December 1958, Volume 5 0 , No. 1 APPLIED JOURNALS, ACS Director o f Publications, C. B. Larrabee Editorial Director, Walter J. Murphy Execufive Edifor, James M. Crowe Producfion Manager, Joseph H. Kuney INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERINGCHEMISTRY Edifor, Will H. Shearon, Jr. EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON 6, D. C. 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W. Teletype W A 23 Phone Republic 7-3337 Associate Edifors: 0. Gladys Gordon, Stella Anderson, Ruth Cornette, Katherine 1. Biggs, George B. Krantz Assistanf Edifors: Melvyn A. Kohudic, Robert J. Riley, Robert J. Kelley, Ruth M. Howorth, Eugenia Keller, Sue M. Solliday, William H. Gay, S. David Pursglove Editorial Assirfanfs: Malvina B. Preiss, Ruth Reynard, Katherine H. Ginnane, James H. Carpenter Layoof and Producfion: Melvin D. Buckner (Art); Betty V. Kieffer, Roy F. Nash, Clarence 1. Rakow BRANCH EDITORIAL OFFICES CHICAGO 1, ILL. Room 926,36 South Wabash Ave. Teletype CG 725 Phone State 2-5148 Associafe Editors: Howard J. Sanders, Chester Placek Assistant Editor: Laurence J. White HOUSTON 2, TEX., 718 Melrose Bldg. Phone Fairfax 3-7107 Teletype HO 72 Associate Edifor: Bruce F. Greek Assistanf Edifor: Earl V. Anderson NEW YORK 16, N. Y., 2 Park Ave. Phone Oregon 9-1646 Teletype NY 1-4726 Associate Editors: William 0. Hull, Harry Stenerson, David M. Kiefer, D. Gray Weaver, Walter S. Fedor, Morton Salkind Assistant Editor: Louis A. Agnello SAN FRANCISCO 4, CALIF. 703 Mechanics' Institute Bldg., 57 Post St. Teletype SF 549 Phone Exbrook 2-2895 Associate Editor: Richard H. Newhall Assisfanf Edifor: David E. Gushee EASTON, PA. 20th and Northampton Sts. Teletype ESTN Pa 48 Phone Easton 91 11 Associofe Edifor: Charlotte C. Sayre Ediforial Assisfants: Joyce A. Richards, Elizabeth R. Rufe, June A. Barron EUROPEAN OFFICE Bush House, Aldwych, London Phone Temple Bar 3605 Cable JIECHEM Associafe Edifor: Albert S. Hester Contributing Editors: H. Carl Bauman, S. M. MacCutcheon, Robert F. Wall, James 8. Weaver, W. J. Yauden Advisory Board: A. H. Batchelder, James M. Church, Lauchlin M. Currie, Arno C. Fieldner, Leo Friend, Gustave Heinemann, Samuel D. Koonce, C. J. Krihter, E. E. McSweeney, F. Drew Mayfield, Woyne E. Kuhn, M a x 5. Peters, Earl P. Stevenson, H. Gladys Swope, Richard C. Waugh
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122 A
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
The Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come
ANOTHER
year is about over. But not just another year. This issue completes our fiftieth year of publication. Every issue has combined the spirit of Christmas past and the spirit of Christmas present. The exciting thing about the end of these 50 years is the presence of the spirit of Christmas yet to come, We wish we could be around for all of them; we hope that we can chart a good course and steer it for a good while. The cover and much of the editorial content of this December issue put our direction, at least, in the proper quadrant of the compass, because the road to further progress for a long time to come is liberally strewn with landmarks of nuclear technology. Our closing 50th Anniversary Feature by SV. Kenneth Davis covers nuclear technology in the first 50 years of I/EC; it clearly shows that most of the applications lie ahead. So far as applications of nuclear energy are concerned, the only serious obstacle to be reckoned with has been economic. Technical difficulties still exist, but they will be overcome. Paul Genachte, vice president for atomic energy of the Chase Manhattan Bank, recently stated that in 25 years all new electrical power plants in this country will use nuclear fuel, and that economical, competitive nuclear power will be available in America in 5 to 10 years. Some may disagree, but Dr. Genachte's statement represents the current considered opinion of some informed people. The future is bright, indeed, and the chemical industry will prosper as a result. That is. it will prosper if it gets in with the proper degree of participation, and goes ahead with the proper momentum. The economic situation may depend to a large extent on what progress is made by industrial research chemists in combining power production with large-scale chemical reactions induced by radiation. If a chemical and power plant can be combined, the economics will take on a much different and probably more favorable look. MCA, at its winter conference last week in New York, had an afternoon panel on possible commercial outlets which will justify further investment. The chemical industry does not have forever to prepare itself for the most satisfying participation in the new nuclear field. We should be studying this new area with all the enthusiasm and resources a t our command, learning the technology, and finding out just where we fit in. The possibilities are unlimited. I/EC's special feature on chemicals in mining emphasizes the future market for chemical technology and raw materials in mining and processing ores for nuclear uses. I t is fitting that the first of a three-part group of articles on nuclear technology-this one also on ore processing-ends the 50 years and the other installments begin the next 50. One of these installments will include uses of radioactive isotopes and radiation in chemical reactions. The economic and technical attractiveness of radioisotopes is so intense that a tremendous volume business is inevitable. We are all pretty familiar with the work and possibilities of these as tracers. But the surface has barely been scratched in the direction of effect of radiation on reactions, on polymerization, on physical properties. The thinking i s positive. We are looking for the advantages resulting from radiation effects, not the disadvantages. And some of these advantages will no doubt be fantastic-fantastic beyond our present beliefs. As chemists and chemical engineers we must see that our industry makes the most of this golden opportunity. Ulysses' call to his followers has always been one of our favorite poetic passages. A few lines express a philosophy which can well serve I/EC and the chemical industry in the years to come:
. . . . Come, my friends, Tis not too late to seek a newer world. Push off, and sitting well in order Smite the sounding furrows; for my purpose holds T o sail beyond the sunset and the baths Of all the western stars. . . . T o strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
