News
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY Published by the American Chemical Society
Edition
M A Y 20, 1923
Exhibit in Los Angeles Library Shows W h a t Chemistry H a s Done for Cotton Industry B Y M A R K WALKER, Secretary, S o u t h e r n California Section
"WHAT
Chemistry Has Done for One American Industry" is the title of an interesting exhibit which recently has been placed in the Los Angeles Public Library. The exhibit has been developed cooperatively by Guy E. Marion, who is Assistant Librarian and in charge of the Science and Industry Department of the Los Angeles Public Library, and H. C. Bennett, Chief Chemist of the Los
Angeles Soap Co. The following popular account also was prepared for the information of those who saw the exhibit: "The value of products now obtained from the seed is in excess of $150,000,000.00 annually. It seems hard to comprehend the fact that no less than sixty years ago, cottonseed was considered a nuisance and was discarded into rivers or allowed to decay in hugh piles at the gins. The magnitude
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
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News
Edition
of this former loss is b e t t e r u n d e r s t o o d when we realize t h a t t h e seed represents t w o - t h i r d s of t h e cotton crop a n d the c o t t o n itself only one-third. " T h e exhibit shows t h e various products derived from cottonseed and t h e p r o p o r t i o n a t e yields obtained in each s t e p of m a n u f a c t u r e . I t gives a comprehensive idea of w h a t c h e m i s t s h a v e done in t u r n i n g t h e w a s t e seed from t h e c o t t o n crop into valuable p r o d u c t s worth millions of dollars annually. " T h e m a n u f a c t u r e d articles which trace their source back t o cottonseed, once valueless, include m a n y of t h e comforts a n d necessities of m o d e r n life. T h e m a t t r e s s upon which t h e average person sleeps is stuffed with cottonseed linters, a b y - p r o d u c t obtained in t h e utilization of cottonseed. T h e breakfast eggs m a y h a v e been fried in h y d r o g e n a t e d c o t t o n seed oil or other lard s u b s t i t u t e derived from cottonseed. T h e dirty dishes a n d soiled linens a r e each afterwards cleansed w i t h soap p r o b a b l y containing cottonseed oil a s a n ingredient. T h e kitchen sink a n d floor are brightened by a n application of washing powder, a cottonseed derivative. T h e n o o n d a y luncheon m a y consist of canned t u n a or sardines which h a v e been p a c k e d in cottonseed oil. After luncheon, m i l a d y no d o u b t will comb her hair with a celluloid c o m b which was m a d e b y a combination of n i t r a t e d cotton linters a n d camphor. She m a y t h e n g a r b herself quite completely in garm e n t s of artificial silk which have been m a d e from n i t r a t e d c o t t o n linters. If it is house-painting thrrc, she m a y write" a n o t e (on p a p e r possibly m a d e from cottonseed linters) t o h e r painter, and t h e chances a r e t h a t t h e roof will be coated w i t h p a i n t containing a t a r residue derived after m a n y int e r m e d i a t e steps from cottonseed.
' ' W h e n 3rou a r c riding in y o u r a u t o m o b i l e , y o u a r e s i t t i n g on cushions upholstered with artificial l e a t h e r , m a d e b y coating c o t t o n fabric w i t h a m i x t u r e of castor oil a n d n i t r a t e d cotton linters. A t e m p o r a r y d e t o u r in t h e r o a d m a y m e a n t h a t r o a d work is being done a h e a d i n w h i c h d y n a m i t e is being used for blasting purposes, a n d t h i s d y n a m i t e is m a d e b y n i t r a t i n g glycerin which in t u r n is a b y - p r o d u c t from m a k i n g s o a p o u t of vegetable oils such a s c o t t o n s e e d oil. "If y o u should pass t h e remains of a w r e c k e d a u t o m o b i l e on t h e roadside, t h e probabilities a r c t h a t t h e a u t o v i c t i m s a r e in some hospital s w a t h e d in a b s o r b e n t c o t t o n m a d e from cotton linters, a n d y o u r k o d a k focused o n t h e scene will tell t h e s t o r y of t h e wreck o n a film m a d e from n i t r a t e d c o t t o n linters. " T h e r o a s t beef o r t h e juicy s t e a k of t h e e v e n i n g m e a l quite p r o b a b l y came from a n animal which w a s f a t t e n e d for m a r k e t o n cottonseed hulls a n d m e a l . T h e F r e n c h fried p o t a t o e s m a y have b e e n fried in c o t t o n s e e d cooking oil, a n d t h e salad m a y be garnished with a dressing m a d e from c o t t o n seed salad oil." T h e exhibit of these cottonseed p r o d u c t s w a s placed o n t h e eighth floor of t h e P u b l i c Library, a n d is t o r e m a i n t h e r e for a m o n t h . I t has a t t r a c t e d wide a t t e n t i o n . Prominently with t h e actual p r o d u c t s a r e linked t h e b o o k s a n d l i t e r a t u r e which tell t h e story of cottonseed a n d i t s i m p o r t a n c e a m o n g o u r A m e r i c a n industries. T h e whole collection serves t o e m p h a s i z e t h e close connection b e t w e e n Science a n d I n d u s t r y , a n d t h e i m p o r t a n c e t o all business m e n of utilizing b o t h t h e t r a i n e d scientist a n d t h e a c c u m u l a t e d experiences of t h e p a s t a s revealed on t h e p r i n t e d page.
Sings of Wisconsin's Natural Beauties
Doctors Give Watch T o Prof. T. B. Johnson
Chemists
Invited t o S p e n d V a c a t i o n a s Well as Attend F a l l M e e t i n g
The publicity committee of the Milwaukee Section waxes poetic as well as enthusiastic over the prospect of entertaining members of the American Chemical Society in September. The following is received from William Kloppenburg, chairman of the publicity committee: W H E R E Shall I Spend M y Vacation?—This is the perennial query confronting t h e educational confraternity of t h e American Chemical Society soon to disband for the summer. Some would betake themselves to hill and forest for rest and relaxation, while others journey t o the M a r t s of Industry, there t o view the application of t h e theories they propound in the classroom. This year the dilemma is solved. When t h e Council chose Milwaukee, the Metropolis of Wisconsin, as the site of t h e Fall Meeting of the Society, the outdoor enthusiast was pleased, for he knew t h a t within a short automobile ride from Milwaukee, over splendid highways maintained b y the Wisconsin State Highway Commission, lay t h e "Land of t h e Sky Blue W a t e r s , " the Land of 7000 shimmering lakes and tumbling trout streams, of virgin evergreen forests, where it is still possible t o become lost beyond human aid. Wonderful hikes, canoe and camping trips await his coming. The balsam air of t h e Northland will rest his tired nerves, tone his body, and secure from the environment, the inspiration t h a t helps overcome t h e petty worries of Life. As for t h e Industrialist, W h a t has Milwaukee, t h e fourth industrial city of t h e Nation, to offer him? Steel plants, dye and chemical works, by-product coke plants, tanneries, among the largest in t h e world, coal docks, flour mills, plants for the fabrication of automobile parts, brass works, rubber and automobile tire plants, soap works, hosiery, knitting, electrical control devices, paint and color works, all these are open t o his inspection. The beauty of t h e Council's selection of Milwaukee as t h e site of t h e Fall Meeting becomes more apparent because of the fact t h a t it is n o t necessary for the outdoor m a n to go one way, and t h e Industrialist t h e other to realize their pleasures; Milwaukee and Wisconsin offer all to those who attend the Fall Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Sept. 10-15. The latch string is out.
During t h e meeting of t h e American Chemical Society in N e w Haven, a dinner in honor of Prof. T r e a t B . Johnson was given b y the m e n who had received the P h . D . for work done under his direction. At the close of t h e dinner, Professor E . V. McCollum, of Johns Hopkins, speaking in behalf of t h e group, presented t o Professor Johnson a handsome gold watch as a token of their appreciation of him and his work. Prof. Johnson responded, speaking of t h e events which led him to enter Yale, a n d later under the guidance of Professor Henry Lord Wheeler, to take up research in organic chemistry as a life work. He reviewed briefly his efforts in securing t h e meeting of t h e American Chemical Society a t N e w H a v e n , his p a r t in securing the gifts which made t h e presence of t h e foreign visitors possible, and his hopes for t h e future of organic research in the Sterling Laboratory. Out of t h e forty-four graduate students who have studied with Professor Johnson for t h e higher degree, t h e following were present: J. A. Ambler, 1913; L. W . Bass, 1922; L. A. Bigelow, 1919; C. A. Brautlecht, 1912; E . B. Brown, 1922; P . G. Daschavsky, 1922; J. B . Fishman, 1920; H. H . Guest, 1912; S. E . Hadley, 191(5; F . W . Hcyl, 1908; A. J . Hill, 1913; Chas. Hoffman, 1912; W . J. H o r n , 1921 ; Bruce Houston, 1923; E . B . H u n n , 1921 ; C. O. Johns, 1906; D . B . J o n e s , 1910; A. W . J o y c e , 1916; E. F . K o h m a n , 1915; E . V. McCollum, 1906; D . F . McFarland, 1909; G. W . Pucher, 1920; W. T. Read, 1921; H. W. Rinehart, 1922; R. C. Roberts, 1921; E . W. Rugeley, 1923; W. M . Scott, 1915; N . A. Shepard, 1913; F . L. Simons, 1923; H . B . Vickery, 1922. Dr. J . J. Donieavy and Dr. C. R. Downs were also present. P r o fessor J. R. Bailey of t h e University of Texas and Professor A. L. Hirschfelder of t h e University of Minnesota were guests.
G e r m a n y Lifts D u t y o n C h e m i c a l E x p o r t s The Department of Commerce has been advised b y Commercial Attaché Herring a t Berlin t h a t t h e German export duties on chemicals, glass products and certain other items of less commercial importance have been lifted by t h e German government. This action became effective on April 29, according t o t h e D e partment.
