Mar., 1912
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y .
fore undertaking co-operative work, we worked on samples of Muriate, Sulfate and Kainit. Our results clearly show t h a t when impurities exist in sulfate there is a decided loss by using the official method for mixed fertilizer, this loss being 0 . 9 4 per cent. This sample of sulfate tests 48.12-48.154 8 . 2 0 potash b y Official Method for Potash salts. On the muriate which tested 5 2 per cent. there was very little loss. On the kainit scarcely any loss Mr. Baker, in commenting, says the following: “ T h e ignitions were made very carefully, and I a m certain t h a t the lower results were not due t o loss in burning. I note that the sulfate gave a precipitate with ammonia b u t none with ammonium oxalate. The muriate gave no precipitate with ammonia, but quite heavy precipitate with ammonium oxalate. Kainit-precipitate with ammonia, none with ammonium oxalate. “The sulfate did not behave properly with the Official Method. There were apparently impurities in the precipitate, and for this reason I believe the lower result t o be more accurate. “I did not note any particular differences in the precipitates of the muriate and kainit. The variation for the muriate is not much, and for the kainit practically none. I may say, however, t h a t in the past I have, upon other samples, obtained much greater differences. I think the indication is t h a t the use of ammonia and ammonium oxalate will produce more accurate results, b u t in order t o draw definite conclusions, it would seem to me t h a t more work should be done along this line.” Mr. Porter remarks: “ I regret t h a t we have not been able to do more work on this subject t o report a t this time. It has been our experience t h a t some muriates check by the two methods while others show more than two per cent. difference.” The same has been my experience. I n view of these facts i t seems t o the committee best to recommend further work and an effort be made t o have these facts recognized as it is a serious problem for the’manufacturer t o buy potash on one test and suffer such a loss when tested for in mixed goods. J. E. BRECKENRIDGE, Chairman.
COMMITTEE ON PHOSPHATE ROCK. FERTILIZER DIVISION.’
Work is being done on the molybdate method and the acetate method in the sub-committee on iron and alumina. I t is proposed, also, t o continue work on the determination of moisture and of total phosphoric acid and t o describe the procedure for these determinations very carefully. A recent letter from the Bureau of Standards states t h a t on account of press of other work, they have been obliged t o postpone further work on the sample of phosphate rock they were analyzing for the committee, b u t will return to i t as soon as possible.
Your committee desires, a t this time, merely t o report progress and ask to be continued. I t has seemed best not t o call for co-operative work until improvements in methods now under consideration have been brought into such shape t h a t the committee can confidently recommend them. ALFREDM. PETER,Chairman.
COMMITTEE ON NITROGEN. FERTILIZER DIVISION.’
Preliminary results of co-operative work on t h e analysis of a small sample of commercial nitrate of soda were reported a t the summer meeting a t Indianapolis, and this report was published in THISJ O U R N A L for October, 1911. In the meantime the committee has undertaken the preparation and standardization of a larger sample of commercial nitrate of soda. This sample is now ready t o be sent out, and it is expected that the results of co-operative work on this sample will be presented a t the coming summer meeting. PAULRUDNICK, Chairman.
COMMITTEE ON STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS AND METHODS OF ANALYSIS. INDUSTRIAL DIVISION.’
The Committee on Standard Specifications submits the following report of its work since the last meeting of the Society in Indianapolis, June, 1911. At t h a t time a report was submitted covering the progress of the nine sub-committees in charge of the preparation of specifications of the various materials under consideration. The sub-committees on Bleach and Solder had completed their work temporarily and submitted specifications which were embodied in the form recommended by your committee and presented in our report as Provisional Speci fications. The specifications for bleach have not been criticized b y the members of the Society during the period since the last meeting and we now believe t h a t they should be submitted to a number of the larger manufacturers for their criticism, after which we would recommend t h a t some action be taken b y the Division in regard t o them. The specifications for solder have been criticized and we have referred these criticisms back to the sub-committee. The sub-committee on Soda Ash have submitted data which will enable us t o prepare specifications for the two grades most commonly used. The sub-committee on Turpentine have considered the subject assigned t o them in a most creditable manner and have accumulated considerable data. More or less opposition t o specifications was encountered in the case of gum turpentine from the largest producers and sellers, but such a condition is in nowise different from t h a t met with in the case of many other products where the producer does not desire
Presented at the forty-fifth meeting A. C. S., Washington, December, 1911.
225
Presented at the forty-fifth meeting A C. S.. Washington, December, 1911.
