T H E JOliRiVAL OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D EA’GIA-EERIXG C H E M I S T R Y . I n connection with the exhibition, a conference of rubber manufacturers, producers and experts was held for the purpose of promoting knowledge of crude rubber and rubber products. A number of special papers were presented and in the topical discussions on specifications for fire hose, steam hose, insulated wire, and packings much of interest was brought out. The next International Rubber Exhibition is to be held in London W. A. HAMOR. in June, 1914.
THE UNDERWRITERS’ LABORATORIES EXTRACTION APPARATUS: A NOTE. Received September 26, 1912.
Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: On page 535 of your July number of this year, under the heading “ The Underwriters’ Laboratories Extraction Apparatus, ” the Chemical Department of the Underwriters’ Laboratories is credited with the design of a n extractor that was in reality designed by Mr. G. T. Cottle, the chemist of the New York Insulated Wire Co., some four years or more ago. The Underwriters’ Laboratories are indebted for the idea to a drawing of Mr. Cottle’s apparatus that was given them a little over eighteen months ago. Several months before the article in question was received by you, Mr. Cottle exhibited blueprints of the most recent form of it to various chemists of the rubber industry who had not previously been informed about it and arranged to send copies to such as mere interested, and it is already known to a considerable number of analysts of rubber as the “Cottle extractor. ” The author of this article further credits the Chemical Department of the Underwriters’ Laboratories with having ‘‘ spent several years in developing methods and apparatus to be used in a standard procedure for chemical tests of rubber compounds used on wires and cords,” which methods they are ready to distribute. I therefore feel obliged to state that the methods referred to, a copy of which has since been sent me, are actually the joint work of several chemists of the insulated wire industry and that they completed the work without the smallest assistance from the Underwriters’ Laboratories. The complete procedure was then given to the Underwriters’ Laboratories, who, excepting one or two slight verbal changes, the result of which was to make the procedure somewhat less definite, and the addition of alternative methods for ash and total sulphur, also tending to make them less definite, published it verbatim as the “Underwriters’ Laboratories’ Methods of Procedure for Chemical Tests of Rubber Compounds Used on Wires and Cords.” Appended to this, on a sheet marked “ Extractors, underwriters’ Laboratories Inc. ” they publish a copy of the drawing that had been given them of the Cottle extractor. I a m informed that the author of the article in the July number of THISJOURNAL is not connected with the Underwriters’ Laboratories and does not represent them in any way. He was probably laboring under the misunderstanding that .would naturally result from the manner in which this material has been published by them, a misunderstanding that seems to be somewhat wide-spread. The men who gave this procedure to the Underwriters’ Laboratories presumably acted in that spirit of helpfulness that is common enough among chemists. They could hardly have anticipated the liberties that were to be taken with their work. In the case of the Cottle extractor I think some public acknowledgment is due the actual designer of the apparatus. The design is novel and presents certain practical advantages over previous extractors that become obvious under the conditions of service required by the rubber analyst. First of all it is extremely simple. I t consists merely of a spiral condenser of one-eighth inch block tin tube that will slip into the neck of an ordinary 300 cc. Erlenmeyer flask of Jena glass, which forms the external part of the apparatus, and an extraction cup which hangs from the condenser, and which, in its
Nov.,
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latest form, is simply a piece of glass tube with a wire gauze bottom. Such flasks are always ready to hand, and both condenser and extraction tube can be made by the chemist in a few minutes from stock materials. It costs only a fraction of the price of an ordinary extraction apparatus to make it, and it is much less liable to breakage. It dispenses altogether with joints, which for various reasons are generally unsatisfactory, however made. As compared with the ll’iley extractor, which it resembles in some respects, it has the advantage of better means for handling the extract, of greater simplicity of construction, of being more readily heated, and of not requiring any support to hold it upright. I n general convenience and effectiveness it leaves nothing to be desired. The apparatus as described in the July number of THIS JOURNAL presents no practical advantage that was not present in Mr. Cottle’s original design. I t does show some not very obvious changes in detail that are either immaterial or to its disadvantage. By making the flask taller and narrower the apparatus is made top-heavy. Nothing is gained in convenience by this. The chemical balances in commonest use can take a 300 cc. or even a 500 cc. flask, and those that cannot, can be provided with a suitable pair of wide bows to support.the pans a t a cost of fifty cents. The addition of a cap to the condenser is unessential unless the apparatus is used on a water bath, and a water bath is not a suitable means of heating a n extractor of this type, even if covered. The special form of flask and the condenser with cap have the additional disadvantage of having to be made by experts, so that the chemist is made more completely dependent on the manufacture of apparatus for his parts. The same is to some extent true of the use of the Gooch crucible as a n extraction cup. So altogether the result is to increase the cost without increasing the value. For all that is effective in the design of this extractor the Underwriters’ Laboratories are indebted to Mr. Cottle’s drawing, as originally submitted to them, and he is entitled to full and exclusive credit for it. Under the circumstances it is a matter of surprise to me that the Underwriters’ Laboratories have not already made public acknowledgment of this themselves. Very truly yours, G. H.SAVAGE. I8 WALNUT STREET,
MASS. WORCESTER,
BUREAU OF STANDARDS ANALYZED SAMPLES. The Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C., is now prepared to issue pure sodium oxalate for use as a standard in oxidimetry, in bottles containing IZO and 2 0 0 grams, the fees for which are respectively $ 2 . 0 0 and $3.00. With each sample is furnished a certificate giving the purity of the material, and brief directions for its use in the standardization of permanganate solutions. Circular No. 40, on “Sodium Oxalate as a Standard in Volumetric Analysis,” is now ready for distribution and will be sent upon request. I t includes a description of properties, preparation and testing of sodium oxalate, and a discussion of its suitability as a standard in oxidimetry and acidimetry. The fourth edition of Circular 25, “Standard Analyzed Samples-General Information,” is now ready for distribution. Attention is called to the fact that the fee for sample No. z+, Vanadium Steel, has been changed from $2.00 to $2.50. Chrome-tungsten Steel, No. 3 1 , is now ready for distribution. THE DETERMINATION O F BENZALDEHYDE, MARASCHINO CHERRIES AND MARASCHINO LIQUEUR: A CORRECTION. I n the article on this subject on page 589 of the August number of THIS JOURNAL the directions for the procedure (opposite Table IV) should read, “Add I O cc. of the reagent,” etc., A. G. WOODMAN. instead of IOO cc.
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T H E JOURA-AL OF I i Y D U S T R I A L A.YD E S G I S E E R I N G C H E - V I S T R Y .
857
PHENOLFORMALDEHYDE CONDENSATION PRODUCTS: On page 741, second column, second line, strike out “50° or” so as to make the sentence read: “This tendency to foam beA CORRECTION. ln the article on “phenol-Formaldehyde Condensation comes pronounced only a t temperatures above I O O O C., etc.” L. H. BAEKELAND. Products,” published in the October number of THISJOURNAL, a n inaccuracy has occurred.
BOOK REV1FW.S
I
Industrial Chemistry. A Manual for the Student and Manu- less rambling descriptive matter and more facts, figures and facturer. By ALLEN ROGERS AND ALFRED R. AUBERT, principles. Power and power transmission have been attempted in thirty with thirty-four collaborators. Octavo, 854 pages, 340 pages. If this subject is to be discussed a t all in a book on illustrations. New York: D. Van Nostrand Co. Price, industrial chemistry, considerably more space should be given $5.00. to prevailing types of engines, boilers, pumps, heaters, furnaces, The suggestion has often been made that the difficult probdrafts and innumerable other fundamental considerations. lem of writing a book on industrial chemistry could easily be The power plant is the heart of the factory and such supersolved by having each subject treated by a specialist. This volume is made up of a series of chapters contributed by well- ficial knowledge as might be conveyed in a short chapter in a book on industrial chemistry is of doubtful value. The whole known chemists, engineers and manufacturers and the book field of electrical and mechanical engineering and the practice will be studied with great interest by everyone familiar with of engineering thermodynamics is involved in power and power the problems involved in the presentation of works on applied chemical processes. The selection of topics and the arrange- transmission and unless the work can be directed by men with ment of matter is a serious editorial problem on account of the more than a superficial knowledge of these subjects, it had better be left in the hands of the practical man. vastness of the field to be covered and the diversified interests Sulphuric, nitric and hydrochloric acids are given in three of the readers. The specialist is interested in facts, figures and chapters (71 pages). The consumption, properties, raw matedetails while the teacher and student must of necessity deal with principles. The book cannot be said to meet the difficult rials, approved Smerican practice and apparatus in use are all carefully treated and illustrated and the chemistry of the problem of presenting, in one volume and by the same treatprocesses fully elaborated. Various types of apparatus, conment of subjects, both a works managers’ handbook and a struction of functional parts, operating methods and costs are students’ text-book. discussed. These are excellently presented chapters and repreAnother difficulty encountered in this composite book is the lack of uniformity in the scope, method of presentation and analy- sent the most recent developments in heavy acid practice. A chapter on commercial chemicals is devoted largely t o sis of the subjects presented. Some of the chapters are l-ery definitions of a number of the standard products. The alkali elementary, general descriptions and others are devoted almost entirely to definitions without any attempt to discuss indus- industries briefly described in this chapter might well have been treated in considerable detail. The chemistry, past and prestrial principles or practices. The main value of the work is ent processes of manufacture and the engineering problems found in the subjects which have been treated as manufacturing and industrial problems and based upon the applications of involved are all of fundamental importance and have great educational value. physical and chemical principles which are duly and clearly The commercial importance of chlorine is recognized in a good set forth. chapter discussing the electro-chemical and strictly chemical The chapter on general processes shows the effect of too much processes for the manufacture of this element and its allied pruning. Some of the most important fundamental processes products. This is followed by a short description of some have been omitted and others should have been elaborated and illustrated. Stamp mills, Griffin mills, cement kilns, pumps, electrochemical industries such as carbon, carbides, carborundum, graphite, etc. Electrochemical processes and the princimontejus, etc., might have been described and illustrated and multiple effect evaporation, solution, extraction and drying ples involved might well have been treated with more thorapparatus deserve fuller treatment. This is followed by a short oughness and detail both on account of their great industrial descriptive chapter on some of the materials used in construc- importance and their potential possibilities. Cement, plaster, clay, pottery and glass have been treated tion. in three chapters covering forty-four pages. The chapter on Water for industrial purposes is well treated, but might have been accompanied by fuller descriptions and illustrations of glass is especially well illustrated. The four chapters covering gravity, pressure and sand filters and by cuts of open and closed white lead, paints, oils and pigments are followed by a good chapter on the metallurgy of iron and steel and one on fertilizers. feed water heaters. Illuminating gas is thoroughly and excellently treated both The fuels chapter discusses gaseous, solid and liquid fuels, describes and illustrates two of the standard forms of pyrometer, from the standpoint of text and illustrations. This is followed by good chapters on tar, petroleum and wood distillation inthe Mohler calorimeter for solids and liquids and the Junker for gases. Wood, peat, lignite, bituminous coal, anthracite, dustries. The chapters on oils, fats and waxes, and lubricating oils are devoted largely to definitions with practically nothing charcoal, coke, liquid and gaseous fuels are briefly discussed on industrial processes of manufacture. in the order given. A chapter on producer gas is given over to general discussion Soaps, laundering, essential oils, varpish, sugar, starch and with numerous illustrations of the construction and operation glucose, brewing and malting, wine-making, distilled liquors, textiles, dyestuffs, paper, explosives, leather, tanning materials, of various types of producers. I t is to be regretted that more care and accuracy could not have been used in the presentation glue and casein are each given a chapter. The book is well printed, uTell bound and shows the results of the theoretical principles involved. The producer reactions of careful proof-reading. To get out such a work is a great may be effectively used to illustrate to the student the methods available for controlling physical conditions by a proper adjust- undertaking and the editors are to be congratulated on the degree of success they have attained. They have invited and ment of chemical conditions and the author might easily have will no doubt receive the constructive suggestions of their fellow greatly enhanced the educational value of this chapter by giving
