T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y large range in actual hydrogenation, as measured by change in iodine number. It is noteworthy that our experiments invariably showed a decrease in titre, as measured by the A. 0. A. C. method, before any increase began, so that to increase the titer 0.1to 0.5’ C. above that of the original oil required a drop of iodine number to about 7 0 . We wish to point out that if, as Dr. Lowenstein asserts, there are “many variable factors which would have an effect on this conclusion,” there exists no published evidence to that effect. It seems probable to us that temperature is the only factor which would have such an effect, and the temperature 150 to 160’ C. was specified in the experiment in question. We are therefore unable to agree with Dr. Lowenstein’s implication that U. S. Patent 1,187,999 anticipates our disclosure. It is quite possible that other investigators have carried out the same work a t an earlier date, but we believe ourselves to have been the first to publish the results of such work. BERLIN H. K. MOORE NEW HAMPSEZIRE G. A. RICHTER June 12, 1917 W. B. VANARSDEL
AN EXPLOSION OF AN ATTILINE STRIPPER Recently a stripper employed on aniline waters exploded and as the cause has not been ascertained, it is thought that a description of same may be of interest to manufacturers of aniline and similar compounds. DESCRIPTION OF STRIPPER
Val. 9, No. 7
The entire contents of the stripper ( 1 6 ~ 0gallons) were thrown out, leaving a layer of r1/2 in. of iron sludge in the bottom of the stripper. A hole 20 ft. X 25 ft. was t o m through the roof and an 8-ft. I-beam bent 18 in. out of line. The wire glass windows which were near were broken. The stripper was not damaged very much. The same cover was replaced and except ’ for a few fittings was satisfactory for service again. After the explosion the inlet valve to the coil was found wide open 53/,1 turns. The condenser was clear. The two valves on inlets to the cross on the cover were closed. COMMENTS
The aniline waters were analyzed with the following results: SAMPLE: Feed Water as put into Stripper Aniline.. 3.13 per cent Acidity (as HsSO4). 0 , 0 0 5 per cent Nitro Compounds., , None
. . . . . . .. . . .
.
Liquid from Bottom of Strlpper after Explosion 3.07 per cent 0 . 0 9 per cent None
The explosion behaved as though a layer of explosive had been placed on the bottom of the stripper. It is almost inconceivable that the explosion could have been caused by steam because the I ~ / in. Z steam inlet is the only supply. If this were led into the stripper through a break in the coil, the contents of the stripper would probably have been heated to boiling before exploding. Even then, i t is difficult to see how the steam a t 115 lbs. would create such a sudden and violent explosion, entering as it did, and with the exit condenser coil wide open. We would be pleased to receive opinions as to the probable causes of this explosion, which we are a t present unable to explain. CO., INC., NBWARIC, NBW JnRSEY MARDEN,ORTH& HASTINGS per RICHARDS. BICKNELL April 30, 1917
The stripper is a 3/&. steel tank 7 ft. in diameter and 8 f t . in. deep, flat bottom and plate cover on top, all S/a-in. steel. To stiffen the cover, two 64x1. I-beams (12l/~lbs.)16in. between BUREAU OF STANDARDS’ ANALYZED SAMPLES centers were riveted on the cover. The cover was bolted to the The Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C., now has flange with about forty 3/4 in. X 1 1 / ~in. bolts. The bolt holes are spaced about 6 in. apart on three-quarters of the circumference ready for distribution its High Phosphorus Standard Analyzed and 12 in. on centers on the remaining quarter. The bottom Iron E No. 7, which is typical of the irons from the Alabama has a 21/2-in. outlet with a plug cock which runs to the sewer. area. The analysis is: carbon, 2 . 1 7 ; graphite, 1.82; comThe top has a zI/z-in. inlet with a cross. The cross has a 2-in. bined carbon, 0.38; silicon, 2 . 2 I ; titanium, o , o g g ; phosphorus, inlet with a valve and a 11/2-in. inlet with a valve. On the top 0.862 ; sulfur, 0.05 I ; manganese, 0.444; copper, 0 . 0 2 I ; chromium, 0.014; nickel, 0.016; andvanadium, 0.073. Therenewal of the cross was a 3/,-in. level safety valve and a gauge. The stripper has a closed coil of 2-in. pipe, for the purpose of No. Iz-b, of the Basic Open Hearth Steel approximately 0.4 Carheating, 8 turns, welded, connected in through the side with bon, is also ready. Until printed certificates can be secured, the above samples will be issued with provisional certificates cast-iron elbows and nipples to the coil. There is a 11/2-in. valve and line feeding the top of the coil without details of analysis, or description of methods. A new sample of Bessemer steel with approximately 0.I per cent carwith steam and the bottom drains through a a/&. steam trap. On the cover was a manhole and a 6-in. vapor line outlet bon to replace No. 8-a is now in process of analysis. running up vertically for 6 ft. to a zl/Z-in. coil in a 4 ft. X 6 ft. wooden tank. The vapor line, coil and coil-outlet have no valve. DECENNIAL INDEX OF CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS The coil discharges into a steel separator, 5 ft. X 6 ft. The The intention of offering the Decennial Index of Chemical aniline is drawn off the separator. Abstracts in bound form has been reconsidered. There has been OPERATION JUST PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION so little demand, and members who are binding their volumes The stripper was filled with aniline waters up to just 30 in. have so many different bindings, that it was considered unwise, from the top of the stripper, by means of a steam siphon from and, in fact, almost impossible to offer a binding which would the wooden tank in the yard which is used as a reservoir for suit the members of the Society. CHAS.I,. PARSONS June 8, 1917 aniline waters. At 4:30 P.M., April 21, 1917, the cover was placed on the manhole of the stripper and the steam turned ALCOHOL AND WATER IN ETHER-CORRECTION on the coil between 4:45 and 5:15 P.M. by a workman. The stripper is operated by simply distilling the aniline waters, conI n the article under the above title, THISJOURNAL, 9 (19171, densing the aniline and water in a coil and running same into a 52 I , in the table on page 5 2 2 , the first “0.25 per cent Water” in separator. About 5:45 P.M. the stripper exploded. A work- the last group of figures should read ‘‘0.025”. R. L. PERKINS man was IO to 20 ft. from the stripper when it went up and was splashed with water, undoubtedly from the stripper: the water was warm, not hot, and he was not burned. NITROGEN INDUSTRIES LITERATURE-CORRECTION RESULTS OF THE EXPLOSION In printing the ‘‘Literature of the Nitrogen Industries, 1912 The cover of the stripper was blown off with considerable to 1916,” in the April issue of THIS JOURNAL, pages 424 to force, breaking all the bolts which held it on by tension. The 438, we omitted to state that this material was reprinted from cover was bent and the flange of the stripper bent. The cover the January, February and March, 1917, issues of the General Electric Review.- [EDITOR 1 landed on the edge of the floor beside the stripper.
