The Chemical World This Week RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
APRIL
16,
1962
CONCENTRATES
• The "penetration enzyme" that permits viruses to bore their w a y into cell walls has
been isolated at The Rockefeller Institute, New York. The enzyme was purified by the institute's Dr. James S. Murphy and Dr. Lennart Philipson. They used column chromatography to purify the active form of the agent; the isolated enzyme destroys purified cell walls. The experiment demonstrates that viruses carry built-in enzymes that allow them to invade host cells and cause infection, Dr. Murphy and Dr. Philipson say [J, Gen. Physiol, 44, 155 (1962)]. Evidence for a penetration enzyme has been accumulating for some time, they add. • Linde's IsoSiv molecular sieve process for separating normal paraffins from other hydrocarbons has won its commercial spurs in a 1000 barrel-per-day plant at the South Hampton Co., Houston, Tex, IsoSiv joins UOP's Molex process, which also separates normal paraffins using sieves (C&EN, May 22,1961, page 56), Molex, though, hasn't been used commercially as yet. IsoSiv uses two swinging adsorbers, alternately adsorbing and desorbing normals, Linde's W. F» Avery and M. N, Y. Lee told the National Petroleum Refiners Association in San Antonio, Tex, The South Hampton unit gives a 95,8% (by volume) normal product from a charge having 27*7% normals (C 4 to Ci 2 ). Recovery is 99,8%, Treating cost for a similar unit is an estimated 91,7 cents per barrel of pure normals produced. • A foint research and development program in antiviral agents will be started by Calbiochem, Los Angeles, and Smith, Kline & French» Calbiochem ( California Corporation for Biochemical Research) scientists will synthesize new compounds while SKF will handle the clinical testing. The antiviral program is a result of findings that 5-iodo-2/-deoxyuridine cures a virus infection of the cornea (C&EN, Feb. 12, page 43); Calbiochem produces bulk quantities of 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine, ^ Latex coatings may enter the maintenance paint market via Dow ChemicaFs new binder. Called QX-2258, the binder is an acrylic monomer latex. According to Dow, paints formulated with the binder look and perform as well as, or better than, resin paints, which currently dominate the annual 20-million gallon market. The latex maintenance paints are very durable, have long film life. And latex's inherent advantages—fast, easy
application, quick drying, and easy clean-upcan cut costs. Short drying time, for instance, means lower costs through quicker multiple coat application and fewer manhours. Primary uses for maintenance paints include industrial metal and transite structure, piping, and tanks. • A petroleum mulch technique has increased agricultural output and crop values in many parts of the world, according to Esso Research and Engineering Co. Field tests in South and North America and in Europe show that the technique can raise yields from 10 to 111% on a wide variety of crops. The company won't say more than that the mulch is a "specially formulated \vater emulsion of petroleum resins/' It is sprayed over seed rows to form a continuous black film on top of the soil. The film warms the soil,, reduces evaporation, provides protection against erosion, and reduces leaching of minerals and chemicals. Esso says the technique is still in the development stage, estimates cost of application at $30 per acre. • An accident ai AEC's Hanford, Wash., plant hospitalized four laboratory technicians. The
amount of radiation to which the men were exposed was well below the minimum level which produces radiation sickness, the Atomic Energy Commission says. The accident involved a washing tank containing a dilute solution of radioactive plutonium waste 'material. Meanwhile, investigation is still under way to determine the exact cause of the reactor explosion at AEC's reactor testing station in Idaho in January 1961 {C&EN, Jan. 16, 1961, page 28). Three men were killed in the Idaho blast. • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration begins a new training program at 10
universities this fall. NASA's goal is to ensure the nation^ having a constant supply of scientists trained in space problems, regardless of whether those completing the program work for NASA, Each school is to train 10 predoctoral graduate students in the first year of the planned threeyear experimental program; chemistry and chemical engineering are among the fields. Students will get a $2400-a-year stipend, plus expense allowances up to $1000 a year. The schools will be reimbursed for tuition, fees, and other expenses. Grants will be on a one-year, renewable basis. Estimated cost for the first group of students is about $2 million. A P R I L 16, 1962 C & E N
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