geophysics, medicine, and astronomy. All are civilians and all have doctorates. Dr. Llewellyn, born in Cardiff, U.K., is a naturalized citizen of the U.S. H e earned his B.S. (1955) and Ph.D. (1958) in chemistry at University College, Cardiff. From 1958 through 1960 he was a research fellow for the National Research Council of Canada. Since 1960 he has been a member of the Florida State faculty, where his research interest is in atomic and molecular collision processes. Dr. Llewellyn says he joined the NASA program because it offers new and exciting research opportunities. H e expects to carry out a wide range of experiments, as NASA will be engaged in research projects on both the lunar surface and prolonged earth orbit programs. In September Dr. Llewellyn and the other scientist-astronauts will begin two weeks of orientation, followed by a program of academic or ground school training at the Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston. T h e ground school at MSC will include orbital mechanics, astronomy, computers, spacecraft orientation, general math and physics refresher courses, and field trips for contractor orientation. Dr. Llewellyn will begin Air Force flight training in March to become a qualified jet pilot, and will spend two years in astronaut training. Others in the new group are: • Dr. Joseph P. Allen, a physics research associate at the University of Washington. • Dr. Philip K. Chapman, a naturalized citizen born in Australia, presently a staff physicist at the Experimental Astronomy Laboratory, MIT. • Dr. Anthony W. England, graduate fellow in geophysics at MIT. • Dr. Karl G. Henize, professor of astronomy at Northwestern University and working in the Gemini program. • Dr. Donald L. Holmquest, completing intern requirements for his doctorate in physiology at Baylor College of Medicine. • Dr. William B. Lenoir, assistant professor of electrical engineering, MIT. • Dr. Franklin S. M us grave, postdoctoral fellow at the University of Kentucky with a doctorate in medicine from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Kentucky. • Dr. Brian T. O'Leary, doctorate in astronomy, presently in the NASA trainee program at Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California. • Dr. Robert A. Parker, assistant professor of astronomy, University of Wisconsin. • Dr. William E. Thornton, Aerospace Medical Division, Brooks AFB. 10
C&EN AUG. 14, 1967
NTA seems most promising as phosphate replacement Several companies are actively considering entry or expansion in the young but promising market for nitrilotriacetic acid ( N T A ) . N T A is currently the leading, if not altogether fault-free, substitute being developed to partially replace pollution-clouded polyphosphates in detergents (C&EN, April 17, page 1 9 ) . The largest NTA producer, H a m p shire Chemical, says it may now triple, instead of double, original capacity (about 20 million pounds per year) at its Nashua, N.H., NTA plant, and then may build additional capacity elsewhere. Other current N T A producers include D o w Chemical and Geigy. Capacity of Dow's N T A plant in Freeport, Tex., is less than 10 million pounds per year. Geigy has a 2 million pound-per-year N T A plant at Mcintosh, Ala. Nonproducer Monsanto says it is also interested in NTA. Other companies— Stauffer, for instance—have studied phosphate substitutes such as NTA for years and would consider entering the market if economics prove favorable. Interest in phosphate substitutes continues to grow after U.S. Interior Secretary Udall's request to detergent makers to lower phosphate content in their products gradually (C&EN, Aug. 7, page 16). Following general agreement at a Washington, D.C., conference by the detergent industry on development of minimum-phosphate detergents, Secretary Udall and industry representatives have set u p a joint task force to make recommendations on a cooperative government-industry program for research on lake eutrophication ( overfertilization ). Participating in setting u p the task force were executives from Procter & Gamble, Lever Bros., Purex, Colgate-Palmolive, and the Soap and Detergent Association. Further impetus for developing substitutes comes from the recurrent algae in drinking water in Buffalo, N.Y. This is another indication of the seriousness of phosphate-promoted algae growth in Lake Erie (C&EN, May 1, page 18). Hampshire (a division of W. R. Grace) says it may eventually reach a practical limit to its expansion at Nashua. Factors determining the possible ceiling, says Hampshire president John Singer, include availability of hydrogen cyanide, which H a m p shire obtains from Standard Oil Co. ( O h i o ) , and -the b u r d e n of freight charges on finished NTA. Monsanto's consideration of N T A touches on both favorable and apparently negative aspects of the mate-
Hampshire's Singer with plant model Practical limit at Nashua
rial as a detergent builder. NTA is a good séquestrant, the company says, and could have a place in formulating detergent systems. N T A appears to be able to control a certain spectrum of metal ions. Under m a n y circumstances, this N T A action is complementary to that of the polyphosphates. Therefore, Monsanto reasons, the combination of the two could do a better job than either one alone. However, Monsanto cautions there are problems associated with N T A as the sole builder. These would appear to limit the amount which can practically b e used. Solid formulations containing N T A tend to cake. NTA also does not h a v e the deflocculating and buffering properties of the polyphosphates. These properties are important in preventing redeposition of dirt particles on a fabric. Monsanto adds that long-range biodegradability and potential pollution problems may be posed by transport of sequestered heavy metals in surface waters. T h e pollution tendencies of the substitutes have been specifically studied by Dr. I. A. Eldib of Eldib Engineering & Research, Newark, N.J. Last month the firm completed a detailed study on various substitutes' pollution effects and biodegradability. Although not disclosing specifics of the subscriber-sponsored research, Dr. Eldib points out that nitrogen-containing substitutes such as NTA can have pollution potential. NTA effect on algae after secondary sewage treatment hasn't yet been determined. Dr. Eldib says that nonnitrogenous phosphate substitutes are being developed. These include citric and other hydroxycarboxylic acids.
