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NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE
1
The Detection of Phenols in Water Edstor of T h e Journal of Industrial and Engineering Cheitvistry By reason of familiarity and former connection with
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certain trade waste investigations relating to water SUPplies in Western Pennsylvania, the writer takes the liberty of offering a correction to the above paper by Mr. R. D. 13 (1921), 422. Scott in the Nay issue of THIS JOURNAL, Credit for the adaptation o€ the Folin-Denis reagent (phosphotungstic, phosphomolybdic acid) to water examination belongs to Mr. E. P. Fager who, prior to January 1920, was chemist in charge of the filtration plant of the South Pittsburgh Water Conipany, Pittsburgh, Pa. During the esrly part of 1919 some water supplies on the lower Moiioiigahela River, particularly the McKeesport and South Pittsburgh lJlants, experienced considerable complaint on account of disagreeable taste and odor due to phenol wastes from chemical plants upstream. Following the South Pittsburgh experience Rlr. Fager was assigned the problem of detecting and identifying this class of waste and succeeded in developing several methods suitable for the purpose, of which the Folin-Denis adaptation seemed the most promising. In the winter of 1919 to 1920 practical application of the method was made in studying the trade waste problems of the New Castle works, which are under the same management ; namely, The American Water Works & Electric Company of New York. I n the New Cilstle studies the direct colorimetric method was improved by the distillation method to avoid interference due to other impurities. I n tracing what is believed to be the first use of the Folin-Denis test for phenols in water supplies, the writer i n nowise disparages the subsequent excellent work done by Mr. Trowbridge at the New Castle works. So f a r as the writer is aware, this is the only w a t e m o l k s in the country where a n effort has been made systematically to record quantitatively the phenols present in a public water supply, the toleration by consumers after chlorination, and the reductions feasible with a rapid sand filter plant. The w i t c r is cognizant of the painstaking investigations a t Milwaukee in correlating the phenol pollution with the occurrence of taste and odors in the water s u l ~ p l y and mishes to acknowledge the great value to the waterworks fraternity, and chemical industries as well, of the published conclusions (Eng. K e m - R e c o l d , 82 E l ; 84, l l 5 5 ) , first calling attention to the aggravated effects of this class of wastes in chlorinated supplies. Mr. Scott is somewhat inaccurate in stating that the detectioii oi phenols in water/ rests upon the Folin-Denis test. It is nearer the truth to state that the method is probably the most convenient of several methods available, especially for field work. As a matter of fact, the literature shows many more interfering substances than those mentioned by the author. I n any careful investigation of phenols in a water supply, proper precautions should be taken to establish the specificity for the local problem, and should preferably include differentia of the rerg large group of phenolic compounds liable to occur as
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jrt~llntingsubstances. With proper precautions, and using the distillation method, it may be said that the Folin. Denis test gives the water analyst a method which closely approximates the free and albuminoid ammonia determinations in sensitiveness. WELLINGTON DOXALDSON FULLBR & MCCLINTOCX 170 BBO.4DWAY, N c V Y O R K , June 11, 1921
s.Y . . ..
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Editor of The Journal of Intlusti%rcl nnd. E n g h e e r i w Chemistry : Reference was made by Mr. Scott in his article to my experiments at the filtration plant i n New Castle, Pa., on the detection of phenols in water, without a knowledge of the extent or the facts concerning the work that has been done by 311.. Donaldson, Mi.. E. P. Fager, and myself. Mr. 3on:ddson is correct i n stating that credit for the adaptation of the Folin-Denis reagent to water examination belongs to Mi-. E. P. B‘nger. TT’hen RIr. F;iger was in charge of the filtration plant of South Pjttsburgh Water Company, I had access to the results of his esperinlents aiid later used them, in connection with in) iiivestigation at New Castle, Pa. I appreci:ite t h e value of the application of the phosphotung5lic yhosphomolybdic acid reagent for the detection of minute cpianrjtjes of phenol wastes in water, and I shall be very grateful if’ Nr. Donaldson’s correction is published. Mr Scott has pointed out that the reagent is not specific for phenols and has named some of the substances which may effect the determination. I n our work, we were entirely fdinilirir TI ith the Iimil ations of the test. CHARLES
E. T R O W B R I D G E
AMIWXCAN WATDRWORKS & ELBCTRK Co , Ixc 60 BROAD S T ,NBN YORK,N Y June 18, 1921
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H d i t o r of T h e J o u r n a l of Iiadustriat aird Enyiiaeeriiag Chemistry : I a111 grrctetul for the correction which Mr. Donaldson offers, f o r it appears from his comment that Mr. E. P. Pager, rnther t h n Mr. Trowbridge, first applied the FolinDenis test for ~Jieiiolsin water examination. Although it appewrs further in Mr. Fager’s study that “ the direct coloriinetric method was improved by the distillation method to avoid interference due to othw impurities,” it would seem that this modification vias not einploged by Mr. Trowbridge at New Cmtle since no mention was made hi a personal cominuiiication from hiin of any method other than the direct colorimetric. The distillation method was adopted by us solely on the basis of our own experience. With respect to the implication of inaccuracy in the writer’s statement that the detection of phenols in water rests upon the Folin-Denis test, it would perhaps be well to emphasize again the fact that the detection of traces of phenol cannot be accomplished satisfactorily by any of the other methods described in the literature, for after careful trial of these it was found that none except the FolinIlenis was reliable i n detecting amounts of one part per million or less. Amounts higher than this would rarely
T H E J O U R N A L O F I-VDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHE;1IISTRY
Sept., 1921
be found in a public \!:iter supply. I n this coniiectioli it is interesting to note t h a t in the work a t Milwaukee, to which Mr, Doiiddson refers, the phenol determination did not rest upon a definite quantitative chemical tcst but upoil the chemist‘s sense of taste and smell after chlorinating x n r ? t P i ’ quspected of containing ~ihenols. One of the prime factors promoting the study of this problem and influencing u s in publishing our results was the fact that the chcmist who had charge of the i?Iilmaulree studies encomtered similar conditions a t Cleveland aiid was a t d loss for a definite method for determining phenols in water. It was deemed inadvisable to include in the oi.igina1 article a discussion of this and similar points, since a n attempt \vas made to outline briefly only the essential points in connection with the test from the laboratory standpoint. For this reaSon also a detailed djscuspion of the various substances which respond to the F‘oliii Denis test was not presented. In our opinion it mould be a somewhat hopeless task to attempt, a s suggested by Mr. Donaldson, any differentiation of the large group of phenolic compounds likely to be found iii waters. It would be much more promising to make :I study of the wastes from individual establishments before such materials enter a water supply. This, of course, is a subject not considered in the article under discussion. R. D, SCOTT STATZI DBPARTXBXT OF HZIALTH COLUMBUB, OHIO July 5, 1921
Assignment of Patents Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engirteering Chemistru: The findings of fact and law in the action by Air Reduction Co., Inc., against Warren R. Walker, to which referwill perhaps ence is made in the July issue of the JOURNAL, leave your readers in doubt a s to the governing principle of the decision. The action was brought to compel assignment by Walker to the Company of an application for Letters Patent covering a n invention made jointly by Walker with Floycl J. Metzger and involves the right of the eniployer t o inventions made by an employee. This right has been the subject of numerous controversies aiid. in the absence of espress agreement, depends upon the character of the einyloyment. Walker‘s relation t o his employer in this case is stated i n tlie deciqioii of Mr. Justice Cropsey, from which the following is quoted : There was no express agreement making any inr7entfon of the defendant the property of tlie plaintiff, nor was there a c y express agreement t h a t the clefendact would assign to the plaintiff any patelit h e might obtain. But he was eniployed to give his time and scientific skill for the very purliose of trying to discover and invent some practical use for this gas. I n other words, he sold his inventive powers to the plaintiff during the period of his employment. Under these circumstances I think there is a n implied agreement t h a t the results of defendant’s work shall belong to plaintiff and t h a t any patent obtained by defendant should be assigned by him (Annin v, Wren, 44 Hun, 352; Connelly Jffg. Go. v. Wattles, 40 N. J. Eq., 92; Meissner v. Standard Railway Equipment Co., 190 S. W. Rep., 730; Supreme Court of Missouri; Dowse v. Federal Rubber Co., 254 Fed. Rep. 305; Famous Players-Lasky Cornoration Ewing, 194 Pac. lieu. k‘5. C x l . ) . S o case in this state holding t h e contrary 116s been brought to the Court’s attention. Clark Y. Fernoline Chemical ‘20. ( 5 Supl,., 190) decides only a question of pleading. I t s statements upon this subject a r e pureli obiter. There a r e deother jurisdictiolls which Seem to be at cisions rariance with those above cited (see American Circular 1 7 .
849
Loom Co. v. Wilson, 198 Mass., 1S2, 201 ; Dalzell v. Dueber JIfg. Go., 149 U. S., 315; Barber v. National Carbon Go., 129 Fed. Rep., 370; Pressed Steel Car Co. v. Hansen, 137 Fed. Rep., 403; I-iildreth 7’. D u b , 143 Fed. Rep., 139; Hapgood Y. Hewitt. 119 U. s.,226). Some of these cases may be distinguishable, b u t even if they Lie not, I believe the
sounder rule is set forth in the cases first cited. Hence the plaintiff is not entitled only to a shop right to use the patent, but is entitled t o orvn it ontrjght, and hence should have judgment against the defendant, with costs. It m a y also be o i interert t o note the langviage of Mr. Justice P r a t t in Sniiin r. nrren, 44 Hun. 332, which is R S follon~s: The special service of i m e n t i n g under special employment l o incent gives the master the servant’s inventions which result from t h a t service. (Simonds Xaiiual of I’qteiit Lam (Ed. 1583) pp. 202-204). This is also the principle of t h a t part of the decision of Burr v. DeLaVergne (102 N. Y. 415), which relates to t h e inrentions made by DeLaVergne alone. The same is true of Binney v. h n n a n ( 9 Am. Rep. 10; 107 Mass. 94). None of the patent cases a r e inconsistent with the priiiciples above indicated. Even in Hapgood v. Hewitt (11 Fed. Rep. 422), lately affirmed (110 Fed. Rep. 227), Judge Gresham excepts the case of a special eniployment to incent. The special service of inventing is the entire scope of the employment. There is no room left within the employment for inpenting on his own hook. The servant h a s no right to think o r invent for himself on this particular subject matter in hand. He must get out of such a relation before he can claim the product of his work under such an employment. H e cannot carry off both his salary and the only valuable product of his work under such a n employment, leaving his master with his useless models, the result of his uselessly spent money on tools, machinery, time, labor of self and employees with only a license or shop right, which is not assignable or useful in any way than to himself. The foregoing will serve to indicate quite clearly the relation of employer and employee with respect to inventions, where the employee is engaged in research or is employed for the purpose of making inventions. E. H. MERCHANT AIR REDUCTION C O INC. 342 3 f A D I S O T AVE.]’ K E W YORIC CITY
August 3, 1921
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A Study on the Oil Bromide Test of Linseed Oil This drawing was inadvertently omitted from its proper position in coiurnn 1, page 802, of this issue.
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A t t h e twelfth annual convention of the Flavoring Extract Manufacturers Association, the Resolutions Committee brought in a report declaring f o r a strict observance of all provisions in t h e prohibition amendment. This recommendation, together with a n agreement binding members of t h e association in a w a r against unscrupulous It extract manufacturers, was adopted unanimously. was also agreed that ‘the flavoring extract men shouId instruct the Research Committee t o continue its effoits t o find a substitute f o r alcohol. A t the executive session, the association pledged itsel€ to force certain manufact u r e r s who a r e not members of the association, and who a r e evading the Volstead law, out of the business.
