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T H E J O L - R S A L O F I A Y DC S T R I A L A.YD E A Y G I A Y E E R I S GC H E - I I I S T R Y .
O c t , 1912
THE INTERNATIONAL LECTURES. the Sections on Inorganic Chemistry, Physical ChemisThe important lectures which followed the sectional try, Electrochemistry, and Agricultural Chemistry, meetings on September 6 , 9, I O , and T I , and which on September 7th in the Auditorium of the American were open t o the public, were delivered in the Great Museum of S a t u r a l History. His subject was “ T H E O F ATMOSPHERIC NITROGEXXSD DEVELOPHall of the College of the City of New York, by eminent OXIDATIOS ISDUSTRIES IS NORX-AI-.” This members of the chemical profession from each nation M E N T O F RESULTIXG represented in the four official languages, French, meeting was attended by the most prominent chemists a t the Congress, as well as b y many manufacturers German, Italian, and English. and engineers, and will always be remembered b y 31. GABRIELBERTRAKD, Professor of Biological those present. An extended abstract of the address Clzcwzistry at the Sorbontie and the Pasteur I m t i t u t e , b y Dr. Eyde appears in this issue. P a l i s , Fratzce: “ T H E P A R T PLAYED B Y INFISITELY ShlALL QUASTITIESO F C H E h I I C A L S I N BIOLOGICAL H E R R H O F R A T PROF. DR. H E I N R I C HAUGUST CHEMISTRY .” This lecture was delivered on Septem- BERSTHSES,Mapiaging Director of the Radisclze Anilivt ber 6th in French, and embodied a scholarly summary utzd Soda-Fabrik, Liidwigshafen, delivered an adof the results of years of study and experimental dress before the joint meeting of the Sections on Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Electroresearch conducted b y the speaker. chemistry, and Agricultural chemistry, a t the GEHEIMER REGIERUNGSRAT PROF. DR. c. DUISBERG, Horace Mann Auditorium on September 11th, on M a n a g i n g Director o f tlze Farbenfabriken of Elberjeld, Germany: “ T H E LATESTACHIEVEMEXTS A N D PROBLEMS O F THE CHEhlICAL INDUSTRY.” This lecture, delivered in German, was illustrated by lantern slides and extensive exhibits ; i t dealt most impressively and eloquently with the enormous strides which Germany has taken in the development of certain chemical industries, and was highly enjoyed by a n audience of about 1500 persons. A full translation of Prof. Duisberg’s lecture appears in this issue of THIS
J o u R x AL. PROFESSOR WILLIAM H E N R Y PERKIN,of M a n chester, England : ‘ ‘THE PERMA N EXT FIREPROOFING OF COTTON GOODS.” Professor Perkin, who spoke, of course, in English, illustrated very forcibly the research chemist’s services t o the cause of humanity ; his lecture which will be published in the next issue of THISJ O U R N A L pertained t o his discovery of a process for the permanent fireproofing of all kinds of cotton goods, and included a practical demonstration of its success. PROFESSOR GIACOMO CIAMICIAN,of Bologna, Italy: “THE PHOTOCHEMISTRY O F T H E FUTURE.’’ This lecture, delivered in Italian, was of great practical importance on account of the suggestions i t contained in regard t o the better utilization of radiant energy. All of the above general lectures, which were comprehensive and of great interest, were preceded b y organ recitals and every facility had been provided by The Honorable Board of Trustees, President J. G. Finley, Professor Charles Baskerville, and Dr. W. L. Estabrooke of the College of the City of New York for the convenience of the lecturers and the reception of the audience. Each of the lectures was followed b y a tea served on the College campus. THE SECTIONAL ADDRESSES.
One of the interesting features of the Eighth Congress was the holding of joint sessions of various sections; at several of these joint meetings symposiums were held, while at three, important addresses were delivered b y distinguished chemists. DOCTOR SAMUEL E Y D Ethe , eminent chemical engineer of Kristiania, Norway, addressed the joint meeting of
Courtesy of Awwican Druggist. HEINRICHAUGUSTBERNTHSEN, PRES.BUNSEN GESELLSCHAFT.
“SYNTHETIC AhfhtosI.4.” This lecture was one of the most novel delivered before the Congress, and included a demonstration of the Haber process. The thanks of the meeting were voted to Professor Bernthsen for his brilliant lecture, the motion being made b y Dr. Eyde and seconded by Professor Duisberg. Professor Bernthsen’s lecture is reprinted in full in this number of THIS J O U R N A L . PROFESSOR WILLIAM H E N R YP E R K I K delivered a lecture on “THE P O L Y M E R I Z A T IOF O NBUTADISEA X D I S O P R E N Ebefore ,” the Sections on Organic Chemistry and India Rubber, on September I I . A large audience was present. Prof. Perkin outlined the method of making synthetic rubber, which he recently described in a paper before the Society of Chemical Industry and then described a new method which he said looked very
promising. Since this new method has not yet been described me giye its outline here: Take ethyl alcohol, which may be easily oxidized t o acetaldehyde. This is condensed by means of potassium carbonate t o aldol and the aldol can be quantitatively converted into butylidine glyccil. All the yields of these reactions are practically quantitative. The butylidine gl>rol is then converted intc a chloride and passed over soda lime when practically the same product is produced as the isoprene from the isoamyl chloride and when treated with sodium gives even better rubber than isoprene. Prof. Perkin exhibited samples of what he called the first synthetic rubber ever made (the product of Tilden). THE SECTIONAL MEETINGS.
The scientific work of the Congress was organized in twenty-four sections. Each section was administered b y a complete organization consisting of President, Vice-president, Secretary and Sectional Committee. All papers offered t o the Congress, after being passed upon b y the proper Sectional officers, were: submitted for final action t o the Committee on Papers and Publications. The greater portion of the Proceedings of the Eighth International Congress was printed in advance of the meeting, and issued t o members on and after the morning of September 3rd. The Proceedings contained all accepted papers presented by June 3 0 , 1912, and consisted of twenty-four volumes, including over 600 papers and over 5000 pages with illustrations. The many additional papers read at the Sectional meetings b u t not submitted before June goth, will be included with discussions of all papers in the Supplement t o the Proceedings, t o be issued before December 31, 1912. Each volume of the Proceedings was devoted t o a section. Thus authors were able t o present their papers in abstract before the section and bring out a most complete and full discussion. SECTIONAL DIVISIONS A I i D T H E I R PRESIDENTS.
Analytical ClzeInistrj’: W . F. Hillebrand, P h . D . , Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C. I n o r g a n i c Cheniisfr?,: Charles L. Parsons, B.S., Technical Expert of Bureau of Mines. Washington, D. C. Metallurgy and .lIining: Joseph W. Richards, P h . D . , Lehigh University. South Bethlehem, P a . Explosives: Charles E. Munroe, Ph.I)., George Washington University, Washington, D. C. Silicate Industries: Allerton S . Cushman, Ph.D., The Institute of Industrial Research. Washington, D. C. Organic Clzew:i.cfrj,: Marston T . Bogert, L L . D . , Columbia University, Kern k’ork. Coal T a r Color.; and D?’esizLfis: Herman 4. Metz, 1 2 2 Hudson Street, Kew York. I n d u s t q and Chemistry of Sugar: W . D. Horne, Ph.D., Kational Sugar Refining Co., Yonkers, Kern York. I n d i a Rubber a?id Other Plasfics: L. H . Baekeland, Sc.D., Yonkers, 1-mYork.
Fuels and Asphalt: David T . Day, Ph.D., United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. Fats, Fatty Oils a?zd Soaps: David Wesson, B.S., 24 Broad Street, Kew k‘ork. P a i n t s , Drying Oils and Varnishes: Naximilian Toch, 320 Fifth Avenue, New York. Starch, Cellzilose and Paper: Arthur D. Little, 93 Broad Street, Boston, Mass. Ferinentation: Francis W y a t t , Ph.D., 402 West z3rd Street, New York. z4gricziltzwal Cheinistry: Frank K. Cameron, P h . D . , Department of Agriculture, Washington. Hygieze: W . P. Mason, M.D., LL.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New I’ork. Plinriiiacezttical Chemistry: Joseph P. Remington, Ph.lLI., 1832 Pine Street, Philadelphia, Pa. B r o i n a t o l o g ~ ~ :W. D. Bigelow, P h . D . , Department of Agriculture, Washington. Physiological Chcinisiry and Pharu2acology: John J. Abel, M.D., Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Photochen2istry: W. D. Bancroft, 7 East Avenue, Ithaca, New York. Electrochetnistry: William H . Walker, Ph.D.. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston. Physical Chemistry: W. R. Whitney, Ph.D., General Electric Co., Schenectady, New York. L a w and Legislation A jj’ecting Chemical Indxstry. The Honorable Edward D. White, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Washington. Political Econow y and Conservation of Natural Resources: J . A. Holmes, Bureau of Mines, Washington. A prominent feature of the Congress was a number of joint sessions held for the purpose of a more general interchange of ideas and views on interrelated subjects. These joint sessions also gave excellent opportunities for the presentation of some of the most interesting and valuable lectures delivered during the Congress, notably those on “Oxidation of Atmospheric Nitrogen and Development of Resulting Industries in n’orway, ” b y Samuel Eyde; “Synthetic Ammonia,” b y Prof. Bernthsen ; “Synthetic Rubber,” by Prof. Perkin. A list of the articles published in the proceedings and of especial interest t o our readers can be found in the New Publications column of this issue. Many of the papers of industrial and engineering importance will appear in the current or subsequent issues of THIS JOURNAL.
THE SOCIAL FEATURES OF THE CONGRESS.’
One of the great advantages of a n international congress is the opportunity offered for social intercourse ; accordingly, the encouragement of frequent association among the members was carefully carried out b y the Officers and Committees of the Eighth International Congress of Applied Chemistry,’ and the entertainment of the visiting members was fully provided for. I n fact, the social features of the Congress were almost equal in importance t o the sectional meetings, for they gave every chance for intimate exchange of ideas and views. 1 Exclusiveiof the entertainments and functions attending the Opening of the Congress in Washington, reported elsewhere. 2 The Marshals, it may be mentioned here, did much to promote cordial acquaintances among the foreign guests and the home members.
