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TRIAL
AND
INDUSTRIAL, & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
ENGINEERING
CHEMISTRY
News
Edition
Going to Los A n g e l e s
It will be a jolly party t h a t wih s t a r t from Chicago on July 28 for the trip to Los Angeles. You m a y still be added t o the list if you hurry along your request for reservations. Those who have definitely made arrangements to go a r e listed herewith: C. S. Adams, Prof. of Chemistry, Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio; R. J . Anderson, Experiment Station, Geneva, N. Y., Jules Bebie, Monsanto Chemical Works, S t . Louis, Mo. ; Mr. and M r s . E. M . Billings, E a s t m a n Kodak C o . , Rochester, N. Y . ; Prof. and M r s . Eugene C. Bingham, Lafayette College, Published by the American Chemical Society Easton, P a . ; Miss R u t h Buchanan, Bureau of Chemistry, Washington, D . C ; H . A. Carlton, Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, St. Louis, M o . ; Miss Lillian Cohen, Prof. of Inorganic Chem., Editor: HARRISON E. HOWE Managing Editor: ROBERT P. FISCHELIS Univ. of Minnesota; E . J . Crane, Ohio State University; M r . A ssistant to the Editor: N. A. PARKINSON Associate Editor: D. H. KILLEFFER and Mrs. D. K . French, Dearborn Chemical Co., Chicago.; M r . and Mrs. Howard T . Graber, Digestive Ferments Co., Detroit. M r . and Mrs. H. J. Gray and son, E a s t m a n K o d a k Co. ; M r . a n d ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: EDITORIAL OFFICE: Mrs. H. C. Hamilton, Parke, Davis & Co., Detroit; C . R. Hoover, 19 E. 24th St.. 706 Mills Building, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.; S. Krall, Mason Tire New York, N . Y. Washington, D . C. & Rubber Co., Kent, Ohio; H a r r y M c C o r m a c k and party. Armour Institute, Chicago; M r . and M r s . M c K i b b o n , Rochester, N. Y . ; Prof. and M r s . James F . Norris, President, A. C. S., Entered as second class matter at Easton, Pa. Issued three tiroes a month; Cambridge, Mass.; D r . and M r s . Charles L. Parsons, Secretary, Industrial Edition on the 1st. News Edition on the 10th and 20th. A. C. S., Washington; Miss L. P . P a t t e n , Medford High School, Subscription to Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, $7.50 per year; News West Medford, Mass.; W. B. Price, Scovill Mfg. C o . , Waterbury, Edition only, $1.50 per year. Single copies, 10 cents. Subscriptions should be sent to Charles L. Parsons, Secretary, 1709 G St., Conn.; Dr. and Mrs. George D . Rosengarten, Powers-Weight N . W. , Washington, D. C. man-Rosen garten Co., Phila.; H. I. Schlesinger and family, Univ. of Chicago; Prof. and M r s . Wilhelm Segerblom, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, N . H . ; Atherton Seidell, Public Health J U N E 10, 1925 No.11I Vol. 3 Service, Washington; H . A. Shonle, Eli Lilly & Co., Indianapolis. Mrs. M . Upshur von Isakovics a n d family of four, Synfleur Scientific Labs., Inc., Monticello, N . Y. ; Alexander Silverman, University of Pittsburgh; Dr. and M r s . W. R . W h i t n e y , General Electric Co., Schenectady, N . Y.; J a m e s T . G r a d y , Columbia University, New York; H . E . Howe, Industrial and Engineering There h a s recently been distributed in America a circular Chemistry, Washington; Miss N . A. Parkinson, Industrial and offering teachers of chemistry sets of unknowns for qualitaEngineering Chemistry, Washington; S. B. Arenson, University tive analysis prepared in another country. of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio; D . P . Barnard, Standard Oil It would seem that any teaching staff would prefer to prepare Co., Whiting, Ind.; Dr. and M r s . H . E. Barnard a n d daughter, Chicago, I11.; A. S. Behrman, International Filter Co., Chicago, its own unknowns a n d t h a t it would hesitate t o promulgate a I11.; George Borrowman, 2 South Clinton St., Chicago, I11.; belief on t h e part of students t h a t it is necessary to go outside F r a n k P . Brock, Bakelite Corp., Chicago, I11.; C . S. Davis, 7 our own country for standards of this sort. There is nothing Westminster Apt., Dayton, Ohio; T . B . Hine, 2 2 9 Lawn Ave., to be gained by the practice a n d while we have no doubt it is Western Springs, I11.; A. C. Parsons, c / o Bethlehem Steel Co., Lackawanna, N . Y.; E . I. Sponable, Auburn, N . Y . ; D r . C. M . A. offered in good faith, it seems to us t h a t for obvious reasons this Stine and daughter, E . I. du P o n t de Nemours and Co., Wilmingis one line of goods which the school laboratory cannot afford ton, Del.; H. F . Wakefield, Bakelite Corp., Chicago, I11.; F r a n k to b u y . C. Whitmore, Northwestern University, E v a n s t o n , I11.; R . E. Wilson, Standard Oil Co., Whiting, I n d . ; M r . H a r r y Burn, 216 Clark Building, Birmingham, Ala.; Frederic H . Smyser a n d wife, 24 Norfolk Ave., Swampscott, Mass.; C. O. Hill, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. P. H . Fall, Ithaca, N . Y . ; M r s . S. F . Sherwood, At Rhode Island State College, Kingston, the second annual Washington, D . C ; M r . a n d M r s . C. S. Chemistry Week has just been held a n d an Hamilton, Lincoln, Nebr.; P e t e r Fireman, account will be found elsewhere in this Trenton, N . J . ; C. O. J o h n s , Elizabeth, N . issue. To us t h e important thing is t h a t J.; P . E . Browning a n d p a r t y (3), N e w Haven, Conn.; Dr. a n d M r s . J . W . the college is endeavoring t o focus a t t e n Abstracts of Los Angeles Kellogg, Harrisburg, P a . ; F. B . Larned, tion in high schools upon chemistry and Papers Available 1406 H y d e P a r k Blvd., Chicago, I11. at t h e same time is bringing t o the atT h e A. C. S. News Service, 706 tention of the high school students the Mills Building, Washington, D . C., facilities which their own state college will be in a position t o supply a W h a t t o Wear i n L o s Angeles offers for chemical work. N o t only this, limited number of complete sets of During the summer in Los Angeles rather t h e abstracts of papers presented t o but the public is invited to come and exlight-weight clothing of a b o u t t h e t y p e t h e Los Angeles meeting of t h e amine the exhibits arranged by the stuused on a cool Chicago or N e w York sumAMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, a t dents as well as those of chemical m a n u mer day, is worn by m e n . T h e normal $1.00 per set. T h e abstracts will mid-day temperature of a b o u t 85° correfacturers and industrial concerns which b e as furnished b y t h e authors of sponds t o a b o u t 7 0 ° in e a s t e r n climes, papers a n d will be mailed almost imemploy chemistry t o a considerable exwhence t h e choice of g a r m e n t s . mediately after t h e Los Angeles tent. The high schools send teams t o N a t i v e "Angelenos" a n d most acclimeeting. While we cannot guarancompete for the trophy—the silver wash mated persons use n o overcoats in sumtee these sets of abstracts to b e commer, despite t h e normal m i n i m u m night plete, they do contain all abstracts bottle—and for the individual prizes temperatures ranging a r o u n d 55 °. Visitors t h a t can be obtained from Division provided b y t h e publishers of technical will likely wish a light top-coat for motora n d Section Secretaries up t o and books, individuals, a n d certain industrial ing a t night, a n d particularly for t h e t r i p through the dates of t h e meeting of concerns. We like t h e plan of the whole to M o u n t Wilson. T h e t o p - c o a t m a y also t h e Society. T h e low price of $1.00 be appreciated later in S a n Francisco a n d h a s been maintained in spite of t h e effort and congratulate Professor Ince and Seattle. B . V . D . is t h e orthodox, a p increase in t h e number of papers. his associates upon the success which proved inner layer. A s u m m e r h a t deIn order t o save unnecessary corhas attended their efforts. signed for maximum ventilation is highly respondence a n d t h e keeping of desirable in t h e intense sunshine of Calirecords, those desiring sets of a b fornia. Amber, or better Crookes-tinted stracts are requested to remit T h e Barnard Medal for Meritorious glasses, a r e popular for sensitive eyes. $1.00 with their order. I t will Service t o Science h a s been awarded for Women in California dress sparingly facilitate matters greatly if those 1925 to Neils Bohr of Copenhagen, Denabout t h e shoulders in t h e winter, a n d desiring abstracts will notify t h e mark, in recognition of his researches on wear furs in t h e summer. Wherefore t h e A. C. S. News Service a t once. the structure of atoms. T h e award was southern California section ventures n o made by t h e Columbia University Trustees. recommendation on a p p a r e l .
NEWS EDITION
Unknowns
Chemistry Week
June 10,
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
1925
California as a Chemical Workshop
BY G. ROSS ROBERTSON Los ANGELES. C A L .
(Continued from May 20 issue) CITRUS
INDUSTRY
The fertilizer trade probably represents the largest financial interest of a chemical nature in citrus culture. Aside from the production of superphosphate, a feature of the northern manufacturing district, the fertilizer business is principally importation and mixing of ready-made materials. As such, this line of work can hardly be rated as a major chemical industry. BY-PRODUCTS
The attention of several corporations has been given to citric acid production in southern California, but with limited success. The difficulties are more commercial than technical, due to Italian competition. Apparently the Italian government has overstimulated the calcium citrate business by excessive subsidies with resulting losses on both sides of the Atlantic. Increasing popular education on vitamin requirements, and the Volstead Act, are opening a wide market for concentrated orange juice. An enormous quantity of cull oranges is available for this use. Such fruit is perfectly wholesome, but lacks in appearance or has a damaged peel and will not keep in transcontinental shipment. One-half cent a pound is a high price for such fruit. At present several hundred gallons of concentrated juice per day are produced during the season. So far the product has not been standardized, and some dissatisfaction appears at times. Part of the product is sweetened before shipment, while in other cases dependence is made entirely upon sodium benzoate for preservation. Pectin from citrus peels is a comparatively new product, made in the lemon district of Corona. This article is expected to become an active competitor of the well-known apple-juice product. Liquid hydrogen cyanide is the leading agricultural poison in the citrus belt of California. So far, the several southern California plants have been employed simply in converting sodium cyanide into the acid b y the ordinary sulfuric acid process. The sodium cyanide is imported from the Atlantic seaboard. Synthetic hydrocyanic acid is the prospect of t h e near future. Special portable fumigators, using liquid hydrogen cyanide, are a California development which has meant the discarding of the old acid-pot system. The great expense of cyanide fumigation has led to the more recent development of insecticide sprays, which consist of nicotine, or of special petroleum products emulsified in water with the aid of some miscible oil. The copper, sulfur, and arsenical sprays, so important in the control of pests in deciduous horticulture, are not so well adapted to the citrus orchard. PETROLEUM
Since 1921 California's petroleum interests have become enormous. Two spectacular oil booms at t h e back door of Los Angeles itself were a large factor in the abnormal growth of that city at the time, and raised the daily oil production of the state to nearly 900,000 barrels. This product has subsided t o a little over a half million. Along with the Los Angeles production there has been the steady and very large contribution of the Kern oil fields, at the south end of the great central valley of the state. Inasmuch as the Los Angeles development was not under centralized control, far too many wells were drilled, and most of the proceeds in actual petroleum values have gone into the pockets of the promoters and drillers. An unprecedented number of "bootleg" gasoline companies entered the field, and so far have succeeded in keeping the price of motor fuel down to rockbottom figures. Los Angeles refining companies do little but turn out common gasoline Diesel fuel and crude fuel oil. The northern refineries, receiving their material from distant fields, take the better oils, producing an extensive line of lubricants, special high-grade kerosene for oriental trade, special emulsion oils, tannery oils, medicinal oils, etc. Only in Ventura is any appreciable amount of paraffin-base oil to be found, and this is naturally put to good use. In general the California oils are said t o belong t o the "asphalt" class, which seems to mean that they include a larger fraction of naphthenes and possibly of highly unsaturated heavy hydrocarbons. Since the decline of the Signal Hill and Santa Fe Springs oil fields, more serious attention is being paid to synthetic or crackedgasoline production. At present, however, the locally consumed product is a deeply-cut distillate fortified amply with casing-head gasoline. Oil prospecting in southern California has been in active progress, with notable success in the instance of the Dominguez field just south of Los Angeles. Here the properties were not
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scattered among a multitude of owners, but are controlled by the major oil interests. The natural and healthy result of such tenure is the absence of a frenzy or boom. The ultimate oil content of the field will be gotten with a far more economical expenditure. BUILDING MATERIALS
Common lime as a binding material has limited use in California. For some reason ordinary lime plaster is a failure in the western climate. After unpleasant experience in old houses, builders are using modern gypsum and cement plasters exclusively. Local manufacturers furnish large quantities of Portland cement, which usually takes care of the local demand. Some northern European cement has been imported however, during the peak of building operations. The California cement is fired in oil-burner kilns. The calcareous raw material is mostly a typical California coarsely crystalline marble. The mild climate of California has led to the development, particularly in southern California, of a remarkable variety of stucco, ceramic, and other mineralized building material. Various types of mineral board, tile, artificial stone, facing brick, and outside plaster compositions are available about Los Angeles. The absence of hard frost conditions makes it possible to construct an entire outer wall of a dwelling of nothing more than stucco and paper. Better builders reinforce such construction with metal lath, hog netting, or poultry netting. VEGETABLE
OILS
The coast uses over 20,000 tons of vegetable oils annually, and the pressing and refining business is largely developed. Three large plants in Los Angeles press cottonseed oil, also a little sesame oil from Chinese seed. A few other plants are scattered about the state. The southern operators import coconut oil in tanker lots, while the San Francisco bay district imports copra and does its own extraction. Considerable use is made of soya bean oil, and much olive oil is imported, largely in a refined state. In Los Angeles County several hydrogenation plants produce not only hardened oils for lard-compounding, but also a considerable quantity of high-class partially hydrogenated shortenings. The presence of the large stockyard and packing district in Los Angeles, along with the extensive cotton operations in Riverside and Imperial Counties, have favored the general development of fats and oils more in the southern region than in the north. CERAMICS
Glass—The southwest does not begin to supply its own glass requirements. Beverage and milk bottles, and a few sundries are being well taken care of, but beyond these staples dependence lies largely upon eastern producers. A limited amount of rolled window-glass has been manufactured, and of late there has been some installation of modern machinery. Glass sand comes largely from Belgium at extremely low freight rates. Many deposits of high-class sand await development, both in southern California and adjoining states, and are being ignored largely through prejudice and conservatism. Lime and sodium salts are in abundance, both with low iron content. During the peak of building construction southern California consumed nearly two millions of dollars worth of glass per month. The eleven western states outside California probably consumed about the same. Although there has been some decrease in he California quota in more recent months, there is still a great demand for glass which should interest new operators. Clay Products—A few units are operating on table crockery, with good demand. This ware is of the simple glazed type, and no attempt has been made to manufacture vitreous porcelain, table ware, or electrical porcelain. Most of the ceramic operations are with building materials. Aside from numerous brick plants, there is some modern equipment, such as tunnel kilns, etc., turning out the usual variety of tile, pipe, etc. U N I Q U E INDUSTRIES
San Diego possesses the only agar plant of the western world. A combination of Los Angeles capital and Japanese skilled labor is now able to market about one-half ton per day of this remarkable jelly-substance. The southern California and Lower California coasts are furnishing the required sea-moss. At present a large staff of divers is securing the moss, pending the solution of formidable difficulties in machine harvesting. Thanks to high-pressure filtration, artificial freezing of the jelly and machine drying, distinctly American developments, the San Diego interests are turning out a product much purer than the familiar Japanese article. Baking and confection companies are taking agar in large quantities. In view of the enormous supply of Gelidium and similar useful sea-moss, the agar operators look for important developments. The possible uses of the colloid have not been exploited by any means. Light infusorial earth as a refractory, and as heat insulating material, has been developed extensively at Lompoc, Cal., and is widely advertised. Lesser deposits occur farther south, at
INDUSTRIAL
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AND ENGINEERING
Covina. Despite its low density and large air content, infusorial earth is n o t easily compressible. Magnesium aluminate (artificial spinel) a n d allied compounds are new refractories developed in Los Angeles by electric furnace methods. Sorce of these rival carborundum in hardness. In some cases they have proved t o be astonishingly difficult of quantitative analysis. T h e motion picture industry depends upon eastern manufacturers for films a s well as developer chemicals. N o attempt has been made to manufacture developing agents i n the southern California motion picture district. I n the San Francisco region, however, limited production of metol and some other developers has been carried on. Elaborate processes have been worked out for silver recovery, both from spent hypo solutions and from wash waters, available in large quantities from t h e Hollywood laboratories. Furthermore, the manufacture of hypo itself has been started in a limited w a y in Los Angeles. The southern California deserts adjacent to Death Valley furnish a n interesting variety of products. This region holds the world monopoly of borax, most of which is secured by the treatment of colemanite, o r lime borate, with soda ash. Both light and heavy soda ash, and sesqui-carbonate, are available from the natural alkali deposits of Inyo County. Trona, in San Bernardino County, seems to b e the only surviving potash plant of the United States. During t h e war considerable potash was obtained from the deposits in Cottrell precipitators attached to cement mills. The Riverside, California, plant was t h e pioneer in this held. Under normal conditions of international trade, with Germany in t h e market, i t is hardly a paying proposition to recover salts of potash in this way. Another California industry dependent o n the abnormal conditions of war-time is the utilization of the common brown kelp, or seaweed. The a s h of t h i s weed carries a high potash content. More important, however, are the possibilities of fermentation of the weed tissue. During the great war large quantities of the weed were fermented and variously treated to secure acetone, acetic acid, and allied products. F r o m the fermentations it became possible to secure large quantities of unusual compounds such as propionic, butyric, a n d valeric acids. At present this industry is suspended and may be regarded as a war-time specialty. THE
INDUSTRIAL
CHEMIST
Frankly, t h e opportunities for the real professional industrial chemist are n o t extensive in California. The young man entering t h i s field in t h i s s t a t e m a y expect to find h i s major opportunity i n production a n d sales rather than research. Most California chemical plants a r e copying eastern or old-world methods, as would b e natural i n a pioneer district where growth is t h e main item in the program. I n m a n y cases the California plant is b u t a n extension member of a great eastern organization, and the research department is sure to b e found at the parent plant rather than i n California. Furthermore, t h e main duties of the extension plant are more likely to be those of a n assembly or mixing plant rather t h a n of basic or synthetic production. The petroleum i n d u s t r y is a good example of an extensive operation, using many "chemists," b u t usually doing a very small amount of real chemical development work. Most of the rank and file of these employees merely measure physical constants, while their superiors, often clever and well-trained men, are confronted with a miscellaneous line of problems running from well-water analysis t o steam h e a t insulation. Little actual oil chemistry is attempted. As an exception may b e cited the more unique chemical industries peculiar t o California and its special raw materials. In such enterprises as agar, borax, desert alkalies, etc., which are discussed elsewhere, free opportunity is offered for real chemical engineering.
Chicago Chemists' Club Plans to Entertain Los Angeles Party Members of the Chemists' Club of Chicago are planning to entertain their Eastern colleagues when t h e latter pass through Chicago enroute t o t h e California meeting on July 28. I t is their understanding t h a t t h i s train will arrive in Chicago a t 2.50 P.M. and will leave a t 11.00 P.M., standard time. Chicago is on daylight saving time, which will make these hours one hour later from t h e standpoint of Chicago activities. At t h e present t i m e t h e plan is t o meet the train with autos supplemented by busses and transport t h e entire group t o the Northwestern University campus. At t h i s time the campus is especially beautiful, the Shakespearean Garden near the Patten Gymnasium is eloquent with spring enthusiasm, a n d t h e sky and the lake are vying with each other in beautiful blue. The University h a s extended the courtesies of the campus and t h e Patten Gymnasium, including showers and pool. The thought is also to supply enough autos with lady drivers from the families of N o r t h Shore chemists to take care of t h e lady
CHEMISTRY
News Edition
members of the visiting group on arrival, taking them to N o r t h Shore points of interest or to the homes of the hosts for rest, as they might choose. The ladies and gentlemen will then be reunited on the Northwestern campus for a picnic supper after which t h e entire contingent will be taken back to the station by autos. The details have not been completely worked o u t but are receiving careful consideration by appropriate committees of the Chemists' Club and later announcements will be made as to details. Until more information is known as to the number who will be passing through, the Chemists' Club cannot be sure as to the completeness of its hospitality. It is the desire of the Club, if possible, t o extend this entertainment without cost to the visiting members. Some degree of participation in t h e items of expense may be necessary, however, as the Chicago Chemists' Club is not numerically large.
Return from Los Angeles via Seattle The Puget Sound Section extends an invitation to members of the Society and their friends attending the Los Angeles meeting to join an excursion leaving Los Angeles shortly after final adjournment. Definite arrangements will be made at Los Angeles. The plan will be to cross the Siskiyou Mountains in daylight; stop six hours in Portland for an automobile trip over t h e Columbia Drive; go thence to Paradise Inn, Mount Ranier National Park, and spend a full day there among the glaciers and scenic wonders of the great Peak. The excursion will terminate in Seattle. Details of the itinery will be worked out and printed in a small folder for distribution to those interested. Registration at Los Angeles will be necessary to arrange for special sleepers and quarters a t Mount Ranier. Plan now to return via Seattle and be sure to make provision accordingly when purchasing your round trip ticket. The full advantage of the low rate including Seattle cannot be secured otherwise.
The Wembley Exhibition The British Empire Exhibition a t Wembley was opened for the 1925 season on May 9 by the King. I t again includes an interesting series of exhibits designed t o bring home the importance of chemistry and t h e chemical industry to the nation. There have been received in this country sets of mimeographed sheets describing some of t h e exhibits of t h e principal manufacturers of chemicals and chemical apparatus and it is evident that those of our readers who may be able to pay a visit to Great Britain this year should by all means include Wembley in their itinerary. Wembley is among t h e first of the expositions where a serious attempt has been made to give proper recognition to chemistry and the chemical industry and it is t o be hoped that succeeding exhibitions wherever held m a y profit from the example set.
Czechs Honor Professor Brauner To commemorate the seventieth birthday of the Czech senior chemist Professor Bohuslav Brauner of the Charles' University, Prague, one of t h e most distinguished chemists in Europe, his friends and pupils have published a Jubilee Number of the Recueil des Travaux Chimiques des Pays-Bas. T h e volume contains 33 original papers on research work in all branches of pure chemistry, covering 350 pages and including many diagrams. Most of the papers are printed in English, with some in French and German. The price is $3. The volume may be obtained on application to Dr. W. P. Jorissen, II, Hooge Rijndijk, Holland, or Dr. G. Druce, 26 Heslop Road, London, S. W. 12. Since only a limited number of copies are available, early application should be made.
Physical and Inorganic Papers " I n accordance with the present rules of t h e Division of Physical a n d Inorganic Chemistry, papers which are to appear upon the final program for the Los Angeles meeting m u s t be i n t h e hands of G. S. Forbes, Boylston Hall, Cambridge 38, Massachusetts by July 7. The papers must be complete and in form ready for publication."
A Journal for Oil Chemists M a n y members of the Society will be interested in the Journal of Oil and F a t Industries, a quarterly journal devoted to subjects related to glycerides chemistry and the by-products of t h e vegetable oil, animal fat, and glycerides industry, published b y the American Oil Chemists' Society. F . H. Smith, Experiment, Ga., is managing editor, and subscription rates are $2.50 yearly.
