TECHNOLOGY extends a short distance above the liquid level in the tower and the ex hausted cane pieces are then discharged from the tower by a tangentially mounted rotary sweep. The liquid level in the tower is controlled by the amount of juice removed for processing. The juice is withdrawn from the bottom of the diffuser through a spe cial screen arrangement. Part of the juice is recycled through a feed tank to carry the fresh cane chips and the bal ance goes t o the factory. T h e re cycled juice is heated prior t o being mixed with the cut cane in order to maintain a uniform high temperature in the tower. The process was perfected by Na tional Cylinder Gas in a commercial scale unit located at the sugar factory of the Fellsmere Sugar Producers As National C y l i n d e r sociation, Fellsmere, Fla. National Gas* pilot plant in Cylinder Gas is making the process stallation for its new continuous diffusion and equipment available immediately process for high throughout the cane sugar industry. efficiency of sugar from sugar cane, in stalled at FeDsmere, FIa.? March 1955 • Jet-propelled lubricant said t o reach hundreds of inaccessible trouble spots has been developed b y Gebauer Chem ical for use in the automotive field, in extracted from industry, and in the home.
Extracting Sugar Chemically
Through osmosis-dial/sis sugar is its cane in a diffuser; purity is high, yield—97*Ϋο
• Findinçj
crose. The high temperature of the - " · been developed by National Cylin water (extraction medium) used serves der Gas for the extraction of sugar t o sterilize t h e operation and speeds from sugar cane. The process takes t h e diffusion action by increasing the place in a vertical cylindrical tower. solubility of the sucrose and, by killing It differs from mechanical methods n o w t h e living plant cells makes them more in use in that it is basically chemical, amenable to diffusion. osmosis-dialysis making the process In operation, cane is fed continuously possible. Current practice, known as into a cutter which slices it into uni milling, extracts the sugar juice by formly sized pieces. These pieces are crushing cane between a series of suspended in a portion of the extracted rollers under high pressure. juice and injected into the bottom of According to National Cylinder Gas, the tower. This has a series of slowly an advantage for the new process is rotating helical scrolLs carried o n a that 97% or more of the sugar bearing central shaft which is t h e driven mem juice is extracted from cane at a purity ber of t h e device. The flights of the of from two to three points higher than scrolls are interrupted periodically to accomodate fixed agitator members, that resulting from milling practice. In the tower or diffuser, what hap called arrestors, that extend inwardly pens is that the walls of the cellular from the shell and which serve t o keep structures of the cane plant confine the t h e suspended mass of cane pieces in sucrose-eontaining juice and these cell motion i n intimate contact with the T h e extraction walls are capable of serving as semi extracting liquid. permeable membranes in an osmotic medium, hot water, is supplied to the transfer of the dissolved solids within top of t h e diffuser and the amount of the cells to a solvent o n the opposite water is controlled by the weight of cut cane entering the system. T h e side. By a combination of osmosis and temperature of the water is raised t o a dialysis, the sucrose-contairiing juice in range of 190° to 210° F. with steam the cane is replaced by water and the which, i n turn, is controlled by the water with which the cane is in con amount of water. tact carries with it the dissolved su The interrupted scroll and arrestor A
CONTINUOUS diffusion process has
1676
oil
by
bouncing
echos
through the bowels of the earth has been invented and patented b y Gerald C. Summers of Magnolia Petroleum. Summers has invented an acoustics velocity logging tool. T h e n e w device can be dropped into a hole, such as an old or an operating oil well. I t sends out sound waves that bounce back from the surrounding geologic formations of the earth. The speed with which the echos return is electronically recorded and transmitted to the surface where this information can b e translated into a survey of the geologic formations in the area. A detailed knowledge of the formation is a guide to where oil may be found. • A mechanical bird that flies with flapping wings has been designed by Major William Sears and i s being manufactured by Orthopter C o . , Denver, Colo. The tearproof, tapered wings and tail of the toy bird are covered with D u Pont's Mylar polyester film. It is the only material that has the required durability, flexibility, and weight, according t o Orthopter. The bird is powered b y several rubber bands inside the plastic body or fuselage. These are connected to a simple drive unit under the wings.
CHEMICAL
AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS
