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L i q u i d —liquid s e p a r a t i o n Solids concentration Liquid clarification Solvent extraction Centrifugal mixing T h e W e s t f a l i a L W A - 2 0 5 centrifuge uses four i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e s e p a r a t i n g bowls f o r a c c u r a t e , low-cost testing of cen t r i f u g e techniques. Price from 5 7 0 0 to $2500 depend ing on number and type of bowls —a/so available on rental plan. Send for catalog and details of rental plan .
M E R C Ο CENTRIFUGAL C O . DEPT. C - 150 GREEN STREET SAN FRANCISCO I I , CALIFORNIA
Lithium Aluminum H y d r i d e N o t S a f e f o r Drying Methyl Ethers A violent explosion recently occurred at Callery Chemical Co., Callery, Pa., when lithium aluminum hydride was being used t o dry diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, according to Rr M . Adams, chief of the chemical division. About 75% of the ether h a d b e e n distilled off and the operator w a s removing t h e heating mantle when t h e explosion occurred. Such an experience was reported by Schlesinger and attributed to carbon dioxide solubility in methyl ethers [/. Am. Chem. Soc, 7 0 , 877 ( 1 9 4 8 ) ] . Callery analyzed these etriers and found approximately double t h e concentration of peroxides in normal e-thers. They recommend that lithium aluminum hydride never b e used t o dry methyl ethers.
H a n f o r d Technical Section's P e r f e c t S a f e t y Record Ends General Electric Co/s technical section in Hanford amassed almost 10.5 million accident-free exposure hours before it sustained a time-lost injury. T h e perfect record, which started o n Jan. 1, 1944, ended on March 30 w h e n an employee received acid b u r n s and was hospitalized.
Liquid-Phase Odorization of LPG Is Technically Unsound
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Vapor-phase odorization of liquid petroleum gas can correct the shortcomings of liquid-phase odorization, according to J. B. Calva, president of J. B. Calva Co., Minneapolis, M i n n . Dr. Calva, in a paper he prepared for t h e recent meeting of t h e
FORUM For f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n on a n y k e y e d i t e m mentioned here, see coupon on p a g e 2 3 3 9
Association of Mutual Fire Insurance E n gineers held in Chicago, said that in liquid-phase odorization t h e warning odor is not well defined and characteristic. Ethyl mercaptan, a common LPG odorant, can have widely varying odors d e pendent upon the degree of dilution in which it is detected b y the olfactory sense. T h e present method of odorization, consisting of mixing ethyl mercaptan with liquefied propane, cannot provide a constant amount of odorant in the gas, h e said. If the odorant is mixed with L P G in a warm climate, then shipped to a colder climate, the odorant will setde out at the bottom of the tank. Also, water, a common impurity, will dissolve out t h e ethyl mercaptan as an immiscible solution which settles at the bottom of the tank. Vapor-phase deodorization odorizes t h e gas as it is released from the tank or cylinder, guaranteeing a uniform amount of odorant in the gas, he said.
H a n d C r e a m f o r Protection Against M e r c u r y William M. Stieh Co., Inc., is producing a companion product for their H g X mercury decontaminant, H g X protective hand cream, especially made for those subject to unavoidable contact with mercury a n d mercurials. T h e hand cream was developed to meet government specifications as a protective hand cream, then H g X mercury decontaminating formula was added. S 1
Chemical C o r p s Receives A w a r d of M e r i t f o r S a f e t y The Army Chemical Corps has received the Department of Army's Award of Merit for Safety for its 309£? reduction in accident frequency and severity rates during 1952 in its industrial t y p e arsenals and installations. Maj. G e n . E . F. Bullene ( r i g h t ) , chief chemical ofiBcer, receives the award from Maj. Gen. Boniface Campbell, Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G - l , Personnel. This is the first time "the group has earned t h e award
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