INTERNATIONAL
WORLD WIDE
CHEMISTRY
Restrictions on research a n d production curtailing progress of G e r m a n chemical industry A CONSIDERABLE shortage of benzene -** exists in Germany, according to A. F. Ernecke, commercial consul of the Gerwho spoke before the American section of SCI in New nzene is used in the production of phenol for phenolaldehyde resins, as a starting material for styrol, in the production of Buna, and in synthetic detergents, it has, since the war, become much in demand. A third of the quantity produced in Germany is used as motor fuel, but because of export obligations the remainder is not yet fully available to the chemical industry. Until new coke works can be built (the present works have reached the limit of their capacity) efforts have been made to produce a larger quantity of benzene by means of synthesis. Before the war a balance existed between production and consumption of benzene. In general, the chemical industry of Germany is far behind other countries, in Dr. Ernecke's opinion. It was set back especially after the war with the continuous devaluation of the mark and the consequent lack of building and raw materials. Currency reform and the Marshall Plan have been the chief factors in getting the industry back on its feet.
man Diplomatic Mission, York recently. Because be
German "Firsts" in Chemical Developments Germany contributed primarily to the manufacture and development of the synthetic fiber by producing the first polyvinyl chloride fiber. Likewise, Germany contributed to a great extent to the development of a polymerization product on the basis of acrylonitrile-Orlon. However, in contrast to the United States, the large scale exploitation of this product is only in preparation. The Farbwerke Mainkur will produce the polyacrylonitrile fiber PAN on a large scale. The fiber is considered very promising because of its excellent technical qualities. Contrary to the nylon fiber, which is produced out of adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine, the German Perlon production starts from caprolactam. In contrast to the United States, the output of polyamide fiber in Germany is still very low. In 1950 it amounted to one tenth of the USA production. However, the production will be increased greatly, since in the opinion of the experts, the polyamides will not be displaced by other synthetic fibers like Orion and Terylenes. By means of completely new syntheses it has been possible to produce complicated chemical compounds out of small chemical building stones, such as acetylene, ethylene, carbon monoxide, or water, the production of which has been impos2324
sible until now. The first practical result of this type of synthesis was the production of butadiene. The method comprises a series of intermediary reaction products which, in turn, became starting materials for new syntheses and numerous other new products. One of them is, e.g., vinylpyrrolidon, whose polymer (Kollidon) serves as a substitute for blood plasma. Kollidon 30 which is the most compatible form has found wide distribution in a great number of countries as Macrose, Plasmosan, Isoplasma, etc. Moreover, Kollidon has the ability to bind other chemical substances, such as protein and poisons, make them water-soluble, and thus remove them from the body. A very high molecular Kollidon is of great interest as a means for depositing drugs, and, likewise, a radioactive Kollidon. Coal a Source of Motor Fuel For the motor fuel production from coal, e.g., by means of the FischerTropsch process, coal is used predominantly today which is high in ash. Further development of the F-T synthesis after the war (using new catalysts and higher pressure) resulted in an increased versatility of this synthesis (production of high octane gasoline, recovery of very valuable waxes and Diesel oils). The costs of such a modern installation are not higher than in 1936; they are, as a matter of fact, much lower, considering the prices which have gone up in the meantime. Inasmuch as the supply of mineral oil in Germany is predominantly dependent upon the import of crude oil, and is thereby bound to foreign currency, the task of getting the F-T installations into operation is of vital importance to the German economy. The installations, which have been started already, will be mentioned with reference to the planning of the production (propyl alcohol besides highly valuable aliphatic hydrocarbons). The synthetic oil industry—high pressure hydrogenation and F-T synthesisdeveloped as a result of the geological and political conditions. In view of the limited supplies of natural oil, the United States has a great interest in this German development. The cooperation in this field, from the economical, scientific, and technical point of view, between the United States and Germany is therefore most desirable, said Dr. Ernecke. After the dismantling of the Buna installation of the Chemischen Werke Hiils, and after the lifting of the prohibition of production, some of the butadiene ovens could be put into operation again. The presently-used procedure (four-step CHEMICAL
method), however, has to be looked upon as being outdated, and is to be replaced by another method (starting with butylene, the method has been brought to technical maturity in the U. S.). Because of several laws of the Allied High Commission there still exists a number of restrictions on research and production in the German chemical industry. Dr. Ernecke expressed hope that some of these might be lifted. Attention was called to expenditures for chemical research. According to statistics, $9.50 per capita is spent in the United States, compared with only 20 cents in Germany. The possibilities for research are adversely affected by high taxes and by the small depreciation which is permitted. The scientific institutes of the universities and the technical high schools are especially concerned.
UNESCO Sponsors Symposium On Desert Research At a symposium on desert research sponsored by UNESCO in Jerusalem last month, Walter C. Lowdermilk of USDA Soil Conservation Service warned that "extinction will overtake the race of man no less than it overtook the race of dinosaurs" if science and international cooperation were not used in meeting the needs of the rapidly increasing population of the world. Dr. Lowdermilk, who is a consultant to FAO, told the conference the problem was not so much one of conquest of natural deserts as of reconquest of man-made deserts that have resulted from neglect and misuse. Fifty scientists from 12 countries participated in the sessions, after which they left for a field trip in the Negeb desert area to inspect irrigation works and development begun by the Israelis. A future arid zone program was discussed, which will be submitted to UNESCO. The situation in Israel was considered an ideal one to observe in studying the problem of conservation, because it represents, in microcosm, a situation that exists in varying degrees in many other parts of the world. Although the scientists are concerned with the problem on a universal scale, Israel, attempting to coax food from her southern deserts to support more and more immigrants, considers it a vital question even in the short run.
Carnauba Wax Institute Proposed for Brazil The establishment of an Institute of Carnauba Wax has been proposed to the federal congress of Brazil. It is expected that the proposal will receive favorable support from most of the deputies representing the northeastern states. The purpose of the institute would be to control the classification, exportation, and price of the wax in order to increase production and provide for its greater industrialization. AND
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