INDUSTRY
& B U S I N ESS
U.S.S.R. Lags in Organic Research "Backwardness" in acetylene research hinders growth of Soviet organic chemicals industry, new report says The Soviet Union's ability to develop a strong organic chemicals industry is severely handicapped by lack of originality on the part of Soviet chemists. Furthermore, Soviet organic chemists appear reluctant to learn and apply modern chemical structures and reaction theories. This is the conclusion of a new report, "Soviet Research in Acetylene Chemistry," released by the Office of Technical Services of the Department of Commerce. The main reason why the Soviet organic chemicals industry hasn't kept pace with the more advanced nations of the West is the U.S.S.R/s backwardness in acetylene chemistry, the report says. Although Soviet chemists in the acetylene field are synthesizing many compounds, they aren't increasing the degree of sophistication of their knowledge, the report charges. Nor are they fully exploiting the conversion of large Soviet stores of oil and natural gas through the acetylene route. Therefore, Soviet progress in plastics, drugs, synthetic rubber, adhesives, and chemical intermediates will be retarded. By 1963, the report says, the Soviets' research ability in acetylene chemistry will have improved only very slightly. It maintains that the U.S.S.R. will continue to depend on technology developed by the U.S. and western Europe when it deals with the more advanced areas of acetylene chemistry. Half for Welding. The U.S.S.R. uses about 50% of its acetylene for welding and cutting, the other 50% for its organic chemicals industry, according to the government report. About 80% of acetylene produced in the U.S. is used in organic chemicals, plastics, and rubber, only 20% in welding and cutting. The trend in the U.S.S.R., however, is to follow the use pattern of the U.S. This policy, says the report, will eventually lead to greater use of acetylene in the Soviets' organic chemicals industry. Calcium carbide is the principal 26
C&EN
NOV.
28,
1960
source of acetylene in the U.S.S.R., according to the report. Petroleum and natural gas (two widely used sources of acetylene in the U.S.) are just beginning to be exploited by the Soviets. Since the Soviets have large resources of coal and limestone (calcium carbide raw materials) and are expanding hydroelectric power stations in the areas of these resources, calcium carbide is expected to be a primary source of acetylene in the U.S.S.R. for many years. A major portion of the Soviets' acetylene research follows that estabished in the U.S., the study says. Most of this research is conducted at the Academy of Sciences, U.S.S.R.; the Moscow State University imeni M. V. Lomonosov; the Leningrad State University; and the Leningrad Technological Institute imeni Lensovet. These laboratories are generally well equipped, says the report, and almost all their apparatus is Soviet made and of good quality. Who's Working. Four chemists stand out in recent years in the field of Soviet acetylene research, according to the Commerce report: M. F. Shostakovskiy (noted for his work with vinyl compounds) at the Academy of Sciences; A. A. Petrov (known for preparing high-molecular compounds from acetylene chemicals) at Leningrad Technological Institute; A. D. Petrov (working in the field of organosilicon compounds derived from acetylene), also at the Academy of Sciences; and I. N. Nazarov (noted particularly for his synthesis of biological and pharmaceutical compounds). I. N. Nazarov died in 1957, but his influence will be felt for many years, the report says. The tendency in Soviet chemistry is to adhere to chemical methods that were discovered by the Soviets, the report states, even though these methods may be outmoded. This is probably why the Soviets continue to produce acetaldehyde by the catalytic hydration of acetylene, a method that
was discovered about 50 years ago by a Soviet chemist, M. G. Kucherov, it adds. New Records. While the Soviets may be lagging in acetylene chemistry, they are making gains in industrial output. At least that's what new figures from the Central Statistical Board of the U.S.S.R. Council of Ministers show. Industrial output in the Soviet Union was up 10% for the first nine months of this year compared with the same period of a year ago, according to the new figures. During the same period, output in the chemical and rubber industry increased 111% over the year before. Specific gains scored by the Soviets during this year's first nine months, compared to the like period of last year, include: steel production, up 109% to 48.8 million tons; iron ore production, up 112% to 79.3 million tons; oil production, up 114% to 109 million tons; gas production, up 128% to 33.5 billion cubic meters; and coal production, up 102% to 387 million tons. According to Soviet figures, gains also were racked up in mineral fertilizers (output up 107% to 10.1 million tons), sulfuric acid (output up 107%? to 4 million tons), man-made fibers (production jumped 116% to 152,000 tons), chemical equipment (output up 1387
