The trend is definitely in this direction and away from fermentation methods. This condition is especially impressive in our changingworldgWhen we recall that prior to the world War we were so hopeful and favorably disposed toward the production of chemical products by fermentation reactions. This attitude was largely fostered by our conception that these microorganisms belonged to no unions but worked long hours at very low wage rates. High-pressure and hightemperature syntheses have changed this picture. These newer methods, in addition to giving us many new chemicals, produce for us at lower prices old chemicals, several of which were formerly made by fermentation methods. S y n t h e t i c Flyspray B a s e
A
N E W synthetic flyspray base capable of replacing a substantial proportion of the pyrethrins now used in household insecticides has been announced by E . I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Wilmington, Del. This compound, isobutyl undecylenamide, an alcohol derivative combined with a vegetable oil derivative, was developed in the du Pont laboratories from research undertaken at the request of the insecticide trade, because of the increasing difficulty of getting a uniform and reliable source of pyrethrum for the ever-growing flyspray market. Attempts to cultivate pyrethrum in the United States have been unsuccessful because this country cannot compete with cheap foreign labor in harvesting the flower heads. The crop varies widely from year to year in both quality- and quantity. There is little authentic information available until after the harvest, and American importers must buy it sight unseen. The present Sino-Japanese conflict has caused even more uncertainty. Isobutyl undecylenamide as an improved ingredient for flyspray not only has been proved extremely efficacious in the field for which it is intended but it has also been carefully investigated for its possible poisonous effects upon those who may use it. The results of this toxicological investigation have shown that the compound is safe for use as a flyspray without fear of injurious effects to persons or household pets. The experimental work on the possible physiological effects of this new compound on animal life was conducted at the Haskell Laboratory of Industrial Toxicology of the du Pont company and the modes of administration were by mouth, subcutaneous injection, inhalation of mist, and application to the skin. G e r m s C a n ' t G o to W a r HE idea that disease germs would be T used in future wars was scouted by Marston T. Bogert, recently announced to receive the Priestley Medal, before the section devoted to war chemistry at the Tenth International Congress of Applied Chemistry in Rome. Professor Eogert called attention to the impossibility of controlling the spread of pestilence or restricting it to the enemy country and announced that: It should not be forgotten that in 1347 black death was brought from Crimea to Genoa by Gabriel de Mussis, an Italian advocate, and within the short space of 24 months 25,000,000 persons had fallen victims. Those who would start yellow fever epidemics in tropical countries by the use of etegomyia mosquitoes would do well to keep this in mind.
327
NEWS EDITION
J U N E 10, 1938
Nickel Carhonyl Now Available
N
ICKEL CARBONTL, Ni(CO)4,a compound
of unusual properties, has recently been made available to American chemists for test purposes by importation of several hundred pounds from the Welsh refinery of t h e International Nickel Co. This compound, now made available to meet a demand in quantities larger than can be conveniently prepared in the laboratory, is the most familiar of the metal carbonyls. Its present availability is expected to assist in widening knowledge of its peculiar properties and in the development of its uses. T h e properties of nickel carbonyl are roughly typical of the general group. It is formed by direct reaction oi pure carbon monoxide in contact with solid nickel at about 30° to 50° C , and is decomposed when the gas is heated to about 180° to 200° C , depositing nickel on contact surfaces as a solid coherent metallic film. These reactions are used to remove nickel from mixtures containing other materials and deposit it as pure nickel pellets in the Mond process of refining nickel. It is a liquid at ordinary temperatures, weighing about 11 pounds per gallon, and containing 29 per cent (or a little over 3 pounds per gallon) of nickel. It boils at 43° C. and freezes a t - 2 5 ° C , is insoluble in water but soluble in the common organic solvents, including turpentine. It burns in air or oxygen with a luminous flame. The gas is actively poisonous when taken into the lungs, producing giddiness, nausea, and painful breathing. In mixtures with air or oxidizing agents it may decompose or explode with the development of high pressures, but it is stable when enclosed in cylinders. It can be safely handled if proper care is taken of these dangerous properties. It is shipped in steel pressure cylinders of one-pound capacity and upward which comply with recent regulations of the Bureau of Explosives.
V a n ' t Hofif F u n d G r a n t s HE van't Hoff Fund Foundation has T available for 1938 about 1200 Dutch guilders for the endowment of investigators in the field of pure and applied chemistry. Applications must b e received before November 1, 1937, b y Het bestuur der Koninklijke Académie van Wetenschappen, Bestemd voor de Commissie van het van't Hoff-Fonds, Trippenhuis, Amsterdam, and must include a detailed account of the proposed use of t h e grant and of the reasons on which the request is based. In 1937 the following received grants from the fund: M. Karschulin, of Jugoslavia, for a study of periodic chemical reactions; H. J. Prins, of Holland, for the synthesis of polvchloric compounds: I. J. Rinkes, of Holland, for a study of substitution in heterocyclic compounds; A. Schâffner, of Czechoslovakia, for enzymatic synthesis of hexose phosphoric acid esters during fermentation and glycolysis; O. Schales, of Estonia, for a study of the water-soluble C-hemin from blood; P. £ . Verkade, of Holland, for work on the synthesis of fatty compounds; and Harry Willstaedt, of Sweden, for work on carotinoids and coloring matter from mushrooms. M . I· T. Course in Food Technology HE Massachusetts Institute of TechT nology, Cambridge, Mass., has announced a summer program in food technology for the period June 13 to July 1, 1938, under the direction of Bernard E. Proctor, associate professor of food technology and industrial biology. The course wiD include lectures, demonstrations, laboratory exercises, conferences, reports relating to the subject matter, and opportunity for visits to representative food industries of Metropolitan Boston.
PATENTS
Fellowships for Ink Research at University o f Cincinnati UNDAMENTAL research o n lithographic F inks is being made possible By the Sinclair and Valentine Co. through the establishment of two graduate fellowships at the University of Cincinnati. These fellowships enable outstanding graduate students to conduct scientific investigations in the research laboratory of the Lithographic Technical Foundation as part requirement for advanced degrees in the university. The first of these fellowships was offered in 1937 and was awarded t o Leonard C. Cadwell, a graduate of Kenyon College. Mr. Cadwell has been reappointed for the year 1938-39. The second fellowship was established this year and has been awarded to Clarence S. Coe, who will graduate from The Rice Institute this month and will begin his studies at the University of Cincinnati in September. The investigations so far have been concerned with the fundamental nature of the drying of inks. The results of this research will be published in due time in foundation bulletins.
Japanese Patents
I
N Ourt N E W S EDITION of April 10 under "Foreign Patents on Chemical Inventions" there appeared a statement concerning Japanese patents that needs amplification. The total cost indicated of $130 was intended to include government fees, costs of drawings, and attorneys' fees, though the prices indicated for other countries do not include these items. It was also stated that the life of a Japanese patent is 18 years. While that is believed to be the average life of such a patent, the duration of a Japanese patent is 15 years from date of publication, or registration if not published, and the terms of the patent may then be extended in accordance with the provisions of the Japanese law for not less than 3 and not more than 10 years. The patent's life, therefore, is initially 15 years, 18 years if the minimum extension is granted, and 25 years if the maximum. F. M. TURNER, Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York, N. Y., recently addressed t n e Advertising Club of Atlanta on "The Chemical Engineer a s a Customer," and the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce and the Advertising Club of Indianapolis on "Some Educational Aspects of Technical Publicity."
