of the attractions of the Boardwalk, the attendance a t all technical sessions was good, reaching a s high as 600 a t times. The divisional banquet, arranged b y Peter Pinto and committee, lived up t o the reputation of Rubber Division banquets, although it must b e admitted that the trombonist stole the show. In the annual election t h e following officers for 1941-42 were elected: Chairman, J. N . Street; Vice Chairman, J. T . Blake; Secretary, H . I. Cramer; Treasurer, C. W. Christensen; Sergeantrat-Arms, C. P. Hall; Directors, R. H . Gerke, Fred Amon, P. K. Frolich, C. R. Park, W. F . Tuley. H . I. CRAMESR, Secretary
Sugar Chemistry and Technology H P H B varied interests of this division were exemplified in t h e division of t h e program into four parts of such diver-
Vol. 19, No. 18 sified subjects a s to draw almost entirely different personnel a t each session. This division was favored b y being one of those before which A. C. S . President Evans presented his address which w a s of particular interest t o members of this division a n d again called attention t o the wonderful opportunities for research and probable economic return therefrom in the carbohydrate field. T h e announcement of t h e separation of psicose from the once-supposed substance called "glutose" was mentioned by D r . E v a n s as a considerable s t e p forward in clearing u p our understanding o f the interrelations of the sugars. The starch papers were both theoretical and practical a n d shed more light on the structure of this important substance. The technical sugar session indicated a more scientific contemplation of t h e reasons behind t h e evidence and this work must result in a different manner of practical operations as our new concepts develop. T h i s w a s especially indicated b y the presentation from the research on bone char at the National Bureau of Standards. A s many had anticipated, this work is indicating possibilities which will undoubtedly vastly change t h e concept of i t s structure and its use for purification. T h e meeting seemed generally accepted as highly successful. T h e following officers were elected for the c o m i n g year: Chairman, Sidney Cantor; Vice Chairman, Geo. H . Coleman; Secretary and Treasurer, E . Whitman Rice; Executive Committee, R. Max Goepp, C . 0 . Beckman, H. I. Knowles, Lieutenant-Commander J. F . Leete, Louis Sattler. E . W H I T M A N R I C E , Secretary
Water, Sewage, and Sanitation Chemistry H H H B division held t w o interesting s e s sions. Fifteen papers were presented, each developing a lively discussion. A. S. Behrman recalled many pleasant experiences to some of t h e older members in showing slides made from photographs illustrating water purification plants used in F r a n c e in World War I, i n his paper o n the all-important problem of supplying noncontaminated water t o t h e Army troops. Interest w a s displayed i n m e t h ods of determining tannins i n boiler waters, now proved o f value i n inhibiting metal embrittlement and in a s t u d y of t h e D e l a ware E i v e r pollution. A n invitation w a s extended b y J. K . Hoskins, U. S. Public Health Service, Washington, D . C , to submit t o him or t o A. M . Buswell, Illinois State Water Survey, Urbana, 111., a n y suggestions for consideration i n the proposed revision of chemical standards for drinking water by t h e Treasury Department. L. IDRBW BBTZ, Acting Secretary
