INTERNATIONAL
CANADIAN CHEMlSTRY S. J . C O O K Chemical industry f o l l o w s steel a n d nonferrous m e t a l s , n o w under g o v e r n m e n t control in C a n a d a . . . Paint industry e x p a n d s in spite of shortages C A N A D A ' S chemical industry is soon to come under government allocation control. T h e main purpose will be to meet a growing shortage b y giving C a n a d a ' s expanding defense program top priority over available supplies. Steel and nonferrous metals have already been placed u n d e r the control of government administrators. T h e chemicals administrator, who may come from the government's polymer synthetic rubber plant at Sarnia, Ont., is expected also t o intensif) efforts to increase production of chemical products in C a n a d a and attempt to obtain more supplies from outside sources. Chemical requirements for t h e rearmament program cover a wide r a n g e of products. Shortages are currently reported in such items as methanol and alcohol, chlorine, caustic soda, soda ash, sulfuric acid, a n d phosphates. Chemical needs for t h e d e fense program are estimated to be m u c h greater than they w e r e d u r i n g the past war, as new formulas have been developed to p r o d u c e explosives and propellants.
the first time on this continent, a continuous nitrating process. In addition to the adoption of technological improvements much new capital investment was required in 1950 to enlarge or r e p l a c e existing plants engaged in t h e m a n u f a c t u r e of established basic chemicals. For example, last year, facilities were e x p a n d e d for the production of synthetic r u b b e r , calcium chloride, carbon dioxide, a n d insecticides. Production of polythene tubing and sheeting was b e g u n in 1950 and a d d i tional capacity was provided for the m a n u f a c t u r e of "cellophane" cellulose film. Considerable interest was centered on the increased quantity and variety of petroleum gases m a d e available through greater refining capacity, arid improvements in refining methods. These byproduct gases serve as raw materials for many chemical products. Already a d d i tional plant is b e i n g erected for the m a n u facture of several important solvents such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and carbon tetrachloride.
Continued Expansion Features Chemical I n d u s t r y
Cominco Zinc P r o d u c t i o n To Be E x p a n d e d
"A significant feature or the year 1950." said Ceorge W . Huggett, chairman and president of Canadian Industries. Ltd., "was the strengthening of t h e belief that t h e rapid growth of t h e chemical industry d u r i n g the past two decades is likely to continue for a number of years to c o m e . " Increased d e m a n d tor chemicals, he said, was particularly marked during the second half of the year. Volume of new construction w a s slightly lower than in 1949 hut the current rate has been exceeded only in a few exceptional years. Nevertheless, h e added, "the chemical industry continued to concentrate on longrange problems and on the preparation involved in the largf undertaking discernible for t h e immediate future." Some of the major undertakings d u r i n g 19~0 mentioned in Mr. Huggett's review of t h e scar's activities in the chemical industry serve to indicate the direction and scope of new capital investment. A project at Ville LaSalle. Que., will provide for t h e manufacture of butylated melaininc. urea, a n d polyvinyl chloride resins, as well as expanded facilities for the production of litpiid phenolic and urea resin adhesives. A large plant is being erected in British Columbia for t h e production of high alpha cellulose. In Alberta, a new commercial explosives plant will utilize for
It has been announced from Trail, B. C , t h a t the Consolidated Mining and Smelting C o . of Canada, Ltd., at a cost of over $ 3 million, will add another 70 tons to its present 425-ton daily output of zinc. T h e n e w project is expected to provide p e r m a n e n t employment for about 50 m e n a n d will be completed in about two years. T h e expansion is being m a d e to h a n d l e the increasing t o n n a g e of zinc concentrates from British Columbia customs shippers a n d also the concentrates which will be coming from t h e Bluebell and other Cominco properties being prepared for production. W o r k involved in the new project includes minor additions to t h e roasting and leaching plants, the installation of over 200 electrolytic cells, the provision of t h r e e 10.OOO-amp. mercury arc rectifiers, and the1 installation of a n e w electric melting furnace.
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Kecord Expansion in Paints But Shortages in Supplies Foreseen " N e v e r before have the paint industry's research, technical, and productive facilities b e e n a t such a high level of efficiency," reports D. A. Whittaker, president a n d m a n a g i n g director of the Sherwin-Williams C o . of Canada, L t d . Research chemists are experimenting with new pigments and formulations to C H E M I C A L
conserve stocks of existing materials and to preserve quality. Production programs are b e i n g studied so t h a t increased defense p u r c h a s i n g will b e taken care of and normal consumer production protected, providing raw materials can be found to meet both requirements. Sales of paints, varnishes, lacquers, and enamels set a new record in 1950, rising slightly a b o v e the previous record set in 1948. M u c h of t h e gain was in the closing months of t h e year, w h e n the international situation tightened. Principal items already in short supply are vegetable oils, solvents, alcohols, acetates, phthalic, glycerol, titanium, and lithopone. Import Controls R e m o v e d All remaining E m e r g e n c y E x c h a n g e Import Controls administered u n d e r Schedule III of t h e E m e r g e n c y Exchange Conservation Act were terminated Jan. 2. 1951. These h a v e been in effect since 1947 w h e n C a n a d a was selling SI billion worth of goods to the United States and buying $2 billion worth from that source. During the past year, all trade records between C a n a d a and the United States have been broken, with imports and exports practically in balance at about t w o billions, respectively.
N e w Fertilizer Plant Goes Ugs a t Kimberley T h e Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. of C a n a d a , Ltd., has announced that it is constructing, at a cost of $9 million a plant at Kimberley, B. C , for the production of 70,000 tons a year of high analysis a m m o n i u m phosphate fertilizer. T h e plant will b e located adjacent to a n d directly east of the Sullivan Concentrator a n d will comprise t h e following units: roasters a n d gas cleaning plant, sulfuric acid plant, phosphoric acid and p h o s p h a t e fertilizer plant; storage and shipping buildings. It is estimated that the project will t a k e about t w o years to complete and will give permanent employment to about 150 men. For process materials, the plant will use Sullivan concentrator tailings as a source of sulfur, p h o s p h a t e rock from Montana, and a m m o n i a from Cominco's plant in Calgary.
Silica Sand Industry A new indust^ that will supply silica sand suitable" fo. m a k i n g the best grades of glass is foreseen by the Minister of Mines a n d Technical Surveys. Site of the industry will be near Ottawa, Ont., w h e r e a large deposit of high grade sandstone has been found. Although sandstone is common in C a n a d a , most deposits contain iron, alumina, and other impurities which k e e p t h e m from meeting specifications of industry as a source material for silica sand. As a result t h e entire requirements are imported. In 1949, 511,116 tons w e r e imported at a cost of $4,000,000. AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS
