Aug., 1912
THE J O URiVAL OF I N D U S T R I A L AiYD E K G I S E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y .
THE MEASUREMENT OF STEAM CONSUMPTION. The steam consumed by a turbine or engine can be determined by measuring or weighing the “steam mater” or condensate from the surface condenser. A method of doing this (Industrial E?igiiieering, I I , 4 7 1 ) is presented in the indicating hot-well, which is attached t o the bottom of the condenser, forming a part of tbe shell. The opening in the bottom c f the condenser is constructed so t h a t t h e condensate drains into the left-hand chamber of the hot-well, and communication from this chamber to the hot-well pump suction is established in the dividing wall. The orifice, polished and finished t o insure accuracy of flow, is formed in a brass plate inserted in the partition wall. The indicating gauge is attached to the shell of the hot-well, and ball check valves are provided in each fitting, so that, should the gauge glass break, the flow of air will be prevented and the glass can be conveniently replaced. A gauge glass is also provided for the indication of the height of water in the hot-well suction compartment, in which t h e water must not be allowed to snbmerge the orifice. The scale attached to the indicating gauge reads directly in pounds of steam per hour.
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A NEW JOINT FOR STEEL PIPE. The Matheson pipe joint, which was developed for steel or wrought-iron pipe, is similar t o the well known bell and spigot joint used with cast-iron pipe. When the pipe is manufactured, one end is expanded into a bell, and around the edge of the bell a reinforcing band of steel is shrunk. The spigot end of the pipe is provided with a slight depression or groove which encircles the pipe near the spigot end. according to The E‘~7gineering awd Mining Journal ( 9 3 , 1026), in laying the pipe the spigot end is placed in the bell end of the adjacent length of pipe and molten lead is poured into the bell in exactly the same way t h a t the joint of cast-iron bell and spigot pipe is laid. The lead filling may be calked when cool, the reinforcing band adding strength t o the bell to resist any tendency to expand as a result of the calking. When the pipe is to be subjected to high pressure, a bolt-flange coupling may be used in conjunction with the lead joint. The advantages claimed are that a strong tight joint is as readily obtained with steel as n i t h cast-iron pipe and t h a t for the same strength steel or wrought-iron pipe is lighter.
NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE
SEA-WEED, POTASH AND IODINE. A CRITICISM. I n Senate Document No. 190, 62nd Congress, 2nd Session, “Fertilizer Resources of the United States,” as ne11 as in a n address by F.K. Cameron,’ sea-need and especially t h a t of the Pacific coast is mentioned as a possible source of the potash salts used in t h e United States. Most of the Senate Document consists of a n ordinary description of t h e stationary growing algae (kelps) and their ecological character. Much space has been given to the species of fzictts growing in the litoral region. Every expert knows t h a t this species is of no value, as these plailts absorb very little valuable material. The content of inorganic valuable materials in these kelps depends first of all on t h e physical conditions of their growth. Force of current, temperature, and content of salts are important factors, but other life conditions of the algae also affect their chemical composition. It is of considerable importance whether they are growing near the surface or in deeper n ater, in comparatively quiet straits or in t h e breakers of the ocean. The species which, while growing, absorb the most valuable materials are not found in any considerable amounts in the straits or sounds2 nor in the litoral region, but are abundant out in the ocean, and about the belts of islands, girding t h e coast, and in these places from t h e limit of tidewater down t o the depth of 20-25 fathoms. The far more important “ P o r r a ” which, until lately, has been given very little consideration, deserves, technically, t h e greatest attention. A flourishing sea-weed industry on the Pacific coast can be imagined only on t h e basis of this marine plant. It grows in deeper water and in the open ocean and is consequently richer in valuable materials. It is found in great abundance, is easy to harvest along the coast during fall and winter, and can be worked a t proportionately lower cost. The Senate Document, furthermore, suggests some antiquated methods of burning sea-weed, of preparations of potassium salts, and finally of “Methods of Analyses.” I should advise the use of t h e “kelpash” and its contents of inorganic valuable materials as the standard scale for the valuation of sea-weed, and not the sea-weed itself. This ill simplify transactions between the seller and buyer of kelp or kelpash. THISJOURNAL, 4, 169 For the last 10 years, I have known the kelp from the interior part of Puget Sound t o be of very little, or no value. 1
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Far more interesting are the colored charts, copies of the U. S. Coast Survey Chart. They ought to be combined but they should indicate the special places along the coast, where the “driftkelp” is mashed ashore by the stream. As the explorations are limited to the few sumrr-er months and as this season mainly comprises all kinds of stationary growing kelp, the useful as xell as t h e useless, we are able t o find in the Senate Document little of any importance from which to form any opinion about a n eventful lucrative sea-weed industry on the Pacific Coast. The conclu,sion drawn from these preliminary explorations is t h a t in the sea-weed of the n e s t coast we have not only a source to furnish all the potash salts consumed in this country but “ i t means a possible production of potassium chloride about the same as, or even a little larger than, the total production in Germany,” and, “ taking every consideration and leaning strongly to conservatism, i t might be said t h a t i t ought to be perfectly practicable to obtain an annual yield of at least a million tons of potassium chloride, worth a t present prices, upwards of $30,000,000. The iodine obtainable a t the same time should go far toward paying the expenses of harvesting the kelp and extracting the potash.” In the opinion of t h e writer, $30,000,000 a year, made by potash and perhaps a similar amount or more by iodine extracted from sea-weed on the west coast of the United States, is surely impossible in the light of t h e following analysis: I . Is it possible that the Pacific sea-meed can produce sufficient raw material for the production of one million tons of potash salts? 2. Can the potash salts obtained from sea-weed containing a per cent. in the ash limited quantity of iodine (not more than of the plant) be furnished a t a price similar t o t h a t of German potash salt? To answer the first of these questions, I need only point t o the simplest and primitive method of producing (burning) kelpash on the shore. The proposed technical improvements in this process have as yet never been tried practically, and do not promise any such profit as suggested in t h e published statements. For the purpose of illustration, I shall use the Nereocystis Lutkeana mentioned in the Senate Document among Dr. J. W. Turrentine’s “Analyses of Pacific Kelp,” Sample No. 8. This marine plant (a laminaria) belongs t o those containing the
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T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L
largest quantity of both potash and iodine. It is found, as far as known, in the largest quantities at the northern part of the Pacific Coast. The dried plant contains 46.2 per cent. organic matter, 51.3 per cent. soluble salts and 2.5 per cent. ash. Of t h e soluble salts 2 3 per cent. are actual potash (K,O) and 0.17 per cent. iodine. The total amount of ash of this plant is 53.8 per cent. The contents of the ash are then 42.7 per cent. actual potash (K,O) corresponding to 67.7 per cent. potassium chloride (KC1) and 0.316 per cent. iodine. If we take t h e above-mentioned quantity of ash as a basis, we find t h a t i t requires for the production of I,OOO,OOO tons of potash salts: y,724,500 tons of wet sea-weed, containing 80 per cent. water, representing I ,948,900 tons of dried sea-weed, producing 1,048,500 tons of ash, representing I,OOO,OOO tons mixed potash salts. I presume of course that the whole quantity of soluble salts is extracted as potash salts. This is indeed what is done in practice, as i t is quite impossible in a huge production, as the one mentioned, t o crystallize the salts singly. Of the potash present, half the quantity will come out as 80--90 per cent. potassium chloride and the other half will consist of a “mixture” of chlorides, carbonates and sulphates, mostly of potassium, sodium and a little part of magnesium containing about 16-20 per cent. actual potash (K,O), corresponding to the German manure salts, Hartzsalt and Kainit. For one million tons of potassium chloride, me shall have to multiply the above-mentioned amount of sea-weed and kelpash by two. I presume t h a t these figures will convince everybody t h a t it is impossible to reach a production o€ a million tons of potassium chloride on the basis of the sea-weed of the west coast. T o furnish entirely the large quantity of potash salts consumed in this country, the United States will have t o find other “deposits.” It might be of interest to note t h a t the necessary quantity of kelpash containing 0.316 per cent. of iodine, used for the production of a million tons of potash salt, will furnish 7,400,ooo lbs. iodine, valued a t the present price a t $14,000,000 or many times more than the total yearly consumption of the world a t present. Now let us see at what price this kelpash may be produced and how great a n army of laborers the production of 1,048,500 tons of kelpash will require. If the season on the Pacific Coast allows 150 ivorking days for the harvesting and burning of the sea-meed, it will be necessary to produce 7,000 tons of ash a day. If one man produces zoo lbs. of kelpash per day,’ a t a daily wage of $2.00 (on the west coast this is rather low), the ash will cost one cent per lb. or $22.40 per long ton. This is a t the present time the average price of kelpash in Scotland and Norway. The production of 7,000 tons of ash a day for 150 days xi11 require 7 , 8 0 0 men, for only the harvesting, drying and burning of the sea-weed on the shore. For the production of 1,048,500 tons of kelpash twice the number of laborers will be needed. The figures given speak for themselves. I will only add t h a t in practice, conditions will surely be in all respects much less favorable than here anticipated. The second question, the price of sea-wced potash in competition with German potash, will probably not be any more convincing. Yet this is a more favorable case because we are able to calculate the expense of the production, based on the contents of valuable materials as published in the Senate Document. Continuing with the favorable marine plant, sample No. 8, Nereocystis Lutkeana, I figured as follows: A man will have to cut, bring ashore, dry and burn about one ton of wet sea-weed.
AA’D EA-GINEERING C H E M I S T R Y .
Aug., 1 9 1 2
Harvesting and burning, per ton ash. Freight and other expenses in hand1 coast t o the plant, estimated, per t o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$22.40
2 .oo
Coal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.00 I~abor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.50 Chemicals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.00 Salt bags.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commission on the sale of potas Administration, etc. ............................. 1 .OO
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Total cost per ton ash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.316 per cent. iodine = 7.08 Ibs. per ton ash a t 6 pence per ounce (present price). ........................... 14.20 95.3 per cent. soluble salts, 2134.6 Ibs. per ton: of this 1067.3 Ibs. are potassium chloride @IF90 per cent. KCl), according to German price $35 per 2000 Ibs. net.. . . . . . . . . . . . 18.67 And 1067.3 lbs. are manure salt (20 per cent. KzO), according to German price $13.30 per 2000 lbs. n e t . . ......... 7 . 0 9
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Selling price per ton ash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
39.96
Loss per ton ash.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$ 0.94
Even if all the potash present could be extracted as potassium chloride (which is impossible) it would make only a n insignificant improvement on the figures of cost given. The above-mentioned expenses are based on a personal experience of more than 2 0 years. I n practice the aspect will be far more unfavorable than pointed out above, because I have presumed here t h a t the vhole quantity of potash salt as well as iodine could be extracted. h potash industry on the basis of sea-weed will first and last depend on the content of iodine in the marine plants. One-tenth of I per cent. more or less of this valuable material in the kelpash can change the production from a valueless to a very remunerative business. It is certainly also very important t h a t all of the valuable products in the plants, the organic as well as the inorganic, be utilized. It is my opinion, nevertheless, t h a t a great and very profitable industry could be founded if the contents of iodine in some of the species of Laminaria on the west coast prove to be satisfactory, but not an industry of any such dimensions as suggested. Besides the content of iodine, i t is of the greatest importance to use t h e best methods in handling the raw material as well as in the extraction of the products, and furthermore, t o utilize to the utmost the valuable materials of the marine plants, both organic and inorganic. As yet we possess very little of value and very little authentic information to solve the question “ I s i t possible t o build up a Lucrative industry on the abundant growth of sea-weed a t t h e Pacific Coast?” HENRIKKXWDSES. PHILADELPHIA, PA.
NIGERIAN TIN DEVELOPMENTS. For some weeks now, @eat possibilities have been connected with this market, and those who have watched its developments carefully have certainly no reason to complain of the results. It must not be thought t h a t the rise in Nigerian tin shares is devoid of justification. The history of Nigerian tin mining is very modern, although the Niger Company has been shipping tin for some years. The presence of tin in Nigeria was suspected in 1884, but i t was not until 1902 t h a t the actual existence of tin in the Bauchi district was discovered. It was in t h a t year that the Niger Company took out a prospecting license over I ,000 square miles of territory. Transport facilities were then, of course, extremely meagre, and i t was not until about 1905 t h a t any important deposits were located. In 1907 the Niger Company stated that i t had obtained during the previous fifteen months, roughly, 240 tons of block tin. This was from t h e Naraguta property which produced on a n
