840 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY Vol. 12, NO. 9

The deposits of salt in the United States are unimportant. If the Geological Survey and the Agricultural De- The country possesses no really considerable salt industry partment will make the search they will earn the ever- but is supplied so far as interior consumption is concerned to lasting gratitude of the farmer, and release the strangle- a small extent by brine springs. hold which European has on this country. The principal supplies, however, are derived from England, Pending that time, the only hope for normally priced and the shores of Spain and Portugal. The same remark potash is for the final successful development of the applies to Canada. processes for recovering potash from greensand or This statement was probably made about 1860 to feldspar, one very large plant for which is nearing com- 1870 and was doubtless true then, but in 1887 the pletion ih New Jersey, which will produce potash United States produced over I,IOO,OOO tons; in 1900, of the highest grades of all salts required. By the z,8oo,ooo; and in 1,913,4,800,000 tons. Likewise the sale of its valuable by-product at ordinary prices its price of common salt in 1866 was about $13.00per ton, potash cost will be less than nothing. and in 1887, $3.50 per ton at the mines, while in 1913 The Government’s potash search reminds me of the it got as low as $2.00 per ton. golfer who, after losing the hole, looking for his ball When the potash deposits which are surely there are in the heavy “rough” where his unscrupulous opponent developed, $5 or $IO per ton for 80 per cent “thought it went,” finds it too late nicely placed in the muriate of potash will be a high price, and no greater fair green where “there was no use looking as it benefit can accrue to the farmer than this. couldn’t have come that far.” OUR FOREIGN TRADE IN CHEMICALS

By 0.P. Hopkins 1824 BELMONTROAD, WASHINGTON. D. C

Two years of peace have not weakened the com- year of America’s participation in the war, and the manding position in foreign trade attained during the year just closed. Apology is offered for the groupings war by the American chemical industry. Official in this table, and also for the fact that 1918 has been statistics for the fiscal year 1920 demonstrate that this selected in preference to any one of several others. It country has been able to keep its trade in chemical is, of course, impossible to arrive at such totals for quan- and allied products very near the high mark set during tities, but in the more detailed tables that follow, quan- the war, despite the loss of markets for purely war tities have been given wherever possible, values being supplies, and despite the pressing demands that must stated only when quantities were not available. All be met in the domestic market compilations are based upon statistics of the Bureau In almost all lines, except munitions, the exports in of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Washington, D. C. 1920 exceeded in value those in 1918,a fact that can SUMMARYOF FOREIGNTRADS IN CHEMICALSAND ALLIEDPRODUCTS be explained in some cases, perhaps, by rising prices, (In Millions of Dollars) -IMPORTS- -EXPORTS- but which nevertheless warrants the assertion that CLASSES 1914 1918 1920 1914 1918 1920 the position has not been weakened. These exports, Chemicals ...... 72 109 8.5 15 140 92 Drugs medicines, etc ...... 9 11 20 11 21 41 which very greatly exceed those of the last normal ’...... 10 9 6 (2 17 26 Explhves ...... 1 8 2 379 28 pre-war year, are made up almost entirely of manu- Fertilizers ...... 28 5 39 12 6 33 Gums, , etc...... 88 227 330 20 11 37 factured products. Oils, fats, ...... 75 199 319 194 367 607 Paints, pigments, etc...... 2 1 2 7 17 27 Imports have more than held their own and com- Tannine materials...... 5 7 12 1 4 6 Pa~GZXpulp...... 30 66 106 6 30 33 prise raw and partly manufactured products required Miscellaneous productsl...... 120 253 701 44 132 324 for further advancement by American chemical manu- Miscellaneous materials...... __8 -6 -9 -2 -3 -4 f acturers. TOTAL...... 448 901 i63i 318 1127 1258 1 The importance of this class is due to the inclusion of sugar, The A very rough estimate puts the total value of exports articles making up this class are shown in the detailed table of miscellaneous products. of all chemical and allied products at a billion and a z$400,000. quarter dollars in 1920,a slight increase over the total THE TRADE IN CHEXICALS’ for 1918, and about four times the figure for 1914, There has been a falling off in the value of both the last normal year. Imports, estimated in the same exports and imports of chemicals since the war, but rough way, were valued at more than a billion and a the decline is due almost solely to the cessation of the half dollars in 1920, an increase of some 80 per cent demand for war supplies. Exports of picric acid, for over 1918,and nearly four times the total for 1914. instance, have practically ceased, and this was an Both exports and imports have quadrupled since 1914. item of prime importance in the total for the war year Sugar is included in these totals and accounts for much 1918. Aside from war supplies, the statistics indicate of the increase in imports. that the exports of chemicals have as a whole been Although values are no longer a reliable guide in maintained since hostilities ceased, and have for some making trade comparisons, asummary table of values has groups been increased. Sodas have more than held been compiled to show at a glance the tendencies in the their own, owing largely to the insatiable demand for chemical trade for the fiscal years ended June 30, 1914, 1 The term “chemicals” is here used in the usual restricted sense, BS 1918, and 1920; that is, the last normal year, a full not including drugs, medicines, and dyes. Sept., 1920 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY 841 caustic soda the world over. The war stimulated the CHEMICALS,DRUGS, DYES, ETC.(Concluded) ARTICLES 1914 1918 1920 growth of domestic industries in all countries, and Imports many of these industries require caustic soda. The Soda: Cyanide lbs...... (1) 84,652 8,629,502 230,000,000 lbs. of this alkali exported in 1920 repre- Nitrate,’tons...... 564,049 1 607 020 907 041 All other salts of, value.. ... $487,038 $389:384 $1,6421589 sent an increase of more than 70 per cent over the Sulfur tons ...... 19,389 282 47 Surnai. lbs...... 10,770,340 14,046,662 21,180,414 quantity shipped in 1918, while the foreign sales in All other chemicals, drugs dyes, etc., value...... $13,676,032 $18,881,465 $6,727,411 1914were not important enough to be stated separately Exports in the official statistics. In a few cases, such as cal- Acids: Carbolic, Ibs...... 8,688,554 2,223 205 cium carbide and acetate of lime, the 1920 figures are Nitric, lbs...... 961 494 820’517 Picric, lbs...... 56,193:952 8:073 lower than in 1914,but for the class as a whole the Sulfuric, Ibs...... 12, $35,750 67$5:673:707 654 722 32 336 893 All other value...... $357 035 $5:291’987 trade is greatly in excess of the pre-war totals, as will Alcohol, wdod, gal, ...... 32,845,6491,598:776 2 538 001 687:008 be seen in the table entitled “Trade in Chemicals, Calcium carbide, lbs...... 28:869:68653.955 2 1,164,404 Coal bbls...... 22,150 81,640 Drugs, Dyes, etc.” Coal-tar‘distillates, n. e. s.: Benzol, lbs ...... 25 400 852 17 282 368 Imports have fallen off as compared in value with All other value...... $5:620:851 $3:611:514 Copper sudate, lbs...... 15,164,078 4,s 11,724 those of 1918,but considering the rise in prices, the Dyes and dyestuffs: Aniline dyes, value...... ( 9 $7 298 298 $1 7,130,397 total is probably about the same as in 1914. Logwood extract, value.. ... (9 $7’284’1$2’339’480 10 1,832,231 All other, value...... $356 919’ f 6,829,937 TRADEIN CHEMICALS,DRUGS, DYES, ETC. Extracts for tanning, value.. .. $639:941 $3’804’5 63 ARTICLES 1914 1918 1920 Formaldehyde, value...... (9 $866:038 $%$:% Imports Glycerol, lbs...... 36,409,619 1,875,531 2 257 623 Infants’ food. value...... (9 $1,908,14 1 $3:032:330 Acids (except coal-tar acids) : Lime. acetate of. Ibs...... 68,160,224 15,490,032 32,885,132 Oxalic, lbs.. 8 507 850 792 383 1401 547 ...... Chioride of, 16s...... (1) 13,060,401 31,252,379 All other value...... $1:133:252 $3,051:634 $4:004:018 Medicinal and pharmaceutical Albumin ehg Ibs ...... (1) (1) 8,956,845 preparations value...... $6 721 978 $10 190 188 $20 118 271 Ammonik, mhate, lbs...... 9,176,729 1,120,074 5,344,028 Perfumery and c&metics, value $2’309’027 $3 ‘965 ’465 $7’979’237 Argols, lbs.. 29,793,911 30,267,388 26,638,337 ...... Petroleum ..jelly, value...... $661:889 S1:278:658 $3:156:286 Arsenic or orpiment, lbs...... 4,432,793 9,260,768 6,470,700 Potash: Balsams, not containing alco- Chlorate. lbs...... (1) 1 564 662 2 a45 858 hol, Ibs (1) 745,151 ...... (9 All other, value...... (1) $961:989 $3:362:827 Calcium, acetate, crude chlo- , herbs, barks: ride, carbide and nitrate, lbs. (1) (9 76,845,476 , lbs...... 224 605 $784,51425 9,s9 2 220,970 Chemical and medicinal com- All other, value...... $5 13:071 $1.793.064 pounds, n. e. s.: Soda: Alkalies alkaloids, prepara- Bicarbonate, lbs...... (1) (1) 11,998,5103 tions,’mixtures, etc., lbs.. (1) 6,907,035 . (1) Borax, lbs...... (1) (9 10,943,110’ Medicinal preparations (see Caustic, lbs...... (1) 134,729,691 229,684,163 also coal-tar products), Sal soda, lbs...... (1) 14,076,264 12,763,399 value...... S1,03 1,054 $5 19,338 5,625,586 Silicate, lbs...... (1) 26,127,870 33,692,535 All other...... (1) (9 !1,388,577 Ash, lbs ...... (1) 198902457 115997980 Cinchona bark, and alkaloids or All other salts of, value.. ... (1) $7:421:521 $7:47 1:808 salts of: Sulfur tons...... 110 022 140 525 393,404 Barks, cinchona or other All other chemicals, etc , value 69,0191582 $42,945:083 $42,573,500 from which qhinine may be extracted Ibs...... 3,648,868 3,273,628 5,242,724 1 Not shown separately. , sulfaie of, and all 9 Represents the total value of all dyes and dyestuffs in 1914. alkaloids or salts of cin- 8 Period from Jan. 1 to June 30, 1920. chona bark, 02...... 2,879,466 1,445,702 4,580,807 Coal-tar products : Crudes DRUGS, MEDICINES, AND TOILET PREPARATIONS Acid. carbolic. lbs...... 8.392.995 127,574 157,319 Benzol, lbs...... (1)’ (1) 170,519 Both exports and imports of this class of chemicals , lbs ...... (1) (9 8,188,303 oil, gal...... 60,900,435 3,857,869 8,338,761 have increased in value at a rather remarkable rate Naphthalene lbs...... (1) 6,113,858 Tar and Ditch. bbls...... $1 25,540 20,607 since 1918. Increases in prices have not been sufficient Toluol, lbs.. . ’...... (1) (1) 1,195 706 All other crudes, value.. .. (1) (9 $65:818 to account for this fact. Exports of medicinal and Intermediates Acids pharmaceutical preparations alone were valued at Carbolic (phenol), lbs.. (1) 498,264 30 . $20,000,000 in or twice the total for and All other lbs...... (1) (1) 11,512 1920, 1918 Aniline salt$, lbs...... 3,184,467 21,273 about three times the total for 1914. good part of All other intermediates.. .. (1) ( 1) $iij,k53 A Finished products the new business is with districts that once depended Alizarin and dves. Ibs.. ... 2.633.414I_ 29,323 257,841 Colors or dves.-, .n. e. s.. pretty largely upon Europe for such supplies. While value...... $7,24 1,406 $2,507,296 $3,775,216 Indigo synthetic lbs...... 8,125,2111 1,012,585 1,014,100 the exports have been manufactured products, the im- Medicinal preparations.. .. (1) (1) $112 611 Other finished products.. . (1) (1) $7912 16 ports are almost entirely raw materials, the largest All other coal-tar products, value...... $1,636,750 $520,941 .... item being cinchona bark and products, the quantity Extracts and decoctions for of which has doubled since 1918, a year somewhat , lhs...... (1) (1) 1,581,534 ~-Extracts for tannine. below the 1914normal. (See table “Trade in Chem- Quebra&o-lbL.-;.-.- ...... 93,329,087 101 523 282 154,944,7 17 All other ibs...... 8,710,040 4:573:925 7,380,920 icals, Drugs, Dyes, etc.”) Fusel oil aid butyl alcohol lbs. 5,802,369 1,606,528 6,196,179 Glycerol, crude, Ibs.. 36.409.619 1,875,531 15,656,463 ...... DYES Indigo, natural, lbs...... (1) 2,113,912 126,539 Iodine, lbs...... 195,087 268,281 523,313 Lactarene lbs...... 10,798,614 12,133,855 24,039,313 We are nearly two years away from the armistice, Licorice rdot Ibs...... 115,636,131 26,982 932 48,045,373 Lime, chloride of, Ibs ...... 47,423.651 4:285 830,207 yet the German avalanche of dyes has not overwhelmed Citrate of lbs...... 3,097,265 4,253,686 10,431,314 Magnesite, Aot purified, tons. . 289,494,316 23,499,789 27,503 us-a circumstance attributed in some quarters to Opium, containing 9 per cent or the fact that we have had “more luck than sense.” more morphine, lbs...... 455,200 157,834 628,979 Perfumeries, cosmetics, etc., The protection asked for at home has been withheld, value...... $2,309,027 $3,497,695 $5,545,606 Potash (not for fertilizer): but outside circumstances have postponed the crisis. Carbonate lbs...... 20,603,593 14,468,211 22,142,554 Cyanide, lis...... 808,721 144,225 5,175,608 Statistics show that the value of imported dyes, - Hydrate, not over 15 per cent caustic soda, lbs...... 8,450,402 11,732 782,477 stuffs, and dyewoods of all kinds has decreased since hTitrate,lbs...... 3,546,580 8,820,367 26,862,012 All other, lbs...... 5,775,588 1,662,153 2,198,178 1918,but the quantity of synthetic dyes has increased 1 Not stated,,separately. somewhat, the bulk of the supplies still coming from 2 Stated as Indigo, natural or synthetic” in 1914, but was probably dargely synthetic. Switzerland. The imports of natural dyes and raw 84 2 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY Vol . 12. No . g materials have fallen away as the domestic industry SUMMARYOF TRADE IN Ons ARTICLES 1914 1918 1920 developed . In the meantime. our exports of aniline Imports Oils: dyes have more than doubled. reaching a value of Animal ...... $1.034. 000 $3.678. 000 $3.629. 000 000 in while our sales of logwood ex- Mineral ...... 13.666. 000 21.926. 000 41.050. 000 $17.000. 1920. Fixed vegetable ...... 28.829. 000 87.986. 000 141.023.000 tract and all other dyes have shown a slight falling Essential., ...... 3.492. 000 4.338. 000 90.439. 000 Oil-bearing materials: off . A year or so ago Japan was the principal pur- Castor beans ...... 1.139. 000 2.274. 000 30.674. 000 Copra ...... 2.395. 000 26.946. 000 76.845.14.971. 000 chaser of our synthetic colors. but the largest ship- Flaxseed ...... 10.571.000 34.217. 000 ments now go to China and India. where the Peanuts ...... 1.899. 000 4.771. 000 12.382. 000 Oilq .Exports industry is developing rapidly . All in all. it is con- .... Animal...... 822.000 1.155.000 3.426. 000 servative to say that the dye industry in this country Mineral...... 152.174. 000 289,037.000 426.598. 000 Fixed vegetable ...... 15.624. 000 2.3.930.000 96.226. 000 has been developed more successfully than in any of Essential ...... 628. 000 1.091.000 2.230. 000 the other countries that were thrown upon their own Details of the oil trade are shown in the next table: resources in 1914. Details of the dye trade are shown TRADEIN OILS. FATS.AND WAXES in the table “Trade in Chemicals. Drugs. Dyes. etc.,” ARTICLW 1914 1918 1920 and the dyewoods are mentioned in the table “Trade Imports Oils. animal: in Miscellaneous Materials.” Cod and codliver. gal ...... 1.393. 7061 2.021. 656 1.943. 357 All other. gal ...... 1.488.973 2.906. 473 1.294. 134 G MATERIALS Oils. mineral: Crude. gal ...... 773.052. 480 1.347.543. 144 2.826.860. 902 Refined. Imports of tanning extracts were 50 per cent higher Benzene, gasoline, naphtha. gal ...... 16.139. 912 11.069. 899 22.037. 592 in quantity in 1920 than in 1918and 1914.quebracho All other. gal ...... 1.945. 007 45.114. 581 5935 1.3 12 extract being the big item. with a total of 155.000. 000 Oils. fixed vegetable: Chinese . gal ...... 4.932. 444 4.815. 740 10.613.638 Ibs. Purchases of bark and are falling off as or butterine. lbs . 2 838 761 405 41.500 lbs ...... 74’386’213 259.194. 853 269.226. 966 the countries of origin learn to manufacture the ex- Cottonsged . lbs...... 17:293:201 14.29 1.3 13 24.164. 821 Linseed. gal ...... 192.282 50. 827 4.550. 391 tract . Exports of tanning extracts have also increased. Olive. non.edible. gal ...... 763. 924 114.324 216. 145 Olive. edible. gal ...... 6.217. 560 2 537 512 6.812. 596 the total value in 1920 being about $6.000.000. as Palm. lbs ...... 58.040. 202 27:405:231 50.163. 387 Palm.kerne1 . lbs ...... 34.327.600 18.618 53. 508 compared with $3.800.000 in 1918.and less than a Peanut. gal ...... i;337;136 8.288. 756 22.064. 363 million dollars in 1914. The value of exports is still Rape-seed gal ...... 1.464.265 3.056. 438 1.229. 526 So -bean ibs...... 16 362 452 336 824 646 195$2:974:966 773 594 below that of imports. (See table “Trade in Chem- Alrother value ...... $439:009 $2:027:137 Oils. distillid. and essential: icals. Drugs. Dyes. etc.,” for extracts. and “Trade in tar and cajeput. value . (2) $25. 981 $20. 019 Lemon . lbs ...... 385.959 628 057 870 170 Miscellaneous Materials” for bark and wood.) All other value ...... $2. 633.789 $3. 884.287 $8.370.317 Oleostearin: lbs ...... 5.243. 553 6.575. 379 1.307. 837 OILS. FATS. AND WAXES Paraffin (except oil). lbs...... 7.495. 459 8.997. 023 8.687. 728 .. . Beeswax lbs...... 1.412. 200 1 826 618 3.923. 687 There have been some sensational developments in Mineral. ’lbs...... 8.086. 422 1:708:5 14 2.816. 700 Vegetable. lbs...... 4.255. 686 8.707. 396 42:165:2879 949 567 our trade in vegetable oils . The imports of soy-bean Grease and oils. n . e . s., Ibs .... 22.322. 492 28.000. 428

Oil~~ seeds..... and __nuts: ... oil. which in 1914totaled only a little over 16.000.000 Castor beans bu ...... 1 030 543 1 222 934 1 416 328 ooo in :hell, value ..... $2:133:416 $2:788:635 $4:830:548 lbs., reached the remarkable figure of 337.000. lbs . Copra lbs ...... 45,437, 155 486.996. 112 21 8.521. 946 during the war year only to fall back to Flaxse‘ed. bu ...... 8.653.235.. 13.187.609 23.391. 934 1918. Peanuts 196.000.000 lbs . in 1920. It is probable that dis- Not shelled lbs ...... 17.472. 631 3.150. 747 12.067. 998 Shelled. Ibs; ...... 27.077. 158 73.362. 215 120.344. 425 turbed conditions in northeastern China had some- Exports thing to do with the decline. Coconut oil again leads Oils animal: Fish. gal ...... 448. 366 464. 936 1. 310478 all the vegetable oils in quantity. with a total of Lard. gal ...... 110. 199 91. 585 1.452.130:635 489 All other. gal ...... 891. 035 442. 496 269.000. 000 lbs . in 1920. a gain of 10.000.ooo lbs . over Oils. mineral: Crude. gal ...... 146.477. 342 186.672. 778 354.357. 795 1918. and of nearly 200.000.000 lbs . over 1914. In Refined or manufactured fact. coconut oil was exported from this country to Fuel and gas. gal ...... 475.143. 205 1. 224 807 405 690 895 418 Illuminating. gal ...... 1 .157.283. 310 528’805’501 914:137:071 the extent of 141.000.000 lbs in 1920. its first appear- Lubricating. gal ...... 196.884. 696 269:667:145 339.701. 134 . Gasoline. gal ...... 151.611. 537 260.300. 337 294185:265:961 949 121 ance in official export statistics. Another newcomer Other naphthas. gal ...... 40.840. 730 207 905 009 Residuum. gal ...... 113.370. 245 1:879:475 48.300. 361 among the exports is cocoa butter. with a total of more Oils. fixed vegetable: .. (2) 11.048.416 than 11.000.ooo lbs . But the most interesting is soy- Coconut oil. lbs ...... (2) 141.063. 943 Corn. lbs ...... 18.28\1:5i6 1.831. 114 12.482. 679 bean oil. which was exported to the extent of about Cottonseed. Ibs ...... 192.963. 079 100.005.074 159.400. 618 239. 198 1.187. 850 1.136.585 68.000. 000 lbs., in spite of the falling off in imports. (2) (2) 4.922. 781 As the total of “all other” vegetable oils in 1918 was .. (2) Pi 67.781. 974 .. $338. 956 $3.948. 483 $3.258. 446 less than $4.000.000. or about the same as in 1920. it Oils. distilled and essential: Peppermint. lbs ...... 11 7. 809 76. 247 90.255 is evident that this new export business has come All other. value ...... $230. 557 $857.044 $1.551. 992 Grease : into existence since the end of the war . Lubricating. Val 2.394.918 $2 986 815 $8:994:603$6 I57 323 Soap stock. etc., 5.046. 959 $2;6 12:488 Of the mineral oils. the export of fuel and gas Oleo oil. lbs ...... 97.017. 065 56.648. 102 74.529. 394 Oleomargarine. Ibs ...... 2.532. 821 6.404. 896 20.952. 180 oil is only about half of the total of more than a Paraffin : billion gallons in 1918.although still higher than in Unrefined. lbs ...... 186.357. 728 84.657. 140 79.023.341 Refined . lbs . ... 12).. 162.003. 480 81.784. 255 1914. Shipments illuminating oil have. on the other Stearin : of Animal. Ibs ...... 2.724. 182 10.252. 522 22.505. 602 hand. increased more than 70 per cent since 1918. Vegetable. Ibs ...... (2) 1.293.327 5.138. 225 Wn...... Y although the total is still below the billion and more Beeswax. lbs ...... 96. 215 189.871 641. 357 Manufactures of. value ...... $1 12. 193 $717. 181 $1.203. 47 1 gallons for 1914. Exports of lubricating oil have-in- Oil seeds and nuts: Cottonseed. lbs ...... 16.342. 384 1.565.052 3.505. 118 creased steadily. as have those of gasoline . Flaxseed. bu ...... 30.5. 546 21.481 24. 044 A summary table showing the trade in oils by value Peanuts. lbs ...... 8.054. 8 17 12.488.209 l4.137. 956 ]Period from Oct . 3. 1913. to June 30. 1914 follows: Not stated separately . Sept., 1920 THE JOURNAL OF INDliSTRIAL AKD EXGILVEERING CHEMISTRY 843

GUMS, RESINS, AXD beyond the bar and ingot stage will be of some little Substantial increases are shown in the imports of interest to certain branches of the chemical industry. nearly all the gums and resins as compared with the SUXMARYOF TRADEIN PRINCIPALMETALS figuret; for 1918 and 1914. The total of 34,000,ooo ARTICLES 1914 1918 1920 Imports lbs. of is twice that for 1914,while the 44,000,ooo Antimony...... $696,000 $4,435,000 $1,284,000 lbs. of copal, kauri, and damar is nearly Chromate of iron...... 737,000 1,543,000 1,419,000 IO,OOO,OOO Copper...... 54,506,000 122,450,000 94,310,000 lbs. in excess of that for the last normal year. The Iron...... 11,879,000 9,652,000 12,221,000 Lead...... ;. 2,057,000 11,970,000 6,817,000 increase in purchases of rubber has been enormous, Manganese...... 1,841,000 11,945,000 8,086,000 Nickel...... 6,110,000 9,120,000 6,848,000 as the total of 632,000~000lbs. in 1920 is nearly five Platinum...... 3,976,000 4,575,000 6,990,000 Tin., ...... 39,422,000 84,834,000 92,790,000 times the amount brought in in 1914, and almost Tungsten ore...... 114,000 5,794,000 2,589,000 double that recorded in Zinc...... 616,000 2,560,000 965,000 1918. Exports The exports of naval stores are still far below the Aluminium...... 1,102,000 8,746,000 5,195,000 Bauxite concentrates...... 616,000 1,465,000 1,709,000 1914 total in quantity, although an improvement is Copper...... 149,480,000 244,328,000 127,996,000 shown over Detailed figures follow: Ferrovanadium ...... 503,000 2,578,000 254,000 1918. Iron...... 6,261,000 20,579,000 14,454,000 TRADEIN Gum, RESINS, AND NAVALSTORES Lead...... 2,610,000 17,376,000 4,207,000 Nickel., ...... 9,404,000 7,681,000 1,144,000 ARTICLES 1914 1918 1920 Tungstpn and ferrotungsten...... 4,056,000 58,000 Imports Zinc...... 995.000 28,015,000 22,927,000 : Crude, natural, lbs...... 3,476,908 3,638,334 4,025,s 17 MISC E LL A N E 0 U S MATE RIAL S Refined and synthetic, lbs.. . 566,106 1,189,932 1,685,633 lbs...... 8,040,891 6,408,093 9,699,863 Copal,’ kauri, damar, lbs.. ... 32,693,412 30,003,549 44,480,003 The export and import trade in a number of mate- Gambier. lbs...... 14,936,129 8,964,832 10,207,013 rials that could not conveniently be grouped elsewhere , lbs...... (1) (1) 66,7 18,308 Shellac, lbs...... 16,7 19,756 22,913,256 34.151.209 is shown in the following table: Other gums, lbs...... 2,622,098 India rubber, etc.: TRADE IN &fISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS Balata, Ibs...... 1,533,024 2,449,881 2,013,737 Guayule gum, lbs., ...... 1,475,804 4,307,539 1,314,913 ARTICLES 1914 1918 1920 Gutta joolatong, lbs ...... 24,926,571 17,475,863 18,392,164 Imoorta~~~.-~-- Gutta-percha, lbs...... 1,846,109 1,151,3 12 6,496,309 AsphaItum and bitumen, tons.. 180 689 139,899 93,397 India rubber lbs...... 131,995,742 389,599,015 632,392,636 Blood, dried, value., ...... $391:816 $462,703 $678 307 India-rubber’scrap, lbs...... 25,958,261 13,980,303 14,236,098 Bones, hoofs, horns, value.. ... $1,061,466 $1,374,546 $1,754:892 Exports Dyewoods, crude state: Naval stores: Logwood, tons...... 30,062 52,027 45,073 , bbls ...... 2 417,950 1,073,889 1,321,535 All other. tons...... 7,663 35,449 3,358 Tar, ,,, bbls.. 35 1,352 82,030 61,826 Fish sounds, lbs...... (11 33 1,248 79,679 Turpentine, spirits of, gal.. . 18,900,704 5,100,124 7,461,455 Gelatin, unmanufactured, lbs.. . 2,341,317 365,586 1,121,117 Hide cuttings and other glue 1 hTot stated separately. stock, lbs...... 2,158,s 141 21,710,205 26,248,154 and seaweed: FERTILIZERS Crude, value. .. $301 259 $230 163 $459 9 12 All other, value 554:376 $8:514 $40:711 Potash and manure salts, which mere practically Rennets, value.. ... $129,720 $62,173 $159,039 Salt 100 lbs ...... 3,076,071 1,028,231 1,756,240 non-existent in the import statistics in 1918,came over Tan’ning materials: 7,689 73,956 2,544 in corisiderable quantities in 1920, so that something ~~“,“b“,‘o”,”h”,”!&,t~~~;::::::73,956 45,440 33,672 All other, value...... $468,230 $496,070 $2,757,859 like half of the total for 1914 was attained. There beans, lbs ...... 897,100 914,668 1,130,836 is no telling what the total would have been if there Exports Asphaltum: had been no obstacles in the way of getting supplies. Unmanufactured, tons...... 49 831 22,052 47,024 Sccurnulated demands abroad for our phosphates, on Manufactures of, value...... $3621347 $488,892 $682,753 Barks for tanning, tons...... (1) 194 513 the ot.her hand, brought the export total much above Moss, value...... $51,006 $99,793 $141,000 Salt. 100 lbs...... 1.489.312 2,670,458 2,574.937 the 1914 figure. The exports of 93,000 tons of super- 1 Not stated separately. phosphates are an interesting item. The total in 1918 2 Quantity not given for 1914. was only 6,1j j tons, and there was no note made of MISCELL ANE 0 US PROD UCT S this product in Details are given in the following 1914. number of products usually considered in con- table, which does not, however, include sodium nitrate: h nection with the chemical industry have been grouped TRADEIN FERTILIZERS ARTICLES 1914 1918 1920 in the next table. The most important of these is Imports sugar, the inclusion of which gives the group a total Ammonium sulfate, tons...... 83,377 3,983 2,587 Bone dust, ash, and meal, tons 41,450 8,511 7,340 that is misleading. It should be borne in mind that Calcium cyanamide, tons...... (1) (1) 84,678 large quantities of sugar are now purchased in Cuba Guano, tons, , . . 21,887 1 18,796 Kainite, tons. .. 541,846 274,761 on British account, to be refined here and then shipped Manure salts tons...... 261,342 249,348 Potash, n. e. i.: to England. This sugar is included in both the import Muriate, tons 237,886 723 110,324 Sulfate, tons...... 45,139 135 ’ 6,356 and export statistics. All other substances used only as ferl.ilizers, value...... $6,199,554 $4,089,989 $4,757,066 While the summary table at the beginning of this Exports article shows that the value of and exported Phosphate rock: High-grade pebble rock, tons 475,335 25,652 351,352 has increased since 1918,the following table shows that Land pebble, tons...... 1,000,630 110,909 395,581 All other, tons...... 1,906 25,798 30,348 the quantity has actually decreased, although still 6,155 93,432 Superphosphates, tons...... (1) greater than in 1914. Ammonium sulfate, tons...... (1) (1) 17,489 All other fertilizers, tons...... 61,601 84:LIO 239,091 The export trade in explosives has been knocked 1 rot stated separately “galley west” by the return of peace, but there seems ORES ASD LIETALS to be sufficient unpleasantness in some quarters to Although not included in the summary table at the support a larger business than existed in 1914. beginxng of the article, it is assumed that the following A good growing trade in paints and will data 3n the trade in ores and metals not advanced be noted in examining the statistics ir, this table. 844 TEIE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY Vol. 12, No. 9

TRADEIN MISCELLANEOUSPRODUCTS TRADEIN MISCELLANEOUSPRODUCTS (Concluded) ARTICLES 1914 1918 1920 ARTICLES 1914 1918 1920 Imports Exports Collodion, and manufactures of, Explosives (Continued): value...... $569,763 $53,637 $82,940 Shells and projectiles, loaded, Explosives : value...... (1) $40 130 298 $12,295,519 Fulminates, gunpowder, etc., All other, value...... $916,280 $3835593249 $2,250,566 value...... $256 379 97,860,139 $2,369,250 Flavorinz extracts and fruit All other value...... $600’958 $437 010 $765 412 juices, value...... (1) $1 018 102 $25:906:621$1 425 380 Glass and ilassware, value.. ... $8 191’833 $1,723:014 $3,582:377 Glass and glassware, value.. ... $3,729,623 $1410123656 Glue and glue size, lbs...... 22:714:877 2 048 543 1410 104 Glucose and grape sugar: Matches, value...... $882,812 $3:856:961 $1 :096:982 Glucose, lbs...... 162 680 378 80,970,744 219,793,235 Oilcloth for 0oors: Grape sugar, lbs., ...... 36:850:4962,35 1,7 70 16,887,5574,935,250 25,839,015 Linoleum, sq. yds...... 3,724,086 38,584 522,999 Glue lbs...... 13,14 1,294 Oilcloth, sq. yds...... 340,288 5,060 62,372 Indii-rubber manufactures, Paints, pigments, etc., value.. $2,325,222 $961,047 $1,975,769 value...... $12,441,220 $31,675,847 $69,226,716 .. Ink: PaDer and DU~D: Printing paprr Printers’, value...... $443 377 882,062 NotoverSc.perlb., lbs.. . 536,815,2881 1,203,762,1181 1,322 890 825 All other, value...... $181’697 All other, lbs ...... 6,053,429 278,367 1:371:576 Matches, value...... $771736 $471 385 Surface-coated paper, lbs.. .. 6,925,505 380,153 Metal polish, value...... $162 504 $192’691 45 1,934 4,dSi,i 17 Mucilage and paste, value., ... $951013 $3993295 $654,827 Wrapping paper, lbs...... 36,515,554 6,150,942 Oilcloth: Wood pulp For floors sq. yds...... 163,214 1 259 805 2,623,060 Mechanical tons...... 177,484 189,599 194,119 All other,’value...... $666,479 $132771777 $2,475,699 Chemical, &bleached, tons 302,963 296,465 442,844 Paints, pigments, etc.: Chemical, bleached, tons... 88,917 18,044 89,587 Dry colors Photographic goods: Carbon bone and lamp- Drv dates. value...... (z).. $33,857 $25,808 black’ value)...... $421 548 $1 111 265 $1 959 208 M-&Con-picture films All qther, ’value...... $6903836 $1:907:667 $239911618 Not exposed lin. ft...... 44 717 3238 47 462 715 46,485,434 Lead Negatives, lih. ft...... $402:7044 $713:363 $1 417 774 Red, lbs...... ( 1) 4,792,330 3,027,731 Positives, lin. ft., , , , , . , , . $20 057 144 $3 374 497 $3’327’566 White,.lbs...... 16,845,154 18 235 783 34 441 918 Other films and plates, value $3243535 $2033719 $1:355:832 Ready-mixed paints, gal. ... 852,910 11521’588 2’553’091 Soap: , gal., ...... 1,069,501 736:949 1:529:592 Castile lbs...... 4 622 082 1 016 399 2 352 974 Zinc oxide, lbs., ...... 29,197,790 25 862 063 30 925 983 All oth)er, value...... $4601485 $2113149 $192: 103 All other. value...... $1.779.863,. $4:875!006.. $7:756:076,. Sugar and molasses: Paper and pulp: Molasses, gals,...... 51,410,271 130,730,861 154,670,200 Newsprint, lbs...... 88,966,738 220 080 301 123,335,408 Sugar Other qrinting paper, lbs.. .. 28,602,134 90:353:235 92,076,860 Beet, lbs...... 2 367 708 750 1,219,834 Wrappmg paper lbs...... 14,133,097 59,350,946 65,163,463 Cane, lbs...... 5,061),564’,621 4,898,277,025 7,590,911,767 Writing paper add envelopes, value...... $1,179,232 $4,560,084 $7,322,859 Exports Wood DU~D.tons...... 13.481 34.805 33.972 Baking powder lbs...... 2 725 964 6 046 455 5 595 126 Photozrabhk’eoods: Blacking and pblishes, value., . $6491395 $1:009:100 $2:845:110 Mo&o<-pictGre films Candles, lbs...... 3,047,756 6,761,767 7,691,420 Not exposed, lin. ft...... 155,359,550 57,995,064 90,398,122 Celluloid and manufactures, Exposed lin. ft...... 32 690 104 84 557 376 188 527 165 value...... $1 387 541 $3 744 745 $10 044 242 Other senskized goods, value $1:348:2 16 $2:938:756 $4:960:928 . value.. $1781630 $1:896:135 $2:617:483 Soap: ...... $2 246 258 $6,625,259 ExplosiGes : Toilet or fancy, value...... $2 141 633 Cartridges, loaded, value.. .. $3,521,533 $13,672,371 $9,729,937 All other. lbs...... 58:547:763.. 82:726:757 155,891.586 14,464,601 18 911 668 12 566 057 Suear and molasses: Dynamite, lbs...... aolasses, gal.. 1,002,441 3 811 341 7,667,830 Fuses, value...... (2) $19:346:554 $709:662 ...... 989,385 340,516,883 1,721,991 Sirup, gal...... 11,630,528 7’690’074 12,278,246 Gunpowder, lbs...... Sugar refined, lbs...... 50,895,726 576:415:850 1,444,030,665 1920. Vulcaniied fiber and manufac- 1 Valued at not above 5 cents a Dound prior to April 24, tures of value...... $854,642 $950,029 $1,859,35 7 9 Not stated separately. Washing pokder and fluids, Ibs. 12,761,958 4,754,084 6,217,201 8 From Oct. 3, 1913, to June 30, .1914. 4 Stated as “All other” motion-picture films in 1914. 1 Not stated separately. ORIGINAL

THE DIRECT SYNTHETIC AMMONIA PROCESS* The nitrogen and hydrogen necessary for the By R. S. Tour synthesis may be obtained by any of several commercial PLANTONE SECTION,NITRATE DIVISION,ORDNANCE D~PT., U. S. A. methods. For the large quantities of hydrogen neces- Received June 12, 1920 sary in commercial installations of the Haber process, After much careful experimental work,l Prof. the water-gas oxidation method has proved the most Fritz Haber, of Karlsruhe, Germany, patented2 a suitable. This involves the production of water-gas process whereby nitrogen and hydrogen in the pres- and its further reaction with an admixture of steam ence of a reaction promoter combined directly to form in the presence of a catalyst according to the equation3 ammonia,according to the equation Nz + 3H2‘2NH8. CO + HzOf-COz + Hz. This is the basis of what has become known as the The nitrogen may be obtained in the mixture by in- Haber process. The conditions necessary to bring jection of air during the manufacture or oxidation about the combination to an appreciable extent, even of the water-gas, or by the production of a pure pro- in the presence of the best reaction promoters or ducer gas to be mixed with the water-gas before oxida- catalysts so far developed, involve pressures of over ti~n.~?~The gas mixture after oxidation contains IOO atmospheres, and temperatures over 500’ C. besides nitrogen and hydrogen large quantities of The concentration of ammonia thus obtained in the carbon dioxide, with some carbon monoxide. Ex- nitrogen-hydrogen mixture, according to present prac- tensive purification is nece~sary,4,6~7the carbon dioxide tice, is of the order of 5 per cent. The catalytic syn- being removed by water washing at high pressures, thesis is accomplished in one portion of a circulating the carbon monoxide by scrubbing with cuprous solu- system. The ammonia synthesized is removed con- tions, and incidental impurities by various special tinuously by liquefaction or absorption in another means. The purified gas, approximately three parts part of that system. The uncombined gases repeat hydrogen and one part nitrogen, is then available for the cycle after additional nitrogen and hydrogen have ammonia synthesis. been introduced to replace that synthesized. The complete process, including the manufacture * Released by permission of the Chief of Ordnance. 1 Numbers refer to References, p. 852. of the gases, should be more properly known as the