T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y .
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tion. If you now hold an official position with the American Chemical Society, either in the local section or the main society, kindly mention that also. The descriptions as they will appear i n the directory of the Division must necessarily be concise; therefore try t o give the essential information in as condensed form as possible. Any member of the Society upon request to the Secretary of the Division will be registered as a member of the Division. F. E. GALLAGHER, Secretary, 93 Broad Street, Boston, Mass.
DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTS AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERS.
p The name of
Louis A. Olney should be added to the Executive Committee of the Division, so that the committee consists of the following members: Executive Commzttee W. H. WALKER, J. D. HANDY, A. s. CUSHMAN, C. P. VANGUNDY, I,. A. OLYEY, W. D. RICHARDSON, ex-officio. Yours truly, W. D. RICHARDSON,
Mar., 1910
RECENT INVENTIONS. __-
The following patents relating t o Industrial and Engineering Chemistry are reported by C. L Parker, Solicitor of Patents. JlcGill Building, Washington, D. C Only a few patents which are deemed of greatest importance are abstracted in this department. Abstracts of all patents appear regularly in Chemical Abstracts, t o which publication the reader is referred,
943,661. Production of Oxids of Nitrogen from the Air. F. I. DU PONT. Patented Dec. 1 2 , 1909, This is a n improvement upon the inventor's prior process of producing oxids of nitrogen which consists in subjecting air, in contact with a cooling medium, to the action of a moving or rotating arc whereby the high heating by the arc is immediately and rapidly reduced. In that case the air passing
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[The following p a r t of the repo-t of the Commxttee on Potash, Division ofaFertihze: Chemists, was omitted fiom the Feb uary number, THISJOWRXAL page 71 1 %d
POTASH WORK FERTILIZER DIVISION A. C. S., DECEMBER, 1909.
Selected Samples.
Method Ilethod Method Method No. 3. No. 4. No. 2. No. 1. 6 21 6.40 6.08 J . Frank ZIorgan.. . . . . . . . . . . 6.32 6 19 6.37 6.06 No. 1724. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 . 4 1 10 04 .... 9.91 P . K. Nisbet, A.A. C. Co.. . . . 9.87 6 98 6.84 Bradley Works. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 . 9 0 10 33 10.16 .... F. B . Porte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.20 10 41 10.21 .... 10.13 10.13 10 37 Atlanta, Swift 8i Co. . . . . . . . . 10.11 10 37 10.17 10.15 Av ........................ 6.45 6 58 R . Henry, V. C . C . C o . . . . . . . 6.45 G. Farnham, Jarecki Chem. 3.89 3.80 .... C o . , ..................... 3 .61 10.08 ....... J . E. Breckenridge, No. 1 . 9.62 8.56 No.2 8.58 7.93 A. A. C. Co N o . 3 . . . . 7.56 5.03 No. 4 . . 4.70 7.10 No. 5 . 6.71 Analyst.
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... ....
..
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Per3 cent. gain Method h-0. 2.
.... ....
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0.17 0.08
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0.22 0 13
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0.28 0 46
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0 37 0 33 0.39
REMARKS.
F. B. Porter, Swift & Co., Atlanta, Ga.:
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Actual water-soluble potash added, I O . 57 per cent.; z47-gram sample made up in laboratory, accurately weighing the potash and acid phosphate. Results on this sample agree in general with our previous results published in May, 1909, THIS JOURNAL,but do not show as high a percentage of loss of potash as we have found in other samples. 'We favor Method No. z as being the best method for watersoluble potash we have so far tried. J. E. Breckenridge, A. A. C. Co., Carteret, N. J.: Sample No. 4 was actual weights of acid phosphate, having about 5 per cent. iron and aluminum, and muriate of potash, Theory, 5 . 1 7 per cent. water-soluble potash.
through the tube is subjected to the action of a n electric arc therein, whicfi is caused to rotate by means of a rotary magnetic field surrounding the tube a t one point. The inventor has discovered certain improvements upon this invention which improvements consist in providing a plurality of rotating fields
RECENT INVENTI O N S . a t different points, the fields being oppositely placed so that the arc not only rotates but is caused to move along the tube and crossing the space in the tube. By this arrangement throughout the passage of the air it is subjected several times alternately to the high heating of the rotating arc and to the cooling of the cooling medium. I n the drawing, a is a silica tube within which are the electrodes b , connected with a source of current supply, not shown. c is a cap applied to each end of the tube a , the upper cap having the passage d and the lower cap the passage e . Between the cap c and tube a is a packing f to hermetically seal the connection a t that point. The electrodes b are hermetically sealed with respect to the cap. The electrodes are provided with proper feeding mechanism. The cap c is such that one portion of the cap closely surrounds the tube a and another portion closely surrounds the electrodes. Between these two portions of the caps a are, respectively, the passages d and e which connect with the space betweenethe inner xall of tube a and the electrodes b. The tube a is surrounded by a tube h, preferably formed of glass in order t 'o see the operation within the tube a. The ends of this tube h are closed by the caps i, one cap having the inlet opening 1 and the other the outlet k for the circulation of the cooling medium. Surrounding the tube h between the electrodes b are a series of field magnets or rings i, nt, 12 and 0 , which are energized by a polyphase current or currents, thus producing rotating magnetic fields. These field magnets are arranged as shown so that the poles N and S are alternately placed. This causes the arc formed between the electrodes not only to rotate but to pass from side to side of the tube, as shown a t p in the drawing. I n operation, the air is forced through the passage e , into the zone between the electrodes. \Vhen the arc is produced and the rotary magnetic fields in action, the arc is caused to rotate and to be blown from side t o side of the tube. This spreads the arc in the tube. By this arrangement, the air nil1 surely have to pass through the arc as many times as the arc crosses over the tube and between passages is cooled by contact Tyith the surrounding cooling medium as in my hereinbefore-mentioned previous application. The produced oxides of nitrogen, which are the lower oxides of nitrogen, pass into the space between the electrodes and the wall of the tube, escaping by the passage d , from which they may be led into water lvhere they are converted into nitric acid in the ordinary manner. Smelting Sulphur Ores. ented January 1 1 , 1910.
945,926.
RICHARD FLEMING. Pat-
This invention relates to a method of smelting ores containing sulphur. It effects the removal of nearly all of the sulphur, which is recovered as a by-product, and results in the production of a nearly pure metal. In some of the present methods of smelting these ores the sulphur is burned, and the noxious fumes which escape consti-
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tute a serious nuisance in the vicinity of the smelter. This inventor's procedure is designed to not only eliminate this nuisance, but recover a valuable product. Other impurities such as zinc and arsenic are recovered with the sulphur, and are subsequently purified. The process is carried on in a totally enclosed furnace capable of continuous operation. It is important to carry on the smelting in a n enclosed space so as t o avoid escape of the vapors, and oxidation of the same. As the walls of the furnace are made relatively thick, it possesses a high heat efficiency, which is especially desirable as the smelting is carried on while t h e ore is in a fused state. The Heat necessary to melt the ore and maintain the same in fusion during the smelting operation is generated in the interior of the furnace by means of electrical energy. This method of heating makes it possible not only to keep the ore out of communication n-ith the atmosphere but enables the highly corrosive melted mass to be confined by thick Tyalls of refractory material. I n the practice of the process when the furnace is charg& for the first time the ore may be melted independently and in-
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troduced into the furnace in a fused state, if desired, so as t o distribute it continuously to the electrodes, or a bar of metal may be placed in the bottom of the furnace from electrode t o electrode to serve as a heater, and thus melt the ore which is introduced in the solid state. In either case a continuous conducting layer covering the bottom of the furnace and extending from one electrode to another is t o be obtained. I n the case of the ores above mentioned, a certain amount of silicious material is introduced with the ore as a flux. This flux combines with the iron to form a slag, as will be later explained. A flow of cooling liquid, as water, is then started through the electrodes and a current sent through the charge. The charge, if not already melted, is liquefied by the heat generated by the passage of the current. The chilled electrode causes a certain amount of the charge to solidify on their surface, as indicated, thus protecting the electrode surface. When the temperature begins to rise, at first considerable sulphur is liberated, the iron pyrites losing one atom of sulphur. Sulphur vapor passes up through the crushed ore in the charging chamber, t o which it gives up part of its heat and then passes on into the condensing chamber or dust chamber, where it is condensed. A blast of steam which may be superheated is now introduced into the molten sulphide through the tuyeers 12. The steam decomposes the melted sulphids and drives out t h e
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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 CHEAVISTRY.
sulphur, at the same time oxidizing the iron to form iron oxid. When sulphid ores, at a n elevated temperature, are treated with steam there ordinarily is formed hydrogen sulfid. However, a s the temperature is gradually raised a n increasing per cent. of hydrogen sulphid is broken up into sulphur and hydrogen. In the vicinity of the temperatures employed in the present process this decomposition is almost complete, and the result of forcing steam into the melted bath results, therefore, in the formation of a certain percentage of hydrogen sulphid, and considerable amounts of sulphur and hydrogen. If desired, a certain amount of air may be forced into the melted sulphid together with the
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Mar., 1910
the furnace through the hopper 26 and immediately comes into contact with a large surface of incandescent carbon, by which the zinc is immediately volatilized. The volatilization of the zinc is quickened by suitably varying the proportions of the ingredients of the flux used and the greatest efficiency is thus more evenly maintained. The relative proportions of the salt cake or common salt to the lime can be advantageously varied from five to two to about equal proportions according t o the quality of the material to be treated and with a given strength of current the voltage can be advantageously kept as high as possible. The proportions of the flux t o the material treated will vary from two and a half t o twenty-five per cent., according t o the character of the said material. The fan 30
Fig.2.
FIG.2
steam, in order t o completely oxidize the ores and furnish a certain amount of sulphur dioxid, which will interact with the free hydrogen a s well as with the hydrogen of the hydrogen sulphide. Sulphur dioxid will interact with hydrogen and with hydrogen sulphid to form sulphur and water. As the reactions take place in the melted bath at high temperature they proceed rapidly. The sulphur vapor, watery vapor, together with vapors of other substances associated with the copper, such a s arsenic and zinc, are carried off and condensed in the condensing chamber. The accompanying illustration shows the patentee's furnace.
946,688. Apparatus for Production of Zinc Oxid. H. SIMM. Patented, January 18, 1910.
W. and
This invention consists in a n apparatus for the rapid production of zinc oxid from zinc ores such as calamins and metallic substances containing zinc. In operating the apparatus, a furnace setting is first wheeled into position under the hoods 19 and the necessary electrical connections made. The carbon electrodes of the furnace are then connected by a layer of powdered charcoal preparatory t o starting the furnace. The effect of this is to obtain a n incandescent bed immediately the current is switched o n and the charcoal slightly pressed down. The charge can then be fed directly into a live furnace by which the efficiency of the apparatus is increased. The charge is prepared by mixing the ore or other substances containing the zinc in a brokenup state with such materials a s salt cake or common salt and slaked lime or with borate of lime. The mixture comes into
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ZM VKN7-OKs
projects the zinc vapor against the baffles or bars 36, by which it is thrown down, and it can then be collected at the door 39. Any other vapors resulting from the reduction of the material containing the zinc are blown out a t the orifice 37 and the clearing out of the condenser of such foreign vapors can be facilitated by the use of a suction fan a t the outlet orifice as before stated.
946,903. Electrolyte and Method of Electrodepositing Copper. EDWARD F. KERN. Patented January 18, 1910. The patentee has discovered that a smooth, dense, coherent and adherent deposit of copper may be obtained by the electrolysis of a bath containing fluosilicate of copper in solution and t h a t particularly good results niay be obtained by the use of a soluble alkaline or alkaline-earth fluosilicate, preferably ammonium fluosilicate, or in some cases aluminium fluosilicate, with the copper fluosilicate, and t h a t the operation may be further improved in some cases by the additional employment of a n alkaline fluoride as ammonium fluoride either alone or with a n organic salt, preferably a n alkaline tartrate. For coating iron, steel or zinc, the following materials are employed:
R E C E N T IAWEIVTION.5. W a t e r . . ....................... 100 parts 1 2 parts Copper fluosilicate.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .imnioniuin fluosilicate. . . . . . . . . . S parts hmmonium tartrate . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 parts Ammonium fluorid.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 or more parts
F o r coating brass, coppzr or certain other metals, the following materials are used: \\-ate:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 parts Copper fluosilicate.. . . . . . . . . . . . . Ammonium fluosilicate. . . . . . . . . . Gelatine or t a n n i n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ammonium fluorid.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
947,723, Reduction of Scruff and Dross. Patented January 2 5 , 1910.
12 parts 8 parts
0.06 part 5 or more parts
RAYMOND S. WILE.
This invention relates to the reduction of scruff and dross from tinning, galvanizing and similar operations, and is designed to provide a method which will eliminate loss of metal and work rapidly and cheaply. I n carrying out the method the patentee employs a n electric furnace, and uses in conjunction therewith some form of carbon which will unite with the oxygen of the oxide in the dross or scruff under the electrically developed heat. H e also em-
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tion, the carbon unites with the oxygen of the metal oxides, thus reducing them to the metal, as the charge descends within the furnace. This reduction takes place during the descent through the successively higher zones of heat, and the reduced metal passing through the layer of cock on the glass which performs the final reduction (if the added coke is used) enters the glass bath and descends and collects therein. This neutral bath protects the globules against oxidation, and assists them in uniting to form a body of molten metal which collects around the lower electrode, and may be tapped out from time to time through the lower tap hole. Successive charges of the mixture may be fed in from time to time. 947,503. Process of Purifying Animal Charcoal and the Product Thereof. JOHX HENRYUTLEY. Patented January 25, 1910.
This invention relates to the purification of animal charcoal or bone-black to prepare it for use in the industrial arts as a n agent for clarifying and decolorizing gelatin and glue liquors, sugar and glucose solutions, and the like.- When so employed it is comminuted, or a t least ground, to a granulated condition of fineness; in character it is porous and hence highly absorbent, but there are two objections t o its use, first because of calcium phosphate and perhaps other mineral salts and impurities, combined n-ith it, and hence it is not in its highest state of efficiency initially, and when once used for the purpose stated
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ploys in the lower portion of the furnace aiwell or body of neutral nielted material, such as glass, within which the reduced metal descends, thus protecting it from oxidation, and enabling the globules to collect so that the metal may be tapped out. The scruff, or dross, or both, is preferably mixed with some form of carbon, such as coke dust, and this mixture is fed into the furnace and lies on the top of the glass bath. Under t h e heat received by this mixture through conduction and-radia-
it loses much of its porous character, taking on an apparent change of composition, due largely, if not wholly, to absorption of salts and acids from the gelatine liquor or other liquid clarified and decolorized by it, and is thereby rendered wholly inefficient, in such condition, for a repetition of the process, but capable of being revivified, as it is called, which is a troublesome and expensive method, commonly effected by a washing of the spent charcoal followed by a reburning of it. This invention has two objects in view, principally the restoration or revivification of such spent animal charcoal, and
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T H E JOURiYAL OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y .
incidentally the treatment of it, in its initial state, to render it more efficient-my process, about to be described, fully effecting both objects by the same steps, acting successively on the same body of animal charcoal in its initial and spent conditions, respectively, or on the latter only if the first application is not deemed essential or desirable for the particular liquid material t o be clarified and decolorized. To these ends the invention consists in the discovery that if a body of animal charcoal of commerce, ground to a granulated condition and confined in a substantially closed vessel with suitable inlet and outlet apertures to connect steam and water pipes thereto, is subjected to the action of a column of live steam blown through it, followed preferably by a washing with a volume of hot water, driven preferably in the opposite direction, through the container vessel, t h a t the animal charcoal will not only be deprived of deleterious impurities, but the steam will deprive it, by chemical action perhaps, of its combined salts, which have never heretofore been removed from i t ; and t h a t ground animal charcoal, so prepared for use as a clarifying and decolorizing medium, is not only more efficient as such, but what is of greater value, the charcoal, after such use, can be perfectly restored and revivified by a repetition of the same steps, thereby wholly saving the labor and expense of washing and reburning it a s now commonly practiced. The accompanying illustration shows a n apparatus in which t h e patentee’s process is practiced.
OFFICIAL REGULATIONS AND RULINGS. --
Only a few of the more important rulings are reported here. For others the reader is referred to the publications of the Board of Food and Drug Inspection and to Treasury Decisions.
FOOD INSPECTION DECISION I 12.
Amendment to Regulation 28 (Labeling of Derivatives). Section 8 of the Food and Drugs Act of June 30, 1906, paragraph “Second,” under “Drugs,” provides that a drug shall be deemed t o be misbranded “if the package fail t o bear a statement on the label of the quantity or proportion of any alcohol, morphine, opium, cocaine, heroin, alpha or beta eucaine, chloroform, cannabis indica, chloral. hydrate, or acetanilide, or any derivative or preparation of any such’ substances contained therein.” I n a n opinion rendered January 15, 1909, the AttorneyGeneral held t h a t a derivative within the meaning of this section of the act is a substance which is so related to one of the specified substances “ t h a t it would be rightly regarded by recognized authorities in chemistry as obtained from the latter ‘ b y actual or theoretical substitution,’ and it is not indispensable t h a t it should be actually produced therefrom as a matter of fact;” and, further, t h a t the labeling of ,derivatives, as prescribed by this section, is a proper subject conferred upon them by Section 3 , and that a rule or regulation requiring the name of the specified substance t o follow that of the derivative would be in harmony with the general purpose of t h e act, and an appropriate method by which t o give effect to its provisions. In conformity with this opinion, the Board of Food and Drug Inspection recommends that Regulation 28 of the Rules and Regulations for the enforcement of the Food and Drug Act, published in Circular 2 1 of the Office of the Secretary, be amended by the addition, to follow paragraph ( f ) , of a new paragraph t o be designated as paragraph (g), reading as follows: (g) I n declaring the quantity or proportion of any of the specified substances the names by which they are designated in the act shall be used, and in declaring the quantity or proportion of derivatives of any of the specified substances, in addition t o the trade name of the derivative, the name of the
Mar., 1910
specified substance shall also be stated, so as to indicate clearly t h a t the product is a derivative of the particular specified substance. This paragraph (g) prescribes, in effect, that in labeling derivatives the name of the specified substance must be stated, so as t o clearly indicate t h a t the product is a derivative of the particular substance named in the act. Regulation 28 as amended shall be effective on and after April I , 1910, and the regulation in full shall read as follows: Regulation 28.-Substances Named in Drugs or Foods. (Section 8, second under “ Drugs; ’’ second under “Foods.”) ( a ) The term “alcohol” is defined to mean common or ethyl alcohol. No other kind of alcohol is permissible in the manufacture of drugs except as specified in the United States Pharmacopoeia or National Formulary. ( b ) The words alcohol, morphine, opium, etc., and the quantities and proportions thereof, shall be printed in letters corresponding in size with those prescribed in Regulation 1 7 , paragraph (c). (c) A drug, or food product, except in respect of alcohol, is misbranded in case it fails to bear a statement on the label of the quantity or proportion of a n y alcohol, morphine, opium, heroin, cocaine, alpha or beta eucaine, chloroform, cannabis indica, chloral hydrate, or acetanilide, or a n y derivative or preparation of any such substances contained therein. ( d ) A statement of the maximum quantity or proportion of any such substances present will meet the requirements, provided the maximum stated does not vary materially from the average quantity or proportion. ( e ) I n case the actual quantity or proportion is stated it shall be the average quantity or proportion with the variations noted in Regulation 29. (f)The following are the principal derivatives and preparations made from the articles which are required to be named upon the label: ALCOHOL,ETHYL(Cologne’spirits, grain alcohol, rectified spirits, spirits, and spirits of wine): DerivativesAldehyde, ether, ethyl acetate, ethyl nitrite, and paraldehyde. Preparations containing alcoholBitters, brandies, cordials, elixirs, essences, fluid extracts, spirits, sirups, tinctures, tonics, whiskies, and wines. MORPHINE, ALKALOID: DerivativesApomorphine, dionine, peronine, morphine, acetate, hydrochloride, sulphate, and other salts of morphine. Preparations containing morphine or derivatives of mor’ phineBougies, catarrh snuff, chlorodyne, compound powder of morphine, crayons, elixirs, granules, pills, solutions, sirups, suppositories, tablets, triturates and troches. OPIUMGUM: Preparations o j opiumExtracts, denarcotized opium, granulated opium, and powdered opium, bougies, brown mixture, carminative mixtures, crayons, dover’s powder, elixirs, liniments, ointments, paregoric, pills, plasters, sirups, suppositories, tablets, tinctures, troches, vinegars, and wines. DerivativesCodeine, alkaloid, hydrochloride, phosphate, sub phate, and other salts of codeine. Preparations containing codeine or its saltsElixirs, pills, sirups, and tablets.
