A N D E N G I N E E KIiVG C H E M I S T R E'
July. iy1.j TRANSVAAL GOLD-MINING The fact docs not appear to be generally recognized, according to E ? z g i i z r e ~ i ? z 99 ~ , (1915), 380, that since September last year the production of gold in the Transvaal has on the whole shown a greater output than in the corresponding months of the pre\-ious year. Thc output in October was valued a t Si j,roo.ooo, a s compared with S14,8oo,ooo in October, 1913; in Nol-emljcr a t ~14,80o,o00,as compared with sI3,900,000; in December at S I ~ , ~ ~ O , O asOcompared O, with $13,900,000; in January a t S ~ ~ , ~ o o , o as o o compared . with $13,4oo,ooo; and in February a t S I r..joo.ooo, as compared with $12,900,000~ Tran.;\-aal gold-mining is, howe\-er, threatened with a special war tax Iiy the South -1frican Union. ~~
T H E CANADIAN CHEMICAL MARKET According to Cizr,niisrhr Indzistvie, 38 ( r g r j ) , 74, prohibition of the exportation of chemicals from I2ngland combined with the stoppage of German exports has made Canada dependent almost entirely on -1merican chemical products. Among those chemicals which are cspecially sought for in Canada are carbolic, salicylic, oxalic, citric and tartaric acids, camphor, cocaine, morphine, codeine, glycerine, hydroquinone. menthol, vegetable oils, potassium permanganate, sodium benzoate and salicylate, and santonine. The prices of these articles have reached from 2 0 0 to 900 per cent of their normal values. MONOPOLY FOR NITROGEN PRODUCTS IN GERMANY The German Government has introduced a measure of great importance to the chemical industry--vi,-., a proposal for the establishment of a trade monopoly for various nitrogen products, to remain in !'orce until LIarch 31, 1922 [Engini.eTi.izg,99 t 191.51. l j j ! .After that date the Act can be prolonged by fresh legislation. The measure is described as having been due to the present. emergency, and comprises : (a)Inorganic minerals containing nitrogen; ( h i nitrogen products manufacturcd synthetically, as well as natural products; (c) manures, containing nitrogen, coming under ( u ) and ( b ) . The monopoly will affect the different kinds of saltpeter, nitride of sodium, ammonium products, guanidine, nitric acid, etc. I t will affect both the h-drwegian and the Swedish industries within that 1)ranch. which have a market of some importance in Germany. TIN MINING I N SIAM A feature uf the tin mining industry which centers around the Straits is the increased production obtained from Siamese [hfining Journal, 4157 (1915)] KIalaya and siam itself. Nowhere has t h r tin dredging industry had so much success, and the scale or operations a t the present time is the most extensive anywhere. For the last financial year, 1913-1914, eight dredges ivere a t work, which produced black tin yielding 1,800 tons of metal from 4,70o,ooo yards of gravel treated. This number has been added to since, and there are now thirteen dredges a t work and more under construction. Apart from the dredging industry the output of metal would probably show a declining tendency. The output for the last four years in metal is as follows:
j
19 10- 19 1 I912-l~)l~
. ,
,
.
.
4.900 tons h,hOO tons
1911-1912.. 1913-1914..
. . , . , . . . . . 5,900 t o n s . . . . . . , . . , 6,800 t o n s
D. G. X~TERSON
CHINA CLAY IN ENGLAND The present state of the China clay trade in Cornwall is, according to the Paper Makers' Journal, S o . 3 ( I ~ I S ) ,exceedingly quiet. Comparatively little business is being done in any grade Many of the China clay works are shut down entirely, and others are wnrking short time
'
('3I
The demand for China clay from America has fallen off considerably, and the scarcity of shipping, combined with high freights and insurance, is proving very detrimental to the home trade. The industry on the whole is badly hit, and most of the works a t present working are engaged in development work. Stocks are accumulating 'and in many cases the drys are closed. -A. -__ ENAMELLED WIRE During the past few months enamelled wire has obtained a very great popularity for very many purposes, and considerable success has been achieved in its manufacture by way of eliminating the early defects which manifested themselves. Even now, however, there are complaints that for certain purposes difficulties arise owing to the apparent inability to coat the wires absolutely evenly with the enamel in the enamel bath. The particular complaint which has just come under notice [Mechanical World, 1475 ( I ~ I S ) has ] reference to the use of this wire for telephone purposes, especially in tropical countries, but it, is not altogether certain that the complaints may not be due to isolated instances rather than to there being a generally unsatisfactory result. That such wires are giving satisfaction is indicated by their use in the Post Office Telephone Department, where very stringent tests are imposed. The practice of the G. P. 0. is to insist that such wires shall be able t o withstand an electrical pressure of 1000volts after immersion in caustic soda, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and hydrochloric acid, for 48 hours, and potash for 3j minutes. I t is also a fact that more than one manufacturer of telephone apparatus in which enamelled wire is used is quite satisfied with the product he is obtaining; but manufacturers of this wire will probably welcome having their attention drawn to the fact that complaints are even now made. It is suggested that simple enamel insulation is not suitable for very fine-gauged wires, and it is more or less to these that such complaints as are made relate.-A. LIQUID FUEL FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES According to The Engineer, No. 3095 (191j), 408, one of the problems which will shortly have to be faced in a thorough manner by the chemists of Great Britain, is that of providing an alternative fuel for the class of engines that are now dependent for their operation on petrol and benzol. In 1 9 1 4 the world's output of crude oil amounted to 57 million tons and the highest possible yield of petrol from the whole quantity is placed by Professor Lewes a t I ,700,000,000 gallons, of Jyhich amount the United States, alone, last year used ~,zoo,ooo,ooogallons and Great Britain over zoo,ooo,ooo. The two fuels from which petrol is likely to receivc the chieE opposition in the future are, of course, benzol and alcohol. The yield of the former is, however, almost infinitesimal, and there is not much likelihood of any material increase in the production. Taken a t 1.8 gallons per ton of coal, the total amount, from the whole of the coal carbonized in Great Britain last year would be only 9,000,000 gallons. That the Germans had been alive t o the valuable properties of benzol is shown by the fact that nearly all the benzol produced in the coke ovens in England has been exported t o Germany, chiefly for use in the dyc industry. The Germans also commenced to replace all the old beehive w e n s by recovery ovens, free of cost, and took payment in benzol. Recognizing the necessity for economy in this class of fuel a t the present time, the Germans are now said to be employing fotmilitary transport purposes a mixture containing 80 per cent alcohol and 20 per cent benzol, to which is added 2 0 0 grains 01 naphthalene. The last-named ingredient is first dissolved in the benzol, which, in turn, is mixed with the alcohol and, according to Professor Lewes, the resulting mixture gives five-sixth\ of the power of petrol. L7nfortunately, much of the benzol nou-
63 2
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
on the market, and especially that produced by gasworks, has a n injurious effect upon the engine, owing largely to the presence in it of sulfuric acid. One of the leading motor car manufacturing firms has taken the pains to investigate the effects of poor quality benzol upon lubricating oil and has found that when sulfuric acid is present in the benzol a semi-solid deposit is formed in the crank case, due to the leakage of benzol past the pistons. This deposit consists of carbon and sulfuric acid and the acid rusts the valves and stems. The best remedies for this state of things are more thorough washing of the spiiit or, failing this, the mixing of the benzol with petrol in the proportion of 65 per cent benzol and 35 per cent petrol, the alkaline ingredients in the latter neutralizing the acid content of the benzol. Everything, however, points to alcohol as the fuel of the future. The thermal value of alcohol is only about one-half that of petrol or benzol, but whereas it is not advisable to use a higher compression pressure with the last-mentioned fue!s than about 80 lbs. per sq. in., with alcohol the compression may be raised to a pressure of zoo lbs. without fear of preignition, and the quantity of air required t o complete combustion is little more than one-half. Last year the Royal Automobile Club appointed a committee t o investigate and report on alcohol as a fuel. The report has not yet been published, but the most important problem which this body will have t o investigate is that of finding a suitable denaturant which will satisfy the excise authorities. If the efforts of this committee result in the abatement of the duty and some modification of existing restrictions on the manufacture of alcohol, capital will no doubt be readily found to provide factories for the production of the fuel in such quantities as will, a t any rate, serve t o prevent the further rise in price of petrol on which so much of the nation's welfare depends.--4.
BRITISH BOARD OF TRADE During the month of hfay the British Board of Trade have received enquiries from firms in the United Kingdom and abroad regarding sources of supply for the following articles : Aluminum ware Artificial horse hair Belts and belting Celluloid boxes Slip lid zinc tins Camel hair brushes Bronze powder Celluloid buttons Case-hardening compositions Cellulose extract Acetate of lead Aniline oil Antimony oxide Chloride of magnesite Cresol Phthalimide Red phosphorus ' Salicylate of soda Salicylic acid Zinc oxide Collapsible tubes Lactometers Bismuth subnitrate Caffein-sodium benzoate Guaiacol Phenyl salicylate Sodium bromide Fustic extract Logwood extract Carbon for arc lamps Porcelain insulators Brown ware Lanoline Galalith substitute Gelatine Lithopone Locks for tin trunks Mirrors Olive oil soap Barytes Crude antimony ore Sacks Preserved egg preparation Tanning materials Springs (spiral steel) Steel thimbles
Bimetallic strips for use a s compensating devices in recording thermometers, In brass and 36 per cent nickel steel or similar combinations Black-lead pencils (cheap) Metal ink bottles for covering with leather Nickel ink bottles for attache cases White glass bottles. t o take scrp '7 cs Brass-headed chair nails Carnauba wax ( f a t t y gray quality I I .I::IJS) Celluloid device for holding papers sLtaight, for use with typewriting machines Cast iron cylinders for carbolic acid Celluloid in solid rods and tubes Butyric acid, 90 per cent Epsom salts (B. P . and commercial) Sodium nitrate (refined) Xylene ( 0 , m, and 9) Enamelled iron clock dials Vulcanized hair combs Pressed bone dominoes Glue, d r y , for boot and shoe trade Filtering pulp as used in breweries Opal shades for electric lights Leather and imitation leather Machinery f o r making leather cloth Machinery for molding celluloid into rings and .....hooks ..... 3Iachinery for printing pottery transiers Skeining machines ior splitting rod; Machine for wire stitching Malacca canes (about 15 feet long) for use as drain rods in conduit ivork Metal foil-Brass foil and Dutch metal foil Metal tubes, seamless, in very fine gauges for making hypodermic needles Paper-cigarette paper, and paper for pottery transfers Steel sheets coated with brass, copper and nickel Spent animal charcoal Thermometers (clinical a n d dairy) Typewriting supplies (ribbons, etc.) Waste liquors from wood paste Vegetable ivory in tubes Vulcanite beads Tungsten powder
Firms who may be in a position to supply any of the above articles are asked to communicate with the Director of the
Vol. 7 , No. 7
Commercial Intelligence Branch, Board of Trade, 73 Basinghall Street, London, E. C.-A.
IRON PRODUCTION OF THE U. S.-MAY, I915 The total pig-iron output of the United States in May was 2,263,470 tons, or 73,OIj tons a day, against 2,116,494 tons in April, or 70,jjO tons a day. With 2 0 j furnaces in blast June rst, or ten more than on May Ist, the active capacity was 74,343 tons, against 71,385 tons one month previous. Pig-iron production is now a t the rate of 27,400,ooo tons a year. On April 1st it w-as a t 26,000,000 tons, and on January 1st a t 18,000,boo tons a year. Comparison of last month's i-on output with previous months of the past three years (figures here representing gross tons) is as follows, according to the Iron Age: 1915 May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,263,470 April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,116,494 M a r c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,063,834 February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 , 6 7 4 , 7 7 1 January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,601,421 1914 December. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,515,752 November. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 , 5 1 8 , 3 1 6 October. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,778,186 September. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 , 8 8 2 , 5 7 7 .4ugust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,995,261 July. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,957,645 June. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,917,783
1914 2,092,686 2,269,995 2,347.867 1,888,670 1,885,054 1913 1,983,607 2,283,603 2,546,261 2,505,927 2,545,763 2,628,565 2,560,646
1913 2,822,217 2,752,761 2,763 563 2,586,337 2,795,331 1912 2,782,737 2,689,933 2,630,854 ~
2,463,839 2 , 5 1 2 , 4 31 2,410,889 2,440,745
OUTPUT OF PORTLAND CEMENT IN U. S.-IgI5 The output cf Portland cement last year, according to the ATew York Eueizing Post, totaled 88,230,170 barrels, valued at $81,789,368 This was a decrease in quantity of 3,866,961 barrels, and a decrease in value of $10,768,249, compared with 1913. Pennsylvania and Indiana held first and second places, respectively, as producing States.
U. S. TRADE IN APRIL The following table from the monthly report of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Department of Commerce, shows a gain in trade in all classes of merchandise. EXPORTS,APRIL 1915 Crude m a t e r i a l . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 44,355,870 Foodstuffs, c r u d e . . . . . . . . . . 59,414,365 Fcodstuffs partly prepared. 46,618,860 38,451.,343 Partly m a n u f a c t u r e d . .. . . . Manufactures. complete.. . 90,503,475 9,693,543 Miscellaneous.. . . . . . . . . . . . Total domestic.. . . . . . . . . . . $289,037,456 Foreign e x p . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,708,661 TOTAL EXPORTS., . , , ., . $294,746,117 IMPORTS,APRIL Crude m a t e r i a l . . . . . . . . . . . . 61.714.060
Miscellaneous., . . . . . . . . . . .
1914 1913 $ 37,627,006 $ 47,556,871 6,328,730 13,209,610 19,590,417 26,178,111 31,844,607 37,044,590 62,557,755 70,664,000 1,021,188 1,580.524 5158,969,703 6196,233,706 3,582,867 3,579,732 $162,552,570 $199,813,438
S 65.8(
1.367,70(
TOTAL IMPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . S160,576,106 $173,762,114
$146,194,461
TAR DEHYbRATION AND TOLUOL RECOVERY The question of the dehydration of tar has lately attracted considerable attention in England, since prepared tar is being generally adopted for road construction and the light oils driven off in the process of dehydration contain all the toluol and phenol originally in the tar, products now in urgent demand for the manufacture of explosives. One ton of average crude gas-works tar yields, when dehydrated, 160 gallons of prepared tar, 30 gallons of light oils, and I O gallons of ammoniacal liquor. An average sample of zoo cc. of the such light oil, washed with caustic soda, gave 18 per cent of tar acids; on fractionating the washed oil, the following results were obtained: Temp. Per cent product Benzol Up t o 100" C. 35 100O t o 120' C. 1 0 . 5 Toluol
Temp. Per cent product Solvent naphtha 120' t o 125O C. 28 Residue 40.5 Creosote
The oil also contained 6 per cent of very good pyridine. The quantities of fuel required per ton of tar distilled are with plants actually a t work, 67 lbs. of breeze or 450 cu. ft. of gas of goo B, T.U. [ J . Gas Lighting, 130 (1915), 3301.
