INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
4
Industrial Chemistry and Engineering
'Published by the American Chemical Soeiety Easton, Pa..
NEWS EDITION
Edilor: HARRISON E. Howe Managing Editor: ROBERT P. FISCHELIS Assistant to the Editor: N. A. PARKINSON Associate Editor: D. H. KILLEFFER EDITORIAL OFFICE:
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industry is under consideration, b u t recent developments seem t o divide t h e A m e r i c a n producers i n t o t w o distinct camps a n d such a n a r r a n g e m e n t obviously would n o t include our most progressive m a k e r s . T h u s gradually new commer cial alliances are being perfected a n d t h e near future m a y show strange chemical b e d fellows.
Our Charter Members During 1925 the American Chemical Society suffered the loss of three of its charter members. These were F . M. Baumgarten, C. F . Chandler, and O. H. Krause. There still remains a n active though small number of those who are charter members of t h e Society, a n d we trust that carefulplans will be laid t o show this group some special honor on t h e occasion of our semicentennial meeting in Philadelphia.
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Entered as second class matter at Easton. Pa. Issued three times a month; Industrial Edition on the 1st, News Edition on the 10th and 20th. Subscription to Industrial & Engineering: Chemistry, $7.50 per year; News Edition only, $1.50 per year. Single copies, 10 cents. Subscription, should be sent to Charles L. Parsons, Secretary, 1709 G. St. N. W., Washington, D. C.
Vol. 3
News Edition
D E C E M B E R 10, 1925
No. 23
England's Dye Industry All those concerned w i t h t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e d y e i n d u s t r y in various parts of t h e world h a v e watched t h e developments in connection w i t h t h e British Dyestuffs Corporation. T h i s corporation is o n e of those in which t h e British G o v e r n m e n t itself i s interested, a n d w a s formed with t h e definite purposes of r e n d e r i n g t h e British textile i n d u s t r y i n d e p e n d e n t of foreign sources of dyestuffs a n d increasing t h e m e a n s for national defense. T h e c o m p a n y h a s been t h r o u g h several critical periods, liquidating some of its stock, c u t t i n g down expenses of t h e enterprise, a n d reorganizing a t i m e or t w o . T h e London Times a while a g o said: " B u t the real problem of t h e corporation h a s been t o t r a n s l a t e t h e results of laboratory research i n t o t e r m s of manufacturing practicability. L a b o r a t o r y work h a s out-distanced factory work and commercial development, t h o u g h a great range of new dyes has been placed on t h e m a r k e t a n d there is no reason w h y it should be impossible for t h e British dyestuff i n d u s t r y to produce dyes of as good a q u a l i t y a s t h e G e r m a n a n d a t competitive prices." I t is now rumored t h a t t h e British G o v e r n m e n t m a y sell t o t h e corporation, a t one-third their nominal value, some 1,700,000 shares of its stock. W h e n this report was first circulated it was interpreted a s an effort t o subsidize still further a key i n d u s t r y , a n d w a s looked upon as evidence of t h e extent to which the B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t felt w a r r a n t e d in going t o assure a dye i n d u s t r y to t h a t c o u n t r y . More recent advices, however, justify t h e inquiry whether, after all, this m a y n o t be a procedure t a k e n to free t h e British Dyestuffs Corporation of the government control which, a b o u t a year ago, refused to sanction a merger with t h e G e r m a n d y e cartel. I t is conceivable t h a t t h e corporation can prevent financial control from passing t o foreign h a n d s a n d a t t h e same t i m e perfect a working agreement t h a t m i g h t be t o t h e a d v a n t a g e of t h e stockholders T h e d y e users of Britain have n o t been altogether satisfied w i t h t h e govern m e n t ' s supervision of t h e British Dyestuff Corporation, a n d t h e government h a v i n g t o choose between a n industry aided by such a working a g r e e m e n t a n d one unable t o con t i n u e m a y prefer t h e half loaf t o none. R u m o r s reach us t h a t t h e B r i t i s h Dyestuffs Corporation a n d t h e I. G . would look w i t h favor u p o n a t r i p a r t i t e arrange m e n t with America t h e t h i r d p a r t y . I t is possible t h a t some plan contemplating t h e inclusion of a p a r t of t h e American
Cross-Section Paper In our Suggestions t o Authors we emphasize the necessity of preparing graphs on cross-section paper ruled with blue ink, if clean reproductions are to be expected. As some authors have had difficulty in securing such paper, we wish t o say that Keuffel & Esser's Nos. 330, 331, or 332 are examples of what is desired. Such lines as authors desire t o have appear should be inked in with India ink, since blue does not reproduce. The results are quite satisfactory and contribute t o the successful reproduction of the scientific paper.
Chemicals in Metric Packages The American Chemical Society expects t o publish twice a year a list of those manufacturers and dealers in reagent chem icals who have informed t h e Society t h a t they stock reagent chemicals in standard metric packages; make bids in metric units; supply chemicals in metric containers; and make a regu lar commercial practice of supplying chemicals in the m e t r i c system. The list t o date is as follows: Baker & Adamson (General Chemical Co.), Easton, Pa. J. T. Baker Chemical Co., Phillipsburg, N . J . Buffalo Scientific Co., Buffalo, Ν . Υ. Burrell Technical Supply Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. Chemical Rubber Co., Cleveland, Ohio. A. Daigger & Co., Chicago, III. Edward P. Dolbey & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Eastman Kodak Co. (line organic chemicals), Rochester, Ν . Y. Eimer & Amend, N e w York City. Fries & Fries, Cincinnati, Ohio. Henry Heil Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo. Howe & French, Boston, Mass. Kauffman-Lattimer Co., Columbus, Ohio. Laboratory Materials Co., Chicago, III. Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, St. Louis, M o . Pfaltz & Bauer, New York City. Powers-Weightman-Rosengarten Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Pyroelectric Instrument C o . (hydrogen-ion chemicals), Tren ton, N. J . Reynolds, Teschner & Volk Co., New York City. Schaar & Company, Chicago, III. Scientific and Cinema Supply Company, Washington, D . C. Special Chemicals Company (rare sugars, amino acids, etc.), Highland Park, 111. Will Corporation, Rochester, Ν . Υ. Williams, Brown & Earle, Philadelphia, Pa. Purchasers from all laboratories who have agreed to specify metric units or who wish to assist in this movement are especially requested to make out all bids in metric units and to specify the quantities desired in packages of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, or mulLiple liters or kilograms, as recommended b y the Committee on Guaranteed Reagents and Standard Appara tus of the American Chemical Society.
Royal Society Awards Among t h e awards announced by t h e Royal Society a r e : Royal medal to Prof. W. H . Perkin for his work on t h e con stitution of the alkaloids a n d the Davy medal t o Sir J a m e s Irvine for his work on the constitution of the sugars. Sir James, it will be remembered, is t h e Principal of St. Andrews. H e attended the New Haven a n d the Ithaca meetings of our society.
Decemer 10, 1925
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Who's Who among Local Section Officers When w e asked S. R. Wilson, chairman of the Detroit Section, t o give us his history, h e said: "When compared with the chemical training of other chairmen my record shows only a 'trace.' " M y first impulse to be a chemist came while I was a common laborer in the Peerless Portland Cement Factory a t Union City, Michigan. The superintendent was a chemist, and his $5000 per year sounded good t o me. "My chemical education began in Michigan State Normal where I acted as assistant t o Professor Peet. Later, I went to Nebraska University where I joined the Alpha Chi Sigma fraternity, won m y Sigma X i , and received my Β A. in 1910. "After this, I was side-tracked. Dr. Benton Dales offered me a position as assistant instructor in chemistry in the University of Nebraska; b u t Muskegon needed a football coach, and the pay was more t h a n twice as much, so the chemist became a coach. " I n two years, I saved enough money to enable me to complete my work for my Master's degree a t the University of Wisconsin. Following this, Ϊ taught chemistry for eight years in Culver Military Academy, and then came to Detroit. "Three years a t Cass Technical High School, and two at North western bring m e down to date, and I guess that's about all. except t h a t I wouldn't trade my football experience for a doc tor's degree." Ip .
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book reviews alone are invaluable, irrespective of the chemist's special vocation. Education 1 "A lesson to lackadaisical chemists is concealed in America's funding negotiations with France. Billion dollar business is conducted "over the tea cups," our local luncheons make n o pretension to such importance, of course, b u t they do provide many a laugh and many a hearty hand-clasp. Recreation! "So,—for recieation, for education, for indentification, every American chemist should affiliate himself with the American Chemical Society and his local section"
Chemistry Department of Kansas University Issues History In our issue of November 1 we editorially recommended t o educational institutions and laboratories generally a compi lation of their history to be begun while those familiar with t h e early days were available to supply the facts. It is very pleasing, therefore, to receive the history of the Chemistry D e p a r t m e n t of the University of Kansas, this being Bulletin No. 4, Vol. 26, of the University of Kansas, prepared and issued during the present year. I t gives the history of t h e department from 1866 to 1923, inclusive. The bulletin is written especially t o cover certain significant periods in the development of the d e partment. I t is well illustrated with photographs of men well known to American chemists. In every university d e p a r t m e n t there is some storeroom dispenser who becomes well known t o the students and identified in their minds with the university. The bulletin does well in our opinion to give a place in its history to the photograph as well as to a paragraph on "George" w h o has dispensed chemicals and apparatus from the storeroom since 1891. We congratulate the department on having compiled t h i s interesting history and only regret that there was not included a list of the faculty's publications. We appreciate t h a t with so many productive men and women associated a t one time or another with the department this would have constituted à bulky list, b u t such information is really a part of history a n d a further index to the growth of the department.
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British Cast Iron Research Association
1 •» 3 L. W. Rowe
5
S h e r m a n R. Wilson
L . W . Rowe, secretary of t h e Detroit Section, was born a t Toledo, Ohio, Feb. 2, 1891, graduated from Wooster Prep. School, Wooster, Ohio, in 1910, and specialized in chemistry a t Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, where he received t h e bachelor of science degree in 1913 and t h e master's degree in 1917. Two summers were spent in t h e chemical laboratory of an oil refinery but since June, 1913, he has been employed by Parke, Davis & Co., i n their medical research laboratories in the section devoted to physiological standardization and pharmacological research.
What Affiliation Means J. G. Olson writing in The Accelerator says: Every American Chemist should affiliate himself with the American Chemical Society and his local section. Three reasons 'why' are: "1st. For Identification. A Chemist not so affiliated is as devoid of identity as a n anonymous letter. To belong is to acquire the distinguishing hall-mark of the greatest American organization representing chemistry as a profession. "2nd. For Education. T h e Journals of the Society display a continuous dynamic panorama of chemical progress, world wide i n scope, profound in presentation. T h e local section is a n open forum for discussion, where wits are sharpened and judgments are impartially criticized. "3rd. For Recreation. T h e National Society is not a funmaking organization, b u t good-fellowship is a constant guest a t section meetings. The local luncheons and dinners are priceless in promoting and cementing pleasant friendships. "Physicians invariably unite themselves with their character istic organizations. So do the barristers and engineers. So, also, d o representative manufacturers, merchants, and tradesmen. Identification! ' T h a t time is n o t many years distant when an unidentified chemist will b e looked upon with as much askance as unethical physicians a r e looked upon today. Identification! "No textbook on, or course in, chemistry could hope to du plicate in variety and completeness the material published during one year in the Society's journals. The abstracts and
T h e Fourth Annual Report of the British Cast Iron Research Association is interesting, particularly for the list of sixteen research problems which have been before the Association during its last fiscal year, and also for the optimistic showing made by t h e financial statement which would indicate an increasing appreciation of this research association in the industry. The efforts that have been made in America to interest the manufacturers of alloys, for example, in a research association have not been successful, the producers even hesitating to join in the establishment of an informational bureau. It is therefore worth while to note that the Cast Iron Research Association has seen fit to reorganize its library, so t h a t the Association is now prepared to send any information that may be required on work published on foundry practice in any p a r t of the world. An effort is also made to keep members informed of progress in any particular branch of the subject or any particular part of it upon request. The importance of certain foreign publications concerning foundry practice is fully recognized and arrangements have been m a d e for translations. This would seem a perfectly safe ground upon which competitors can meet and in cooperation do what cannot be so well done individually. T h e research and experimental work in progress is concisely reported. Under each of the sixteen subjects the aim a n d the practical interest of the problem is given, followed by a statement of the location of the work, since in addition to its own laboratory the Association has made arrangements with the several universities for the prosecution of some of the projects.
International Critical Tables After several years of work on the part of over 300 cooperating experts, 10 corresponding editors, a board of 6 editors, 2 assistant, and 2 associate editors under an editor-in-chief, the International Critical Tables of Numerical Data of Physics, Chemistry, and Technology is about to be issued. I t will be recalled that this as an activity of the National Research Council in which the American Chemical Society and the American Physical Society have been prominent. The funds required for the preparation of the copy have come from industry and two of the educational funds. In the campaign for these funds chemists, engineers, and business men assisted. The scheduled table of contents for Volume I is now being mailed to those interested together with details concerning the purchase of the volumes. The international Critical Tables will be a work of which American scientists will be proud and it is a pleasure to be able to announce that early in 1926 the first of these long expected volumes is to be available.
6
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
News
Edition
Course on Manufactured Gas About 500 have already enrolled in the Course on " M a n u factured G a s " offered for home s t u d y by Columbia University and endorsed by the American Gas Association through its Committee on Education of Gas Company Employees. This course gives thorough instruction b y correspondence in the technical phases of gas manufacture, distribution, and utili zation. I t also treats allied subjects such as accident preven tion, accounting and statistical records, rate making, and public relations. The course started October 1 b u t enrollments are accepted any time. Application blanks and further information may be obtained either from the Home S t u d y D e p a r t m e n t of Columbia University, New York City, or K . R . Boyes, Secretary, Com mittee on Education of Gas Company Employees, American Gas Association, 342 Madison Ave.. New York, Ν . Υ.
Recognition by Chamber of C o m m e r c e "Pittsburgh F i r s t " is the official organ of t h e Chamber of Commerce of t h a t city. In the issue of November 7 the leading article is on "Greater Pittsburgh's Chemical I n d u s t r y . " Full recognition is given the fundamental importance of chemistry in t h e development of the industries of greater Pittsburgh and t h e discussion has been prepared by a man who appreciates the place of pure chemistry in the laboratories of industry as well as the extent to which chemistry is vital to industries typical of the Pittsburgh district. T h a t the research facilities of the city are in no small measure responsible for the quantity and diversity of its manufactured products is acknowledged. There are forty i m p o r t a n t chemical laboratories located within the district and it would be interesting to know if any other city in the country can surpass t h a t number. T h e value of the annual o u t p u t of the important chemically controlled products made in t h e Pittsburgh district exceeds $1,500,000,000, five com modities alone having a yearly value of over $100,000,000 each. Twenty-seven other commodities range from $10,000,000 to $50,000,000, and lifty-three from $1,000,000 t o $10,000,000 annually in value. "Industries dependent upon t h e science of chemistry could attain such proportions only in a locality fostering the pursuit of knowledge in t h a t science and the prac tical use of its principles."
Cincinnati University Library Issues Informa t i o n o n Chemical Periodicals T h e Chemistry Library of the University of Cincinnati has recently issued a "Union List of Chemical Periodicals in the Cincinnati Libraries" which lists t h e chemical journals and cer tain other scientific publications available in the various libraries of t h e city. The journals are listed alphabetically, with infor mation as to frequency of appearance, volume numbering, date of publication of first issue, place of publication, collective in dexes, important changes of title, and the particular Cincinnati library in which each may be found. The pamphlet should be of great value to those making use of library facilities in Cin cinnati.
Acetylene Association Meets a t Chicago T h e International Acetylene Association held its twenty-sixth Convention a t the Congress Hotel, Chicago, November 18, 19, and 20. This organization is made up of companies and in dividuals interested in the industrial applications of acetylene, oxy-acetylene, welding and cutting, acetylene lighting for homes, farms, mines, and other purposes. Most of the papers presented dealt with the application of acetylene welding and cutting to various industries, such as steel foundry practice, warship scrapping, aircraft production, bronze welding on cast-iron pipe, etc. T h e use of acetylene as an anesthetic, and its use on the farm, as well as a contribution on t h e literature of the oxy-acetylene industry were among the other topics touched upon. T h e convention concluded with a banquet on t h e evening of t h e final day of the meeting.
Discovery of New Mineral A n n o u n c e d The discovery of a new mineral, " K e m p i t e , " is announced by Professor A. F . Rogers of t h e D e p a r t m e n t of Mineralogy of Stanford University in a dispatch to t h e New York Times. T h e new substance was discovered in alum rock, a famous de posit at San Jose t h a t h a s never before been entered in the mineralogical annals of t h e world. I t is named in honor of Professor K e m p of Columbia University. The new mineral is a manganese oxychloride, b u t has no commercial value.
Among Chemists Edwin C. Alford, for t h e past seven years sales engineer with T. Shriver & Company, has resigned t o t a k e the position of eastern sales manager w i t h t h e Duriron Company. T h e resig nation will take effect J a n u a r y 1 a n d he will then b e located a t the New York Office of t h e Duriron Co., Grand Central Terminal Building, New York City. H . E. Barnard read a p a p e r on t h e " P r e s e n t Status of T r a d e Associations a n d Their Problems with Special Reference to t h e Work of the American Bakers' Association," before t h e Academy of Political Science in N e w York City recently. E d w a r d Roline Berry, of the General Electric Co., L y n n , Mass. was the recipient of t h e Grasselli Medal at a meeting of t h e American Section of the Society of Chemical Industry held a t the Chemists' Club, New York, December 4. C. A. Browne, Chief of the Bureau of Chemistry, addressed the annual convention of the American Specialty Manufacturers' Association, in Washington, D . C , on December 9. Dr. Browne told the manufacturers w h a t t h e Bureau of Chemistry is doing to aid industrial development. R. S. Daniels has been transferred from the research laboratory of the Chicago Bakelit p l a n t t o t h e one in Bloomfield, N . J. Alfred W . Francis has resigned his National Research Council fellowship in chemistry a t the Massachusetts I n s t i t u t e of Tech nology in order to join t h e research staff of A r t h u r D . Little Company of Cambridge, M a s s . H a r l a n S. M i n e r addressed t h e chemistry students a t Haverford College on Friday, November 19, on " T h e Rare B a r t h E l e m e n t s . " Ray V. Murphy, formerly instructor in physical chemistry a t Carnegie I n s t i t u t e of Technology, Pittsburgh, has accepted a position with t h e Western Electric Co., Chicago, as a member of the staff of the Switchboard L a m p Laboratory. He will c o n d u c t some investigations on t h e filament-making process. G. H . Reid, from H a r v a r d , T. S. Eckert, from Ohio S t a t e University, and G. M . J u r e d i n i , from Syracuse University, a r e new members of the teaching staff in the D e p a r t m e n t of Chemis try and Chemical Engineering a t t h e University of M a i n e , M r . Reid and Mr. E c k e r t replacing, respectively, W . N . G r e e r w h o went to Leeds a n d N o r t h r u p a n d J. Goggin who went t o NewYork University. M r . Juredini has been added to t h e staff because of the relatively large registration in general chemistry classes. Walter F . Rittman of t h e Carnegie Institute of Technology h a s been appointed consulting chemical engineer t o the Fixed N i t r o gen Research Laboratory of t h e Department of Commerce. H . R. Snow h a s joined t h e research laboratory of t h e S t a n d a r d Oil Company a t Whiting, Indiana. He was previously with t h e Sherwin Williams C o m p a n y in Chicago. A. W. T a b e r , who h a s for several years been connected with t h e Indicating and Recording Instrument business a s a sales engineer for The Foxboro Co., I n c . , in their Boston territory, h a s been appointed southern district manager in charge of t h e C o m p a n y ' s Office recently transferred to t h e A t l a n t a T r u s t Building, A t lanta, Georgia. Robert W. Wood, of t h e Physical Laboratory of J o h n s H o p kins University, spoke o n "Optical Properties of Fused Quartz and Its Use in the S t u d y of Ultra-Violet L i g h t " before t h e American Section, Society of Chemical I n d u s t r y , on December 4 .
Research G r a n t s for Work o n Meat T h e National Live Stock a n d M e a t Board has granted t h e National Research Council $6000 for a period of t w o years for research concerning the n u t r i t i v e value of meat. T h e N a t i o n a l Research Council special committee appointed to handle t h i s money has granted two fellowships. In addition to this fund t h e Board has granted a fund of $250 t o Ε. Β . Forbes of S t a t e Col lege, Pennsylvania, for work o n the iron content of meat. T h e Institute of American M e a t Packers has made a grant of S3500 to Yale University for research under t h e care of L. B . Mendel on the influence of food on t h e quality of fat produced in the animal body. This is t h e third year of the g r a n t . T h e Institute last year also m a d e a grant of $2500 t o R. G. H o s k i n s of Ohio State University for research on t h e effect of m e a t upon activity, reproduction, vigor, and life span of the albino r a t . This grant expired November 1 and the decision concerning i t s renewal has not been m a d e . Recent Development in Commercial Production of H y d r o g e n — Correction I n t h e November 10 issue of the News Edition, t h e captions under Figures 1 and 2, on page 5, were inadvertently transposed.
