June, 1920
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 CHEMISTRY
WILLARD GIBBS MEDAL AWARD The tenth award of the Willard Gibbs Medal was made by the Chicago Section of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETYon Friday evening, May 21, 1920, to Dr. Frederick G. Cottrell, assistant director of the United States Bureau of Mines. In connection with the presentation of the medal, a reception and dinner were held, following which Dr. Willis R. Whitney presented the medal. The subject of the address of the evening, by Dr. Cottrell, was “International Scientific Relations.” CALENDAR OF MEETINGS International Conference of Pure and Applied ChemistryRome, Italy, June I j, 1920. National Fertilizer Association--n 7th Annual Convention, White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., week of June 21, 1920.
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American Society for Testing Materials-Annual Meeting, Asbury Park, N. J., June 2 2 to 2 5 , 1920. Forest Products Laboratory Decennial Celebration-Madison, Wis., July 2 2 and 2 3 , 1920. American Institute of Chemical Engineers-Semi-Annual Meeting, Montreal, June 28 and 29; Ottawa, June 30; Ontario, July I ; Shawinigan Falls, July 2 ; La Tuque, July 3 ; Chicoutimi, July 4; Quebec, July 5 , 1 9 2 0 . Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education-Annual Meeting, Ann Arbor, Mich., June 29 t o July 3, 1920. American Chemical Society-Sixtieth (Annual) Meeting, Chicago, Ill., September 7 to I O , 1920. Sixth National Exposition of Chemical Industries-Grand Central Palace, New York, N. Y . , September 20 to 2 5 , 1920.
NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE
THE BOOKPLATE OF DR. JOSEPH PRIESTLEY Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: In connection with the revival of interest in Joseph Priestley among American chemists, as shown by the appointment of a Priestley Memorial Committee by the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY and by the announcement of the removal of the Priestley House in hrorthumberland to the campus of the Penn State College, the following reference to the bookplate of the distinguished discoverer of oxygen may deserve a notice. I have seen no mention or reproduction of this plate in any of the biographies of Priestley.
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ceipts for working gold, silver, etc., and published in London in 1738. The plate was- engraved by Allen of Birmingham and represents a stream of water gushing through a spout from under a massive rock into a smooth glassy pool. A stone curb, overgrown with grass and flowers, surrounds the spring, on one side of which lies a cup for the convenience of the thirsty wayfarer. The moss-covered rock above the pool has carved upon it the name JOSEPH PRIESTLEY. For simplicity and charm the writer has seen no bookplate which surpasses this one. For a chemist who worked so much upon the composition of water, the theme of the engraving is most appropriate, while for those who have drawn inspiration from the life and works of Priestley, and who have watched the streams of progress which trace back t o his early efforts, the symbolism of a fountainhead has an added significance. “ A t once the fountain, stream and sea; They were-they are-they yet shall be
N s w YORKSUGAR TRADBLABORATORY, INC 80 SOUTH STREET, New York City
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c. A.
BROWNE
May 10, 1920
T W O LETTERS ON A NEW TYPE OF CONDENSER FOR
The original plate from which the accompanying photograph was made is in one of the books that formed a part of Priestley’s library which was pillaged during the Birmingham riots of July 1791. It will be remembered that Priestley, as a dissenting clergyman and sympathizer with the French revolution, had aroused the animosity of a fanatical mob which, over a thousand in number, burned Priestley’s church, plundered his house, destroyed the apparatus of his laboratory and scattered his books and manuscripts to the winds. Priestley and his family barely escaped with their lives. Some of the books in Priestley’s library were afterwards recovered, yet many valuable works were lost. Priestley in a letter1 written over a year later states that one of the most disagreeable circumstances attending the riot with respect to his recovered books was that the sets were almost all broken. The book which bears the plate has lately come into the writer’s possession from England and is entitled “The Laboratory or School of Arts,” a translation of a German collection of re1
Bolton’s “Scientific Correspondence of Joseph Priestley,” Letter No.
78, p. 130.
THE DETERMINATION OF CRUDE FIBER Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: In the March number of THIS JOURNAL, 12 (1920), 288, Mr. C. A. Clemens describes what is doubtless an efficient reflux condenser for use in determination of crude fiber. Referring to numerous previous condensers, he says, “The latest and best of these is the one designed by Howell D. Spears.”l I can all the more heartily agree with that statement for the reason that the condenser which Mr. Spears designed and described in 1919,I described in 1910,and designed and used some years previously.2 This is the language used in that description : Fig. I (accompanying illustration) shows the manner of digesting the fiber: A beaker 7 to 8 cm. in diameter, about 15 cm. deep, capacity 600 to 800 cc., covered by a round-bottom flask through which flows cold water. Any convenient number of such digesters may be connected in series by rubber tubes 25 t o 30 cc. long, and the water run through the series from first flask to last. There is no loss of digesting liquid by evaporation; and if the boiling is started and conducted slowly, no great trouble from foaming, since each digester may, without disturbing its neighbor, be lifted and swirled. There are, of course, minor differences between Spears’ device and mine-the main one being that the cooling water passes 1 THIS JOURNAL, 11 3
(1919), 140.
Ibid., 2 (1910), 280.
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into and out of my flasks through tubes in doubly perforated stoppers in the necks of the flasks; whereas his tubes are fused in. But I am bound to say-such is vanity-that if anyone will turn to THISJOURNAL, 8 (1916), 366, he will find a description of a crude fiber digestion plant which, while as efficient as others in preventing evaporation and checking frothing, is incomparably superior in durability, compactness, ease of operation and economy (in the long run) of construction. Round-bottom metal condensers take the place of flasks, rubber connections are entirely dispensed with, the cooling water does not pass from one condenser into another and finally into the drain, but through each condenser separately direct into the drain. The bottoms of these condensers need not, of course, be round; they might be flat or slightly convex and each provided with a half dozen, more or less, drip points. But since they are already efficient, why this additional complexity? J. M. PICKEL FEEDLABORATORY NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AQRICULTURE RALEIGH, N. C. March 17, 1920
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Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry:
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The first part of the criticism offered by Mr. Pickel t o the paper appearing in the March number of TEIS JOURNAL,12 ( ~ g z o ) ,288, deals mainly with a question of priority between Rowel1 D. Spears and himself. The points which seemed, a t least to us, of advantage over the condenser described by Howell D. Spears,’ and consequently over the condenser of Mr. Pickel, have already been pointed out. Undoubtedly the metal condenser which Mr. Pickel describes is very excellent and efficient. There are, however, advantages for both types. The copper-zinc condenser requires special plumbing and resolves itself into a more or less permanent fixture in the laboratory, for which many laboratories cannot afford to devote space. The glass condenser can be quickly and easily set up and taken down. The fact that the copper-zinc condenser, as long as i t does not come in contact with acid, is more durable than the glass apparatus is evident, but there is an opportunity for difference of opinion in regard t o Mr. Pickel’s statement that it is “incomparably superior” in compactness and ease of operation. Mr. Pickel speaks of “additional complexity,” when his metal condenser is as complex as the glass condenser, and is also incomplete in itself while the glass condenser is complete. FOOD AND DRUGLABORATORIES C. A. CLEMENS DAKOTA VERMILION, S. D. March 30, 1920
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supplemental equipment in mathematics, physics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, economics,and English needed to make its graduates fitted to hold positions of trust and responsibility. Applicants who can furnish certificate of graduation from a four-year day course in an American high school will be admitted without examination. All others will be examined in algebra, geometry, English and history on September 15 and 16, 1920. Personal and physical examination, t o be given September 23 and 24, will be required of all applicants. Preference will be given to those applicants having previous technical experience. The course will be under the direct supervision of the head of the department of chemistry of Cooper Union, Horace G. Byers. He will be aided in its development not only by the staff of the department and such additional instructors and lecturers as may be necessary, but also by Dr. Maximilian Toch, recently appointed Adjunct Professor of Applied Chemistry in Cooper Union. Applications for admission may be made in person a t the office of the Cooper Union or by mail up to September 13, 1920. A circular giving the ground covered by the examinations may be hap upon request. No tuition fees are charged by Cooper Union.
A NEW METHOD FOR THE’ DETERMINATION OF STJLFURIN OILS Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: Two days before the receipt of the May number of THIS JOURNAL, in which a paper with the above title appeared (pages 482 to 485), the author came across the description of an essentially identical method.1 Goetzl treats the oil, in a platinum crucible, with fuming nitric acid, evaporates off the excess, mixes the oily residue with soda and saltpeter, covers with more of these salts, and fuses directly over a burner without stirring. The subsequent procedure is as described in the May number. The method was used for fuel oils, kerosene, naphtha, coal, lignite, peat, etc. The method described in the May number is an adaptation of the modified Henriques procedure for the determination of sulfur in rubber, which has been in use a t the Bureau of Standards for several years. Goetzl’s method differs from i t in a few respects, one of which is believed t o be of importance-that is the evaporation of the nitric acid, which may cause loss of a nitro-compound which carries sulfur. The paper of Goetzl will be discussed in more detail in a future Technologic Paper of the Bureau of Standards. BUREAU O F STANDARDS C. E. WATERS WASHINGTON,
D.c.
May 6 , 1920
INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY AT COOPER UNION
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The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York City, has announced a new day course in Industrial Chemistry opening in October 1920. The course will cover a period of four years. During the college year I ~ Z O - Z I only first-year courses in General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis, Mathematics, Physics, and English will be given. It is intended that the instruction provided shall be eminently practical and thoroughly scientific and that i t will furnish adequate equipment for young men and women who desire employment as analysts, production foremen, research chemists, engineers, factory superintendents, purchasing agents, and in other phases of industry which call for persons with chemical training. At the same time the course will provide a proper foundation for original research and productive scholarship in industrial lines. The course in Industrial Chemistry as offered will include a fundamental training in general, analytical, organic and physical chemistry, as well as extensive acquaintance with technical industrial operations involving chemistry. It will also include 1
THISJOURNAL, 11 (19191, 140.
COLLOIDAL FUEL Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: Much t o my astonishment and chagrin, the New York Times on April 16, in printing a report regarding the St. Louis meeting of the AMERICANCHEMICALSOCIETY, attributed t o me the invention of the “colloidal fuel” described among other things in my paper on “Some Practical Applications of Colloid Chemistry.” The inventor is Mr. Lindon W. Bates, of New York, to whom I gave full credit in my paper. As soon as I saw this erroneous report, I immediately telegraphed the Times, pointing out the error and requesting prompt publication of the truth, and the correction was made in their issue of April 17. Since some of my fellow chemists may have read the first report without seeing the second, I would ask you t o do Mr. Bates and me the justice of publishing this letter. JEROME ALEXANDER RIDGEFIELD, CONN. April 19, 1920 1
Goetzl, Z.angew. Chem., 18 ( 1 9 0 5 ) ,
1528.
