N a y , 1915
ELEVATION
T H E J 0 C R 9.I L 0 F I S D t 7 ST RI A L A N D E GI il: E E RI X G C H E M I S T R Y
THE
AND P L A l O F P L A K T FOR
EXTRACTION OF TOLUOL F R O M C O A L GAS-CAPABLE O F DEALING W I T H 800 Cu. FT. OF GAS PER DAY
A charge of about 1600 gallons of crude benzol is pumped by
Psdaily into the intermediate still where it is distilled by steam with the production of commercial benzol, commercial toluol and residual xylol and heavier oils. The commercial benzol is mixed with the wash oil, together with an additional quantity corresponding to the amount of toluol, etc., permanently removed from the gas. The commercial toluol is redistilled in a second still for the production of pure toluol. If the wash oil contains much naphthalene, it may be necessary t o return the xylol t o the gas, to prevent naphthalene stoppages in the district services. Gas oil will probably prove the most suitable oil for washing purposes, as it is generally ready to hand, contains no naphthalene and readily absorbs crude benzol. ~~
COST OF HYDROGEN GAS I n the course of the report of the British Comptroller and Auditor-General upon the Army Services appropriation account for the year ended March 31st last, which has been issued as a IVhite Paper, it is stated, in connection with expenditure at the Royal Aircraft Factory, that the cost of hydrogen gas showed an increase from $4.60 per 1000 cu. f t . in 1912-13 to $5.2j in 1913-14 [ J . Gas Lighting, 129 (191j), 4421. The output during t h e latter year was 2,023,607 cu. f t . as compared with 3,493,296 c u . f t . in 1912-13. GAS PROGRESS IN TURIN Notwithstanding the cost of coal and the outbreak of war, the Societa Anonima dei Consumatori di Gas-Luce, of Turin, Italy, states in its last annual report that gas affairs in that city are not only satisfactory but progressive. During the twelve months covered by the report, 21,7j0,46j cubic meters of gas were sold, which was a n increase of over 500,ooo cubic meters on the sales of the previous year. Gas-meters, likewise, have gone up in number-from 45,000 to 47,000. I n spite of keen electricity competition, the board of directors are convinced the future offers splendid prospects-especially in respect of the use of gas for heating purposes. Early in 1913 the price of coal was Sj.75, c. i. f . a t Savona. Later it rose t o $6.12, while during 1914, it dropped first to
T O N S O F C O A L OR
43 9
~o.ooo,ooo
$5.40 then t o $j.oo. The Company was fortunate enough, at the outbreak of war, t o have their coal stores well stocked -even considerably above their contractual obligations with the municipality of Turin. All the coke is readily sold; so much so that efforts are being made to use, in the producers, coke dust mixed with tar, and coke dust briquettes made on the gasworks. Old scrubbers have been replaced by modern vertical centrifugal washing apparatus, and old benches of retorts have given place t o new. EXPLOSION FROM A DEFECTIVE GAS SERVICE GOVERNOR A communication by SIr. Reinhard, manager of the Leipzig Gas Company was published in the Journal f u r Gasbeleucitti~ng of Jan. goth, describing an explosion that occurred in a spacious
I
cellar of a bookseller’s establishment and a basement restaurant adjoining it. The explosion and resultant fire were attended with loss of life. There were six gas-meters located in the cellar for supplies t o various parts of the whole building-four being jo-light meters in a n open cupboard, one of the remaining two
