July, 1916
T H E J O U R N A L O F I N D U S T R I A L AiVD ENGIJVEERING C H E M I S T R Y
chromate but also the physical condition of the furnace product, which bears directly upon the proposition of leaching. 6-Recovery of values (silver and gold), from zinc retort residues by some method of leaching. 7-Production of aniline oil from crude benzole. 8-Production of nitrate of potash from Chili salt peter and muriate of potash by fractional crystallization. 9-Coking of coal with recovery of the by-products, paying particular attention to the yield of ammonia. Io-Electrolytic production of bleach liquor. I I-Electrolytic production of permanganate of potash. 12-Electrolytic production of carbonate of lead. 13-Fractionation of water gas tar and determination of the constituents of the light oil fraction. LABORATORY OF INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY S.H. SALISBURY, JR. LEHIGHUNIVERSITY, June 15, 1916
ON PRECIPITATION OF MANGANESE Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: It may be of considerable interest to chemists to note that in precipitating manganese by ammonium. hydroxide and an oxidizer that sodium and hydrogen peroxides may be used in the place of bromine or bromine water now so generally used. Sodium peroxide added to a manganese solution precipitates the dark brown manganic hydroxide similar to the precipitate with ammonia and bromine water. Sodium peroxide supplies both the alkali, NaOH, and the oxidizer, oxygen. The powdered Naz02, in small quantities, is added to the hot manganese solution until the reaction is alkaline. This precipitates all of the manganese as a dark brown manganic hydroxide in a granular form which quickly settles. If the introduction of sodium into the solution is objectionable, hydrogen peroxide should be used. I n such cases a few drops of a I O per cent hydrogen peroxide solution are added to the manganese solution. After heating to boiling, ammonia is added until the solution is strongly alkaline. Dark brown manganic hydroxide is instantly precipitated. The hydrogen peroxide must be added to the manganese solution before the ammonia is added, otherwise the manganese is incompletely precipitated as a yellow-brown precipitate which is very difficult to filter. These reagents have many advantages against the use of bromine as they do not produce annoying fumes, do not increase the volume of the solution, and are far more effective and cheaper than bromine as only small quantities are necessary to oxidize manganese. ANALYTICAL LABORATORY GREGORY TOROSSIAN NATIONAL CARBONC o . , CLEVELAND April 18, 1916
ON THE FORMOLITE REACTION OF OIL RESIDUALS, ETC. Editor OJ the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: The writer has read with some surprise the paper entitled “The Formolite Reaction of Nastukoff as Applied to Oil Residuals and Natural Asphalts,” by Mr. Clifford Richardson, appearing 8 (1916), 319. in THISJOURNAL, Mr. Richardson’s experiments are based upon only those constituents of the various asphalts which he dissolves out by means of a vague solvent designated “naphtha” yet he neglects the proportions and characteristics of the insoluble constituents in his deductions as to the proper constitution of asphalts. The work, therefore, is open to the serious criticism of incompleteness from the scientific standpoint. The most amazing feature, however, is that paragraph on page 321 wherein two asphalts are differentiated from three other materials and misleading intimations presented as to their relative industrial behavior. When it is realized that the author of the paper is the paid expert of the company handling the two first mentioned asphalts, the commercial aspect of the article becomes a t once apparent and it is difficult to understand how
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such paragraphs received the approval of your edit.oria1 staff. As a matter of fact the bitumen constitutes a t best only from 9 to 12 per cent of an asphalt pavement and the other constituents, as well as the workmanship of their mixing and laying, are certainly important factors bearing on the serviceability of the construction. Furthermore, in view cf these conditions, it is quite possible to find both good and bad examples with all of the asphalts mentioned so the association of the formolite reaction with industrial hehavior is by no means established. As the technical representative of a prominent asphalt refining company holding corporation membership in the Society, I wish to enter a strong protest against the publication in our journals of such papers of advertising nature and request that this communication be given due prominence. U. S. ASPHALTREFININGCOMPANY LEROYM . LAW EASTBROOKLYN, BALTIMORE, April 24, 1916
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Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chcmistry: We wish to protest against the publication of the article by Clifford Richardson entitled “The Formolite Reaction of Nastukoff as Applied to Oil Residuals and Natural Asphalts” which appeared in THISJOURNAL, 8 (1916), 319. Mr. Richardson’s article would appear to be an advertisement for Trinidad and Bermudez asphalts, two products controlled by the Barber Asphalt Company for which company Mr. Richardson is the chief chemist. Mr. Richardson’s statement that the “deficiencies of the artificial asphalts in their industrial behavior, as demonstrated by service tests, may be considered to be satisfactorily explained’’ is particularly objectionable in that it is not in accordance with the facts. The various grades of asphalt referred to by Mr. Richardson under the term “artificial asphalt” have been used for paving purposes in this country over a period of from ten to twenty years and with success so marked that in the case of some of the larger cities Trinidad asphalt has been excluded and Bermudez asphalt permitted only under the general specification that would admit the grades of asphalt described by Mr. Richardson under “artificial asphalts.” 17 BATTERY PLACE, N E W YORK CITY JOHN BAKER,JR. April 2 6 , 1916
POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE FOR SULFUR DIOXIDE DETERMINATIONS Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: Considering the high cost of iodine and potassium iodide, a cheaper reagent for determining sulfur dioxide in routine tests is desirable. A solution of potassium permanganate serves admirably for such work, giving very constant and close agreement with iodine solution. In making up such a solution only 0.9 the theoretical amount should be taken. Thus I O g. KMn04 t o I lite; should theoretically give a solution, I cc. of which would be equivalent to 0.01 g. SOI, but the amount actually required is almost exactly g g. per liter. I n standardizing the solution, titrate against a sulfur dioxide solution of known strength a s determined by an iodine solution. CLINTON SUGAR REFININGCOXPANY A. P. BRYANT CLINTON.IOWA, April 21, 1916
THE NEW NATIONAL FORMULARY The Committee on Publication of the American Pharmaceutical Association makes the following announcement: The National Formulary, 4th Edition (N. F. IV), will be ready for distribution about July I, 1916. The prices of the book in the various bindings will be as follows: Muslin, plain, $2.50; Buckram, plain, $2.75 ; Buckram, interleaved, $4.00. The Midland Publishing Company, Columbus, Ohio, has been appointed General Sales Agent with the following sub-agents: The Baker-Taylor Company, New York City; The Chicago Medical Book Company, Chicago; L. S. Mathews Company, St. Louis, Mo.; The Pacific Drug Review, SanFrancisco and Portland.
