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Industrial and Engineering
Chemistry Published by t/ie American Chemical S ociety
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Volume 7
Number 23
DECEMBER 10, 1929 Mobile Helium Repurification Plant
A helium repurification plant of a mobility hitherto un- helium. The air compressor supplies air at high pressure to an attained has recently been designed, constructed, a n d shipped expansion column, which serves to liquefy a portion of the air, to the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corp., of Akron, Ohio, by the Helium forming a cooling bath a t a temperature of —170° C. The second c o m p r e s s o r forces Co., of L o u i s v i l l e , helium at high pres Ky. The entire sure through copper plant, with a capacity coils immersed in this of 1500 cubic feet of liquid air, with con g a s p e r h o u r , is sequent removal οf mounted on a pneu impurities by lique matic-tired t r a i l e r faction. The helium body, a n d c a n t r a passes through nearly verse a n y t e r r a i n a half-mile of copper which a t r u c k c a n tubing, and is finally negotiate. discharged a t a purity Previously de of 98 per cent to any signed portable redesired point and a t purification p l a n t s any pressure up to have been limited in 2000 pounds per application b y t h e square inch. T h e fact that they were loss in repurification so heavy as t o necessi is approximately 1 tate mounting on rail per cent. road cars. The new truck-trailer plant The mobile helium has the obvious ad repurification p l a n t v a n t a g e of ready was designed by R. R. transfer to t h e side of Bottoms, director of an airship or blimp research, and E. G. wherever t h e latter Luening, e x e c u t i v e may be. T h e purifi vice president of the cation process comes Girdler Corp., which to the airship, rather operates the Helium than the airship to the Co. These men were purification process. also responsible for the development of The mobile plant the special fuel gas is shown i n the ac used by the Graf Zep companying p h o t o pelin on its first re g r a p h . I t consists M o b i l e Helium Rcpurification P l a n t Developed by t h e H e l i u m Co. for t h e Goodyearturn trip t o Friede s s e n t i a l l y of t w o Zeppelin Corp. richshafen from the c o m p r e s s o r s , one United States. handling air, the other
Nominees for American Cher-xiical Society Offices
Irving Langmuir to Receive Chandler Medal
The Council has recently been asked to c a s t its "ballot for t h e following, who have been nominated for ejection "to the offices indicated:
SOCIETY and assistant director of the research laboratory of the General Biectric Co., has been chosen by t h e trustees of Columbia University to receive the medal of the Charles Fred erick Chandler Foundation this year. The medal will be bestowed at a meeting in Havemeyer Hall, Columbia University, December 13, at 8:15 P. M. Doctor Langmuir has selected as the subject of the Chandler Lecture "Electrochemical Inter actions of Tungsten, Thorium, Caesium, and Oxygen." Friends of Professor Chandler presented in 1910 to the trustees of Columbia Université a sum of money which constitutes the Charles Frederick Cha Her Foundation. The income from the fund is used to provide a lecture by an eminent chemist and a medal to be presented to the lecturer in further recognition of his achievements in science. Previous lecturers of this foundation were:
PRBSIDENT-HX-ECT, 1930 only: C. A. Browne G. C. UndL Moses Gomberg F. C. Whit more COUNCILORS-AT-LARCE, 1930-32, inclusive (four to ~be chosen.): Edward Bartow S. C. Und C. R. D o w n s C. Μ. Α.. Stine O. K a m m H. S. Taylor C. A. Kraus David Wesson DIRECTORS, 1930-32, inclusive (nominees of LocaU Sections; one Director in each of t h e following two geographical district =s to be cfctosen) : First District (Maine, N e w Hampshire, Wermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Canada): James F. £J orris Third District (Pennsylvania, Delaware, and— Ohio): Ε. C Bingham Charlesl·,.Reese S . R. Weidlein
Irving Langmuir,
Leo IT. Baekeland W. F. Hillebrand W. R. Whitney
President
of the AMERICAN
P. Gowland Hopkins Edgar F. Smith Robert E. Swain
CHEMICAL
E . C. Kendall S. W. Parr Mioses Gomberg J. Arthur Wilson
NEWS EDITION
2
Midwest Regional Meeting D e s M o i n e s a n d A m e s , I o w a , D e c e m b e r 2 7 a n d 28, 1929 This meeting will be a joint one with Section C of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which meets in Des Moines from December 27 to J a n u a r y 1. The Midwest Regional Meeting will be held at Des Moines on Friday, December 27, and a t Ames on Saturday, December 28. T h e program is as follows: F r i d a y , D e c e m b e r 27 Morning — Registration, Hotel Fort Des Moines, which is t h e headquarters of both the Regional Meeting a n d t h e American Association for the Advancement of Science. 1:30-4:00 P. M.—Symposium on "Teaching of Chemistry," Banquet Room, Hotel Fort Des Moines. N E I L GORDON, editor of t h e Journal of Chemical Education, presiding. RICHARD A. WORSTELL. "Some Obstacles Encountered i n the Teaching of High School Chemistry." N E I L LUTER. "Teaching High School Chemistry." L. L. M I N O R . " T h e Teaching of Chemistry in t h e Junior College." JAMES E. WEBSTER. " A Survey of Chemistry a s Taught t o Agri cultural Students." W I L L I S J. BRAY. "Some Observations on S t u d e n t Difficulties in t h e Study of General Chemistry." General Discussion. 8:00 P. M.—General Reception of the American Association for the Advance ment of Science at t h e Shrine Temple.
S a t u r d a y , D e c e m b e r 28 The group will be brought from Des Moines t o Ames on S a t u r d a y morn ing by bus in time for the meeting. 10:00 A. M.—12:00 M.—Meeting of Section C of American Association for t h e Advancement of Science. S. C. L I N D , vice president, presiding. Address of retiring vice president, C. Ε. Κ. M E E S , "Photographic Sensitizing Dyes." O. R. SWEENEY. " T h e Chemical Utilization of Agricultural P r o d u c t s . " 12:15-1:15 P. M.—Luncheon, Memorial Union. 1:15-2:30 P. M.—Tour of the campus a n d inspection of t h e experimental cornstalk wallboard plant of the Chemical Engineering Department. 2:30-4:40 P. M.—Division meeting i n Chemistry Building. (A) Symposium o n "Chemical Utilization of Agricultural Products." W. E. EMLEY A. M. B U S W E L L H E N R Y GILMAN HENRY WEBBER
J. B. DAVIDSON and E. V. COLLINS. " T h e Collection of Agri cultural Materials." (B) General papers on organic, inorganic, a n d physical chemistry will be given, the number of sections depending o n t h e number and length of papers. Papers will be accepted for these programs up t o December 12. 6:00-10:30 P. M.—Banquet and Entertainment a t t h e Memorial UnionBusses will leave for Des Moines after this.
Ladies' Program. Much interest is being taken in plans for the entertainment of t h e women. Members of the I o t a Sigma Pi a n d of Sigma Delta Epsilon a n d wives of AMERICAN C H E M I C A L SOCIETY members in
Des Moines will be a t headquarters o n December 27 to g r e e t the women visitors and help them t o enjoy t h e day. Transportation will be available for trips t o some of t h e interesting places i n Des Moines. I t is planned t h a t ail will t a k e t h e trip through t h e Ar m a n d Co., t h e best-known manufacturer of cosmetics in t h a t part of the country. Arrangements a r e being m a d e t o bring the chemistry group t o Ames o n December 28. A t noon, a luncheon will be served t o all women a t the Memorial Union. T h e luncheon, with a very interesting program, is sponsored b y t h e Iowa S t a t e groups of I o t a Sigma Pi, Sigma Delta Epsilon, a n d AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. These organizations extend a n urgent invitation for all science women a n d visiting w o m e n to a t t e n d . I n the afternoon there will be a n opportunity t o v i s i t t h e c a m p u s buildings a n d the exhibits of the various departments, t o rest, or t a k e a h a n d a t bridge. T h e Iowa State groups of I o t a Sigma P i , Sigma Delta Epsilon, a n d A M E R I C A N CHEMICAL SOCIETY e x t e n d a m o s t cordial i n v i t a
tion t o all visiting m e n a n d w o m e n to a t t e n d a reception and holiday t e a a t 4:00 P . M. in t h e Chemistry Building. I t is ex pected t h a t t h e tea will give an o p p o r t u n i t y for visiting and relaxa tion, prior to the b a n q u e t and p r o g r a m of the evening.
T h e Chemical Division. T h e Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of t h e De p a r t m e n t of Commerce maintains a multigraphed house organ called "The Fortnightly Letter," which circulates only within t h e r a n k s of t h a t bureau. I t is a n excellent m e a n s for keeping t h e m a n y divisions interested in t h e work of their colleagues and informed with respect t o t h e accomplishments a n d problems of t h e organization. I n recent issues, n a m e l y those for
Vol. 7, No. 23
October 1 5 and November 1, considerable space is devoted to the origin, purpose, personnel, work, a n d accomplishments of the Chemical Division. W e regret that we d o not have the space to reprint much of this m a t e r i a l . T h e Chemical Division came into existence i n August, 1922. At that time there were b u t three persons—the chief of the division, a research assistant, and a stenographer. The first year closed with a personnel of tcn„ and sixteen now comprise the staff. Since t h e division has b e e n formed, the increase in imports a n d exports of chemicals ha^s greatly added t o t h e ser vices demanded, a number of new a c t i v i t i e s h a v e been initiated on behalf of t h e industry, a n advisory committee has been formed t o assist, two highly succcssfial conferences of executives of t h e chemical industry have been held i n Washington u n d e r its auspices, a n d many m e a n s have; been adopted t o aid the American chemical industry i n a variety of ways, from securing raw materials t o findiirg new markets for finished products. T h e chemical industry lias learned how t o u s e , not only this division of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, b u t t h e others which bring together a group of specialists pre pared to perform a variety of services amazing t o the individual who has n o t acquainted fciimself with the work of the b u r e a u and its divisions.
Moore Laboratory of Cheoiistry Dedicated at Arrxhers-i: T h e Moore L a b o r a t o r y of Chemistry, presented t o Amherst College by the family of W i l l i a m Heaxy Moore, w a s dedicated on October 2 5 , 1929. The program began a t 9:30 with t h e recep tion of guests a n d an inspection of b u i l d i n g and equipment. At 2:00 P . M . Mrs. William H e n r y Moor-e presented the laboratory, which was accepted for t h e college b y George A r t h u r Plimpton, president of the board o f trustees, a n d for the d e p a r t m e n t by Howard W a t e r s Doughty-, chairman o f the D e p a r t m e n t of Chem istry. C. IE. K. Mees g a v e t h e address of the daj% speaking on " T h e E v e n t s T h a t Really- Matter." J\ portrait of William H e n r y Moore w a s then presented a n d unveiled. I n addition to giving the building and equipment, t h e Moorre family h a s given $250,000 for endowment. In connection with t h e dedication, the D e p a r t m e n t of Chem istry has issued a booklet whicb. gives, not only t h e order of exer cises, but a biographical note regarding William Henry Moore, in whose m e m o r y the laboratory wis ^ i v e n a n d o n whose birthday i t was dedicated, a historical slcetch o f the D e p a r t m e n t of Chem istry of Amherst College, -and a description of the laboratory with floor plans, as well as a l i s t of graduates i n chemistry who h a v e continued chemical work: at universities after leaving Amherst.
C h e m i c a l Christmas P a r t y T h e annual Christmas party of t h e Salesmen's Association of t h e American Chemical Indus *y w i l l be held F r i d a y evening, December 27, a t t h e McAlpira Hotel, N e w York. This affair has been a yearly feature of t i i e association's activities a n d the coming p a r t y promises a t least to eqxial, if not exceed, previous Christmas-week celebrations. A s usual, there will be no speeches. Anyone w h o tries t o speak (none h a v e been so bold s o far) will have to b e a r t h e conseQuences. Tbie dinner will s t a r t a b o u t 7:30, t o be featured, as usual, b y the d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h e "Chemi cal Peddler," t h e organisation's official publication, issued once a year. F r o m 8:30 until after 11 ο "clock members a n d guests •will be entertained with t i i e presentation of numerous well-known vaudeville and night-clulb acts. Additional details will b e an nounced l a t e r b y the committee, wliich consists of G r a n t A. Dorland, MacNair-Dorland Co., crrairman; R o b e r t Wilson, Dow Chemical C o . ; R. T . Grant, N~oil Chemical & Color Co.; William H . Adkins, Giva.ndan-Delawa.nna, Inc. ; Robert Quinn, Mathieson Alkali Works; and H . B . ^ r i o r , H . S. Prior & Co.
Nobel Prize Grven for S t u d i e s o n Sugar Arthur H a r d e n and H a n s -von B-uler w o n t h e 1929 Nobel Prize in cbemistry, for t h e i r studies of yeasts, sugars, a n d t h e fermentation of sugars, carried, on o v e r a period of years. Doctor H a r d e n , professor o f bioc£hemistry i n London Uni versity a n d head of the biochemistry d e p a r t m e n t at t h e leister Institute, lias published^ a book οαι alcoholic fermentation, besides reports of his irmany chemical studies, some of which were in t h e field of vitasnins. Professor von Euler is director of t h e n e w biochemical insti t u t e of t h e Stockholm H i g h School, where h e has been pro fessor of chemistry for s o m e years. Like Doctor Harden, he has also m a d e studies of vitamins, a l t h o u g h h i s main interest h a s been i n the field of emzymes and sugars. H e has published two books on t h e chemistry of enzymes, besides h u n d r e d s of reports of studies conducted alone a n d i n collaboration w i t h others.
