THE CHEMICAL WORLD THIS WEEK
Faster, M o r e Accurate, A u t o m a t i c Laboratory Equipment Emphasized
\merican Sterilizer's combination steamcarboxide sterilizer is the subject of dis cussion between John J. Perkings of American Sterilizer and Gladys Eckfeldt, £)M Food and Container Institute phate ( 809r ), anhydrous formic acid, and oxamide. The first of these is suggested as a water-insoluble modification of phos phoric acid. Among the products that are now available in pilot plant quantities is silver metaphosphate, for use in special optical glass. Three new compounds are offered in semicommercial quantities. They are borophosphoric acid, recommended where a solid, nonhygroscopic acid is desired; boron phosphate, suggested for ceramics and acid resistant coatings; and Victawet 35BPI. Narrow-Leaf Weed Killer. A weed-con trol chemical t h a t is opposite in effect to 2,4-D was featured b y U. S. Industrial Chemicals. T h e new product is isopropylN-phenylcarbamate, or ICP. It generally kills narrow-leaf plants and leaves broadleaf plants unharmed. Applications in con trolling weeds among strawberries, peas, soy beans, and other broad-leaf crops are foreseen. To supplement its line of primary amine flotation agents, Armour & Co. is now sup plying secondary and tertiary amines and will tailor-make reagents as required by the mining industry. T h e company also featured its low titer red oil for anionic flotation at freezing temperatures. Swift & Co. introduced Lexard at the exposition. It is a superfatted, antiseptic toilet soap containing hexachlorophene; it is recommended for use in controlling der matitis. The product is offered in bar and in liquid form, available only for in dustrial and institutional distribution. Full scale production has now been at tained on t w o new phthalic anhydride derivatives, according to National Aniline Division of Allied Chemical & Dye. T h e y are the tetrahydro- and t h e hexahydro- d e rivatives. Suggested uses are in the pro duction of plasticizers, resins, adhesives, pesticides, a n d intermediates.
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Scientific and laboratory apparatus manufacturers always find the Chemical Exposition a good place for first showings. Among the dozens of displays of equipment in this field were several that showed either completely new developments or n e w models of early apparatus which incorpo rate modifications offering advantages of various kinds. Laboratory E q u i p m e n t Corp. showed new automatic analyzers for determining sulfur and carbon in iron and steel. T h e sulfur apparatus provides for 100% sulfur recovery in only 3 to 4.5 minutes. W h i l e the time is not materially less than t h a t re quired with conventional apparatus, t h e automatic feature permits t h e laboratory technician to be devoting his time to other work during testing. T h e induction fur nace used in conjunction with the titrator is of a recently designed type and has greater power output. A new zircon com bustion tube, which gives longer life at half the price of quartz tubes, replace the quartz tubes formerly used in induction furnaces. Fisher Scientific Co. showed an electro analyzer which speeds u p and adds flexi bility to electroanalysis. T h e unit incor porates automatic control of the plating potential, which in turn, eliminates pre analysis separation, simplifies the determi nation of metals in solution, and permits the successive determination of several metals in one sample. Differing from other analyzers of this type, tlv new Fisher apparatus has a jacketed mercury cathode cell which can be substituted for t h e regular sample beaker. Another modification is a 200watt thermostat ed heater which can be quickly fastened to the same vertical rod on which t h e beaker support is regularly clamped. E. H . Sargent & Co. exhibited t h e first commercial model of its chemical oscillom eter. This instrument is a very sensitive, stable measuring instrument for chemical analytical procedures and is based on the electrical properties of the substances to be identified, differentiated, or determined. The instrument operates on a capacitative retime principle. It is limited to binary mixtures. T h e instrument offers the unique feature of operating with the sample in an isolated glass cell with no structural con nection of any kind with the electrical circuits. This design precludes any possibilty of electrolytic alteration of sample composition or of contamination by diffu sion effects or metallic solubilities. The detection of water in nonaqueous media is extremely sharp and indicates direct pro cedures in many instances. T h e estimated inherent instrumental precision is 0 . 1 % . A n e w instrument for conducting electrophoretic separations on as many as six samples simultaneously was featured at the Precision Scientific Co.'s booth. De
CHEMICAL
pending on t h e electro-migration of ions or other charged particles on wet surfaces of filtered paper, t h e "lonograph" has proved of value for the separation and identification of mixtures of biological ma terials such as amino acids and proteins as well as other organic and inorganic ions. Plants and laboratories using mercury a n d faced with the problem of recovering spilled mercury and eliminating mercury vapors were interested in t h e n e w "MerV a c " on display b y Acme Protection E q u i p m e n t Co. To become commercially available within a few weeks, the new mercury and mercury vapor collection has undergone extensive tests and offers many advantages over more conventional vacuum cleaners. Recovered mercury collects in a glass t r a p a n d fumes pass o n into an enameled porcelain chamber which con tains a hopcalite filter. The unit can be effectively used for purifying large rooms in which mercury vapors have escaped a n d the filter can be used u p to 40 hours without requiring replacement. The first 10 units are scheduled to g o t o Carbide a n d Carbon Chemical Co. . Tools for S p e e d . A new Karl Fisher titrator, called the "Aquameter/* received a lot of attention at t h e booth of Beckman Instruments, Inc., South Pasadena, Calif. T h e piece of apparatus offers several inno vations. First, it is automatic throughout a n d does not require an experienced tech nician for its operation. Too, it has facili ties for back-titrating. All of t h e instru ment controls are protected by a ceramic topped tray which holds t h e sample beakers. Another piece of laboratory equipment designed to speed u p analytical work is E b e r b a c h Corp.'s n e w ultra high speed electro-analyzer. T h e apparatus is recomP. E. Paules, Beckman Instruments, Inc., South Pasadena, Calif., demonstrates the "Aquameter," a new Karl Fischer titrator
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H. J. Schmitt, L a b o r a t o r y E q u i p m e n t Corp., demonstrates a sulfur titrator, shown at t h e exposition for the first time m e n d e d particularly for t h e determination of copper a n d tor t h e simultaneous determination of copper and lead in the analysis of alloys having a high percentage of copper. A complete copper analysis can be run in 8 minutes—approximately one fourth the time required b y the fastest currently available e q u i p m e n t . T h e apparatus is a single position unit inasmuch as its uninterrupted production rate is substantially equivalent to four positions on a conventional electro-analysis apparatus. E b e r b a c h also showed for t h e first time its n e w a n d novel hollow spindle laboratory stirrer. This 1550 r.p.m. laboratory stirrer enables t h e user to raise or lower the propeller quickly a n d easily to adjust the stirrer length for various jobs. Central Scientific Co. featured in its display its new moisture balance. This unit, especially designed and built for extremely rapid but accurate determinations of moisture in a w i d e variety of materials, utilizes a n e w principle of operation in d r y i n g the sample by infrared radiation and weighing b y a sensitive, null-point torsion balance. T h e scale of t h e torsion b a l a n c e is calibrated directly in " % Moist u r e " and is graduated from 0 to 1 0 0 % in 0 . 2 % divisions. Dus* Collectors. Dust collecting equipment, both with conventional cyclone arrangements and w i t h moving parts, was exhibited. In all cases t h e sales engineers were plugging efficiency and operating costs. T h e suppliers seem anxious to "design to suit." Superior Crain Separating Co. showed a working model of a n e w air centrifuge not yet on t h e market. Operation depends on a rotating tapered cylinder mounted vertically. T h e cylinder is perforated to set t h e air in the unit in a rapid spiraling motion. T h e r e is no screening effect from the perforations. Flour dust was processed through the exhibit model and the exhaust air a p p e a r e d dust-free. W . B. Burnet, chief engineer, was eager to get the reaction of t h e chemical people to the unit. He pointed out that t w o earlier models have been used quite successfully in t h e flour milling field. T h e new séparaV O L U M E
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1FHE C H E M I C A L W O R L D THIS WEEK
tor should be available shortly after the Srst of the year, Burnet said. A collector which has been used suc cessfully in the collection of the fine radio active dusts was featured by Pulverizing ^Machinery Co. The Mikro-Atoniizer on display was a standard unit with a side -pand removed for inspection. A ver tically oscillating ring blower effects a continuous cleaning of the filter felt •cylinder. B. A. Wilson, sales engineer, ex plained that his company has just put into industrial service Orion filter felts—he
expressed the opinion that Mikro is the first to use new fiber in such a manner. A special chemical treatment to lengthen felt life was being pushed by Mikro. And in another area of the plant equip ment field Tri-CIover's power cut-off saw caused some favorable comment. The high speed abrasive disk on the demonstra tion model cut through three-inch stain less pipe or tubing in a matter of seconds. The machine is portable and can be used for pipe of any size or any material say the Tri-Clover people.
Equipment Manufacturers A i d M i x e r s , Separators} High Pressure Pump Featured Apparently never satisfied with the status quo, "chemical processors with mixtures search, for equipment and methods to sepa rate them, while others make or buy rela tively pure individual compounds and pro ceed to develop the best means of mixing them. Equipment manufacturers showing their wares at the Exposition were pre pared to assist either group—or both. The Luwesta counter-current solvent ex tractor, developed in Germany and made; available only within the last few months; in this country through Centrico, Inc., falls solidly within the class of separating; equipment. It is a multi-stage unit, withι all stages contained within a single rotat ing bowl. Besides the extractor, Centrico> introduced a universal laboratory centri fuge which permits study of all types of: separations in one machine. The new* model LWA 205, prototype of industrial1 models, permits collection of data on mix ing, clarification, concentration, or separa tion, with easy interpretation of results for scale-up to larger machines. Centnco isr now building a new plant in Englewood,5 X. J., where manufacturing and service, facilities will be in operation by year-end.3 The exhibit of Otto H. York Co., Inc., featured a 12-inrh diameter, three-stage model of the increasingly popular YorkScheibel solvent extraction column. Made of transparent plastic, and employing fluid" streams of constrasting colors, the operat1 ing model clearly demonstrated the mode1 of action. The column consists of alternat ing mixing and separating sections. In1 the mixing; sections, impellers mounted on1 a common vertical shaft provide rapid and intimate mixing, while phase separation1 in the alternate sections is aided by the presence of "Yorkmesh" wire packing. For laboratory or large-scale nitrations, the Ertel Engineering Corp. exhibited its'' pyrogen and bacterial retentive filters. A. new multiple-disk plate-and-fraine typee laboratory filter in the series is available inn two sizes, 4 inches square and 8 inchess square. LTse of Lueite in the componentt parts allows visual study of the filtrationn cycle, and should open new avenues οΓ re search in filtration, the company believes.Î. Disk filters of another type offered byy 3942
Ertel effect "double filtration by passing liquid to be filtered through two circular filter sheets separated by a collecting ring. Liquid ^ through the first sheet, ac cumulates in the collecting ring, and then as a result of accumulating pressure, passes through the lower sheet. A built-in stone fiber eliminator prevents fibers from pass ing out of the filter. In the mixing end of the processing business, National Engineering Co. has made available two innovations in its line of Simpson Mix-Mullers. A trend toward greater mulling pressures in the controlled mixing of large quantities of dry, semidry, or pasty materials in the chemical and related industries led National to the de velopment of new models which provide increased muller pressures with a minimum of muller inertia. The change was effected by using relatively light mullers with spring loading, allowing complete adjustment for variable muller pressures. The spring-loaded mixers, while new in design, retain the rugged construction and intensive mulling features of older models. A portable Mix-Muller, easily rolled to any plant location for convenience in use, was also displayed in the National booth. High Pressure Pumps. The trend toward
higher operating pressures in modern chemical plants was seen in the design of pumps on display. Cutaway models, operating set-ups, and "turn the handle" types were most popular as display pieces among the pump makers. An entirely new chemical pump was shown for the first time by Precision Pump Co. According to \V. II. Mashinter, president of Precision, the pump will meter fuming nitric acid, at 6000 pounds per square inch delivery pressure at accuracies within a fraction of \r/o. Design capacities from 15 ml. to 15 gallons per hour are available. The exhibit featured a simplex unit in operation, but duplex models were also on display. A cutaway model gave an assist to sales engineers in the booth showing Royaiton pumps. The Scotch yoke principie used in these duplex and quadruplex models reduces the number of moving C H E M I C A L
parts. One of the unique features of the Royaiton is a special packing design which is easily adjustable while the pump is operating. Pumps having design discharge pressures as high as 1000 pounds per square inch were on display. High pressure pumps were also shown by John Bean (a division of Food Machinery & Chemical Co.). Operating models of both inside packed and outside packed units were demonstrated. Both of these xvere triplex, although the company does furnish duplex models as well. The outside-packed pumps operate at pressures as high as 6000 pounds per square inch with capacities from 1.0 to 7.5 gallons per minute. In the chemical industry these pumps have been found suitable for handling acids and most abrasive solutions under high pressures, according to Bean engineers. Copper-Clad Steel Plate. Examples of the application of new materials of construction in the manufacture of process equipment were numerous at the show, but the honors for making news probably went to Lukens Steel Co/s announcement of copper-clad steel plate. After ΙΟ years of experimentation, Lukens is ready to furnish this material in cladding percent ages of 10, 15, and 20% of total plate thickness in plate sizes up to 120 inches width, 380 inches length, and 0.3 t o 1.25 inches thick. Flanged or flanged and dished heads are also available. Copper-clad steel plate is made "by hotrolling a steel-copper sandwich assembly. Its attractiveness lies in the combination of the high conductivity and corrosion re sistance of copper with the low cost, strength, and rigidity of steel, and its mechanical rproperties are governed by the type of steel backing to which the copper is bonded. Fabricators of electrical equipment, evaporators, hot water heaters, heat ex changers, tube sheets, and tanks will be interested in this development. For elec trical applications, oxygen-free high con ductivity copper can be furnished; for im proved wcldability, phosphorus-deoxidized copper is available. With titanium metal the object of much interest in various fields the natural ques tion arises as to when titanium-clad steels may be expected to be available. Lukens is currently working on this probLem, but has not yet reached the stage where a prediction of availability may be m a d e . Titanium Not Ready for Pumps. Much interest is being centered also in the pos sibility of using titanium in purnp manu facture, but that also seems some time away. Worthington Pump and Machin ery, actively working along that line, says that titanium cannot be used in pump manufacture until easting problems have been overcome. In the meantime phenolasbestos type plastics are coming into more general use in pumps due to increased need for handling hydrochloric acid, par ticularly in petrochemical fields. For this application Worthington is using Ilaveg AND
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