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T H E JOURNAL OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Vol. 14, No. 10
JAPAN LETTER By K . KASHIMA, 1125 Ikebukuro, near Tokyo, Japan
The fixation of atmospheric nitrogen is an important problem in European countries and also in Japan. Under the jurisdiction of the Agricultural and Commercial Department, an institute, Special Research Laboratory for Nitrogen, was established in 1917 a t Meguro, near Tokyo, to study this problem and its application to industry. Dr. Fusakichi Odera, formerly research chemist of the Tokyo Industrial Laboratory, was placed in charge of the laboratory. Details of the progress of the institute have not yet been published Three reports have, however, appeared: concentration of nitric acid using sulfuric acid as a condensing agent; a general review of the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen; and the electrolysis of cyanamide, its salts, and dicyandiamide in aqueous solutions. The same problem is now under consideration by the Institute of Chemical and Physical Research, and also by some fertilizer companies. Two companies were founded by the Mitsui and Mitsubishi, with plants in Kyushu, and employ the cyanamide process. Suzuki and Company, in Kobe, have recently purchased the apparatus and patent for the fixation of nitrogen from Georges Claude of France. This apparatus is also protected by the Japanese patent law. Founded on this and other patents, the Nitrogenous Industrial Company of the Claude System is being organized with a capital of 15,000,000 yen to manufacture ammonia, ammonium sulfate, and other derivatives. The fuel situation is another international problem. Recently, two institutes have been established to study this question : The Research Laboratory of the Naval Fuel Department at Tokuyama in Yamaguchi Prefecture; and the Fuel Laboratory, of which Mr. Manji Yoshimura is in charge. The latter, which is under the control of the Agricultural and Commercial Department, will study general fuel problems and their industrial application. The former, under the Naval Department, will conduct research work on fuels for ships. During the past year, Tatsuzo Hatori of Minami-hirayanagi-nura, near Kawaguchi-machi in Saitama Prefecture, made the startling announcement that by heating certain common substances in a crucible with suitable reagents, he had succeeded in isolating some small silver grains. These substances did not reveal the presence of silver by the methods ordinarily employed. His announcement aroused the interest of chemists, many of whom called upon him and examined his work. But they could not explain his findings. Some thought them fantastic. The inventor himself has not been able to offer a scientific explanation. He is not a college man but is a trained technician. Dr. Tsuneya Marusawa, professor of applied chemistry in the Kyushu Imperial University, and Dr. Sadahiko Sato are greatly interested in his work and are conducting investigations with a view to finding the scientific explanation for this discovery. Dr. Sato has recently announced that he can isolate silver from some substances which do not yield silver by the usual analytical method, but has not yet advanced a scientific explanation. July 16, 1922
. . . . . Books and journals published in the United States and European countries are frequently bound with metallic wires. They are not, however, suitable for Japan, owing to the great humidity. Japan is a wet country, the humidity being at a minimum in January, about 60 per cent, and a t a maximum in July, about 90 per cent. Metallic wires used for binding books and journals, leathers used for covering cameras and other purposes, and many wooden articles are apt to be destroyed during June to August. Many patents for waterproof paper or cloth have been taken out. Prof. K. Ikeda has perfected a process for the manufacture of drying agents. As material, Japanese acid clay (fuller's earth) was selected, which is being largely used as decolorizing material of mineral, vegetable, and animal oils. The clay is compressed to a prism 10 to 15 mm. long and a sectional area of about 4 sq. mm., and heated to a high temperature. By passing moist air or other gases through a layer of the prism, it is easily dried. By the decrease of 1 mm. ofothe vapor tension, the temperature of the gas is raised by 2 , When the absorbing power of the clay is lost, it is reactivated by heating or by passing heated air.
A. Maire, chief engineer of St. Medard powder-mill, has visited this country and is now delivering lectures on chemistry and technology concerning explosives, etc. The visit of American chemists is very much welcomed. It would be a great pleasure if we could hear their opinions directly. It has already been announced that Prof. Einstein will visit this country next autumn and deliver some lectures on his great theory. If visitors drop into our laboratory, every assistance in our power will be gladly offered. Research is the life of scientific men in the laboratory, but it consumes money. The funds for research in universities, technical and other schools are not plenty. For a few years, the Educational Department has been granting some money (about 1000 to 3000 yen per problem) to scientific men in universities, technical, higher, or medical schools, etc. This year, about 30 professors were appointed for such research. Works achieved by this fund are now being published in general chemical journals or special memoirs of each school. There have been three chemical journals written by JapaneseJournal of the Chemical Society of Japan, formerly Journal of the Tokyo Chemical Sdciety, founded in 1880, Journal of Chemical Industry, founded in 1898, and Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society Gf Japan, founded in 1882. This year two new chemical journals have been published, Acta Phytochimica, edited by Prof. K. Shibata, and T h e Journal of Biochemistry, edited by Prof. S . Kakiuchi. They contain articles written in English, French, and German. The National Research Council of Japan has also published this year one proceedings and eight journals-on astronomy and geophysics, chemistry, physics, geology and geography, botany, zoology, medical science, and engineering. They contain transactions written in English, French, and German, and abstracts written in English of articles published in Japan. Besides these, we have one chemical news (semimonthly), two rather popular chemical journals, and many special publications from institutes, colleges, or laboratories. An institute for studying metallic materials was newly established in the TBhoku Imperial University in Sendai instead of the Iron and Steel Laboratory, Prof. K. Honda being appointed as the director of the Institute. A chair for biochemistry has been established in the Kyoto Imperial University and is held by Prof. S. Komatsu. It will also be created in the Tokyo Imperial University in the near future. August 11, 1922
A Uniform Working Temperature For some time the need for uniform alcohol tables and a uniform temperature for making routine observations has been felt. There has been some criticism of the two standards now in most common use, that of the A. 0. A,. C., which is based on the P., Bureau of Standards table 20°/4 , and that of the U. based on the Bureau of Standards tables 15.56"/15.56 , I n order to obtain a consensus of opinion as to preferences, the following questionnaire was recently sent out to members of the A. 0. A. C.:
2.
I-Are you in favor of the A. 0 A. C. alcohol tables? 2-Are you in favor of the U. S. P., 9th Revision, alcohol tables? 3-What single working temperature do you consider best for determining specific gravities, optical readings, refractive indices, immersion refractometer readings, etc.?
Of the replies received, the vast majority voting favor the A. 0. A. C . tables, and 20' as the best temperature for making determinations. In order to get a larger and more representative vote, it has been suggested that others, who are interested in establishing uniform tables and temperature for making observations, send their vote on the three questions, especially on the question of uniform, general working temperature. The preferences of the members of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY are especially desired in this matter. Suggestions should be sent to L. I?. Kebler, Chaamman, A. 0. A. C. Committee on Pharmacopeia1 Revision, Bureau of Chemistry, Washington, D. C.
