Events during the k h i ~ t h of , Interest t o Chemists, @hemicall Engineers, Exeaxntives
7 NOVEMBER 1. ACS Nuclear Energy Exhibit, designed by the Editors of Zndustrial and Engineering Chemistrq and Chemical and Engineering News, sails for Paris for showing in connection with 0. Lawrence, director Radiation UNESCO month.--Ernest Laboratory, University of California, announces completion of world’s most powerful atom smasher, a 184-inch cyclotron. 7 NOVEMBER 4. U. S. and Chinese Government of Chiang-KaiShek sign extensive five-year treaty of “friendship, commerce, and navigation”.--Commerce Department warns American business to study German technical discoveries as peace treaty may end access thereto. “George Field, plant manager, says B. F. Goodrich will close its GR-S synthetic rubber plant in Louisville Dec. 311. --Dow Chemical announces production of new synthetic rubber derivative, latex 5 1 2 . ~ - W a r and Navy Secretaries name six-man military liaison committee to work with Atomic Energy Commission. f NOVEMBER 5. U. S. Public Health Service joins Monsanto Chemical in research program to determine effect of nuclear radiation upon living cellsz.--Department of Agriculture opens &mi-works plant a t Northern Regional Research Laboratory, Peoria, Ill., for production of synthetic liquid motor fuels from corncobs and other farm whstes. --Civilian Production Administration rescinds priorities for alkalies including soda ash4. NOVEMBER 7. Plastics output doubles that of 1941, Frank H. Carman, general manager Plastic Materials Manufacturers Association, tells Midwest Chapter, Society of Plastics Industry, a t French Lick, 1nd.w-E. B. Newton, of B. F. Goodrich’s research laboratories a t Akron, announces that company has developed a t Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, a moving belt process by which,crude rubber latex and coagulants can be fed to a continuous sheeting battery cutfing former 12-hour drying time to 3 minutes.--Navy Department, University of Michigan, and Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins jointly announce a 300,000,000-volt synchroton is being constructed to explore the subnuclear field.--Seven American scientists and five groups, including the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine and the Northern Regional Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, whose researches into medical problems have improved the health and increased life expectancy of millions, win first annual Lasker Awards of American Public Health Association. 7 NOVEMBER8. Vincent du Vigneaud, Cornell University Medical College, assisted by four chemists, synthesizes penicillin after five years of intensive research6.--Willard H. DOW,president Dow Chemical, decries science for profit motive only in address before American Section, Society of Chemical Industry, in accepting Chemical Industry Medal for conspicuous service to applied chemistrye. Chem. E n g . News, 24. 3064 (Nov. 25, 1946). 2 I b i d . , 3060 (Nov. 25, 1946). a I b i d . , 2928 (Nov. 10, 1946). 4 I b i d . , 3072 (Nov. 25, 1946). 6 Ibid., 2920 (Nov. 10, 1946). 0 I b i d . , 3030 (Nov. 25, 1946). 1
B NOVEMBER 9. U. s. gives formal notice it intends to negotiate simultaneously next spring reciprocal trade agreements with 18 key trading nations.--War Department announces plans for a $20,000,000 Nuclear Research Laboratory at GE’s Schenectady, N. Y., plant for development of atomic power for industrial purposes’.--J. R. Steelman, director of reconstruction, says purchase of natural rubber by U. S. will be continued.
f NOVEMBER 10. Cook Research Laboratories, Chicago, announce new stray current control system said to prevent damage in underground pipe installations.
7 NOVEMBER 11. George B. Kistiakowsky, Abbott and James Lawrence Professor of Chemistry, Harvard University, wins William H. Nichols Medal of N. Y. Section, ACS, for “outstanding contributions in the fields of reaction kinetics, spectroscopy of polyatomic molecules, and heat effectsin organic reactions”8. Odd Dahl, Norwegian scientist, predicts Norway will send an expedition to Spitzbergen in the Arctic to search for umnium dep0sits.N-American Military Government announces fourpower agreement to prevent non-German purchasers from scquiring controlling interests in former I. G. Farben chemical trust, N-
NOVEMBER 12. GE announces its seven patents on the 100,000,000-volt betatron are free to nonprofit organizations.-N Merck and Co. construct $1,500,000 plant at Elkton, Va., to make vitamin Ba. --NCPA approves application of Celanese Corp. to construct new $39,000,000 rayon yarn plant at Rock Hill, S. C.
7 NOVEMBER 13. UN Atomic Energy Commission votes 10 to 0, Russia and Poland silent, to choose by end of year between U. S. and Russian control plans.--GE announces creation of first man-made snowflakes in its research laboratory by Vincent J. Schaefer.“Frank G. Bondreau, chairman Pood and Nutrition Board, National Research Council, a t symposium on nutrition says wartime “mistake” of depleting scientific and research staffs of universities has created shortage of trained men which must be corrected if nation is to keep up in progress of science.--Board of Directors, American Petroleum Institute, rejects resolution proposed by Harry Sinclair, president Sinclair Oil Corp., asking for Senate rejection of proposed Anglo-American oil treaty.“ Chemicals Section CPA recommends that several wartime controls over chemicals and drugs be abandoned immediately. Office of International Trade announces completion of new plant for manufacture of sulfa drugs, which should meet all of Australia’s requirements.--T. G. Graham, vice president B. F. Goodrich, tells API convention there must be unrestricted competition between natural and American-made rubber to determine preference for former on a price and quality basis.
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f NOVEMBER 14. James B. Sumner, Cornel1 University, and Wendell M. Stanley and John H. Northrop, of Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, Princeton, N. J., win 1946 Nobel 7 8
1323
Ibzd., 3058 (Nov. 25, 1946). Ibid., 2881 (Nov. 10, 1946)
1324
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Prizes in Chemistryg.--Directors U. S. Gypsum Go. authorize construction of large gypsum plant at Sigard, Utah. --IT. .Ilbert Koyes, Jr., president-elect ACS, is named adviser to U. S. delegation for first session of USESCO opening in Paris S o v . 1910.w-Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce says Montecatini, one of Italy’s leading industrial firms, has restored 110 of its 156 plants.--J. Howard Pew, president Sun Oil, urges oil industry to reject pending Anglo-American oil agreement as an instrument of “collectivist” restraint on American petroleum producers.---4lexandre Parodi becomes chairman of E X Atomic Energy Commission and head of agency’s committee on controls.--Department of Justice gives clearance to lease of Lake Charles synthetic ammonia plant to Mathieson Alkali.
KOVEMBER 15. CPB relaxes further control of rubber and allows use of additional amounts of natural product in long list of goods.N-CPA approves $1,429,000 power plant extensio:i and research and processing institute at Rahway, X , J., for Merck 2s Co.’s organic research and microbiological research staffs. B. F. Goodrich Chemical Go. announces commercial production of new agricultural chemical to seal out’ insects and fungus . g r o ~ ~ t h s . ~ ~ M i cGuisov, h a e l chief Amtorg Trading Corp., returns to Russia to resign in shake-up of huge Soviet trade agency.
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SOVEZIBER 17. Einstein tells Emergency Committee of -Atomic Scientists meeting a t Princeton atomic bombs can be made cheaply ‘and in large number and will become more destructive. Committee issues appeal for public subscription of $1,000,000 to finance nationwide educational campaign on social implications of atomic energy.
7 XOVEMBER ‘18. Members of Atomic Energy Commission, headed by David E. Lilienthal, inspect University of California’s 4000-ton cyclotron and other atom-smashing devices.-Glenn ,T. Seaborg, University of California, delivering second tinnual Harrison E. Howe Lect,ure before Rochester Section, AiCS,announces isolation in pure form of americium, one of four new- elements discovered in production of atomic energy, and says it marks a ne-’ milestone in revolutionary advance of nuclear chemistry. 7 XOVEMBER 19. CPA announces termination of government purchase of foreign copper.N-TT’ar iissets Administrator R. M. Littlejohn says he has rejected all 16 bids to purchase the Big Inch and Little Big Inch pipelines.-NM. W. Kellogg Co. officials announce successful commercial development of n e r cold fractionation process for refining linseed and other industrial and edible oils; refiners contract for five plants to be built at cost of over $250,000 each to use new process.--Industry Advisory Board recommends relaxation of controls on distribution of streptomycin.-NCongress of Industrial Organizations meeting in Atlantic City receives foreign policy resolution submitted with approval of resolutions committee calling for end of stockpiling of atomic bombs. 5 XOVEMBER 21. D u Pont announces plans for construction of new titanium dioxide manufacturing unit at Edgemoor, Del. ---B. R. Armour, chairman board of American Potash and Chemical Corp., announces construction of new plant at Trona, Calif., for production of 60,000 tons soda ash and 30,000 tons refined borax annually.N-R.laj. Gen. Leslie R. Groves, chief Manhattan Project, releases progress report showing research work in conversion of atomic energy to peacetime uses is pinned t o power systems.
7 KOVEYBER 22. Groves says Manhattan Project has awarded two prime contracts to Mon,santo and GE for power development at Oak Ridge, T e n n . - ~ \ \ ~ . S. Carpenter, Jr., president Du Pont, opens company’s new technical service laboratory for 9
lo
Ibid., 3132 (Nov. 25, 1946). I b i d . , 3017 (Nov. 25. 1946).
Vol. 38, No 12
midwestern rubber manufacturers at Akr0n.W-R. C. Elderfield, Columbia University, report’s new drug pentaquin, claimed to have greater curative powers than any other known antimalarial. --UX Atomic Energy Commission’s Committee 22 starts work on U. S.draft on “types of operational safeguards”.
7 SOVEMBER 23. Army and military government sources reveal U. S. offers citizenship, if they prove fit, to about 300 German scientists and technicians brought here to work.
7 SOVEMBER 24. Department of Commerce says exchange of copies of patents rvith foreign countries is being resumed.-Marston T. Bogert, president International Union of Chemistry, says concerted action of 21 nations is reviving it on larger and more inclusive basis. --Sational -4ssociation of Manufacturers in report brands cartels and intergovernmental commodity agreements as instruments of “monopolistic exploitation” of the consumer for the “sole benefit” of the producer and urges U. S. to take lead in ending cartels. 7 KOVEMBER 25. R. R. Killiams, director of research, Research Corp. of K. Y., wins 1946 Perkin Medal of American Section Society of Chemical Industry for fundamental research on thiamin.--U. S. Department of Agriculture announces successful commercial application of its process for making bristles from cssein in the opening of a factory at Salisbury, Md., by Rubbcrset Co. of Sewark. 7 SOVEMBER 26. Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov at. a UN committee session suggests all nations list their supplies of atom bombs.--Office of International Trade extends consolidated license procedure requiring single application to a number of chemicals exported to group K countries.--B. R. Armour announces American Potash and Chemical Corp. viill enter finished chemicals field.
7 SOWXIBER 28. Molotov offers U l i inspection plan outlawing atomic bomb and proposes commission to see that there is complrance with any future ban on use of bombs.--P. E. Foster, manager, says Shell Oil will begin immediate construction of ~10,000,000refinery a t Houston.--Pittsburgh Section, ACS, selects William P. Yant as recipient of 1946 Pittsburgh Award because of his researches in safety and hcalth. 5 KOVEMBER 29. hlerck & Co. announces establishment of 8100,000 fund with the Xational Academy of Sciences for fellowships in natural sciences to help young scientists of marked ability for research in chemical and biological sciences.-Andrei Y. Slshinsky, Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister; tells Political and Security Committee of General Assembly general disarmament must start JTith world-wide ban on manufacture of atomic bomb. --Registrar of Statistics of Malayan Union says rubber pggduct,ionmounts in Malaya.--International rubber study group estimates 1946 production of rubber, both synthetic and natural, \vi11 be 100,000 tons greater than needs. --War Department announces aivard of contract for construction near Dayton, Ohio, by Monsanto Chemical on army’s atomic energy project. f YOVEMBER 30. British representative, Sir Hartley Shawcross, tells Political and Security Committee of General Assembly Britain will not give any country a veto “over the way regulation, controI or inspection should be carried out”. --Senator Tom Connally, U. S.Representative, introduces U. S. disarmament plan apparently intended to postpone final debate on veto question.--University of Wisconsin receives $125,000 from Navy Bureau of Ordnance to study chemical combustion in jetpropelled engines. --Arthur S. Flemming, member U. s. Civil Service Commission, says Government has liberalized its civil scrvicc procedure in order to procure best scientists.
