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
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y
440
being a zoo-light, and the other a 5-light meter, both standing exposed on the floor of the cellar. On the outlet of the So-light meter for the supply of the restaurant, there was a Hahn governor having I1/z-inch connections. This governor, which, as far as could be traced, had been installed more than nine years previously, was of a n antiquated type. The old pattern contains considerably less glycerine to seal the bell and so far as could be traced in this instance the glycerine had not been renewed nor the governor inspected, during the past nine years. Investigations on this governor made by Reinhard after the explosion showed t h a t nearly the whole of the glycerine had disappeared-presumably evaporated-and that there was also a deficiency of mercury. It is not known whether the governor was originally filled with neat glycerine or with glycerine and water. It is clear, however, that the gas on the night in question blew the seal of the governor and the explosive mixture of gas and air in the cellar, which had a cubic content of about 11,650cubic feet, was ignited by a young cook who brought a naked flame into the cellar. The explosion was very violent, and caused wide-spread damage. I n view of the disastrous results, Reinhard has thought it useful to draw attention t o the defective character of the governor and the way in which the defect has been minimized in the more recent type. ENGLISH FOREIGN TRADE IN JANUARY The English foreign trade of last January is compared with t h a t of January, 1913,in the following table made from data published in 2. angew. Chem., 28 (1915),111, 83: IMPORTS
Value $ 2,160,000 4,710,000 1,270,000 1,300,000 10,110,000 Corn. . . . . . . 31,500,000 2,480,000 1,599,000 3,430,000 R a w hides. . . . . 2,820,000 Iron a n d steel. , 2,620,000 3,050,000 8,590,000 3,330,000 Preserved m 380,000 Saltpeter.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Petroleum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 , 3 1 0 , 0 0 0 2,080,000 Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,000,000 Raw sugar.. . 6,800,000 Refined sugar 9,300,000 T e a . ........................ 3,420,000 Tobacco. . . . . . . . . 22,300,000 R a w wool.. . . . . .
P e r cent change compared with Jan., 1913 4-56.6 4-56.8 -21.7 -46,s 4-226.9 -36.2 -45.3 -27.7 4-81.6 -52.3 -63.7 -8.4 +127.5 f173.5 +26.5 -19.9 4-145.1 f229.3 4-22.3 +/3.7 -24, +7.,
;
EXPORTS
Coal a n d c o k e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11,000,000 3,350,000 Cotton y a r n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cotton c l o t h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 , 9 5 0 , 0 0 0 3,440,000 Other cotton manufactures.. . . 13,000,000 Iron and s t e e l . . . . . . . . 6 h l ,000 Jute products.. . . . . . . 170,000 Linen y a r n . . 1,999,000 Linen c l o t h . . 8,090,000 Machinerv . . . . . . . . . . 7 12,000 R a w wool.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405,000 Koolen yarn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,350,000 Woolen c l o t h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
........ ........
-39.9 -49.7 -49 -48.8 -45 -51.8 -65 -34.4 -50.8 -94.6 -81.5 -47.9
AMERICAN FOREIGN COMMERCE A remarkable illustration of the maritime supremacy of Great Britain is afforded by a n analysis of the foreign commerce of the Cnited States in the American fiscal year 1914. Vessels flying the British flag carried 53.45 per cent of the imports and exports of the Cnited States during that period according to E n g i n e e ~ i n g , gg (1915),308. The corresponding proportion carried by German shipping was 13.79 per cent; by American shipping, 9.26 per cent; by French shipping, 4.64 per cent; by Dutch shipping, 4.10 per cent; by Norwegian shipping, 3.49 per cent; by Japanese shipping,, 2.14 per cent; by Italian shipping, 1.93 per cent; by Austrian shipping, 1.57 per cent; by Belgian shipping, 1.27 per cent; and by all other shipping, 4.35 per cent. The analysis extending in the fiscal year 1914t o American imports and exports represented a n aggregate value of $3,785,469,000.
Vol. 7, No. 5
RUSSIA’S FOREIGN TRADE I N 1914 Russia’s foreign trade during last year amounted in the aggregate t o a sum of $813,000,000,against $1,213,000,000for the year 1913,the decrease for 1914amounting t o 32.7 per cent [Engineering, gg (1915),2731. The imports and exports were: 1913
Imports.. Exports..
. . . . . . . . . 3560,000,000 . . . . . . . . . $652,000.000
1914 8423,000,000 8390,000,000
The imports, consequently, show a decrease of 24.55 pcr cent, while the corresponding figures under the exports are reduced as much as 39.73 per cent. I n 1913Russia had a surplus on t h e export side of $g2,000,000 as against a deficit of 833,000,ooo for 1914;in other words, the commercial balance of the country for last year has deteriorated by $125,000,000,as compared with the preceding year. The figures for the months after the declaration of war do not appear t o have been made available yet. They are not only responsible for the unsatisfactory balance, but have also neutralized the increase as compared with 1913,which the first six months of 1914manifested. The figures for the first six months of 1914and 1913were: 1913
Imports.. Exports..
, , . , , , . , . $259,000,000 . . . . . . . . . $260,000,000
1914 $312 000 000 $310~000~000
There was consequently a n increase of about 22 per cent on the imports during the first half of last year and 20 per cent on the exports, as compared with the corresponding figures for the previous year. The value of the ruble is taken as $0.46. [ I ruble = 5 1.5 cents according t o latest Treasury Department Circular.] SWEDISH FOREIGN TRADE IN 1914 I n 1914 Sweden’s foreign trade amounted to 146,300,000 angew. Chem., 28 kroner, or 8.7 per cent less than in 1913 [Z. (1g15),111, 1061, imports decreasing 77,100,ooo kroner, or 9.1 per cent, and exports decreasing 69,200,000kroner or 8.45 per cent. The decrease in the imports of raw material amounted t o 33,200,ooo kroner; of the exports, iron showed the greatest falling off. [I kroner = $0.268.]
THE GRANGESBERG
IRON-ORE DEPOSITS, SWEDEN
A Swedish expert has recently investigated the Grangesberg iron-ore deposits, and pronounced their content t o be much larger than was formerly believed. Only a few years ago the aggregate capacity of these deposits was put a t some 60,000,000tons, and the area within which they were found a t 72,800 square meters. hTom,however, the quantity, as regards only the phosphoric ore, is reckoned to be three or four times as much [Engineering, 99 ( I ~ I S2551. ), The surveying and examination work undertaken a t Grangesberg is the greatest of its kind ever undertaken in Sweden, and it has been going on ever since 1906. The examination has revealed the presence of 18o,ooo,oootons pure ore, and it is now proposed to extend the boring to 1000 meters. Approximately a n aggregate of 2 ~O,OOO,OOOtons pure phosphoric ore may be reckoned upon. With the present production of about 840,000tons annually, the deposits are calculated t o last some 200 to 300 years. Further investigations are expected t o reveal the presence of additional iron-ore deposits in this mining district. _~____ MANUFACTURE O F EXPLOSIVES IN NATAL I t is reported that Messrs. Kynochs, Ltd., will shortly cause great extensions t o be made to their dynamite factory a t Umbogintwini. This manufacture will mean a very large consumption of wattle wood.-E. G. AXDERSON. ~-
SCOTCH OIL TRADE The Oil and Color Trades Journal, 47, No. 855, states that not for many years have the Scotch oil companies experienced such a brisk demand or as good prices for all their products as is being
