7- A VOL. LXXVI No. 1946 'Hazards of 27 October I956 Radioactive Materials (See page 172)

The plate heat exchanger C has the answer. .

FoR INNUME~A~LEdutiesthe APV Paraflow plate heat exchanger is proving to have outstanding advantages and " is in rapidly increasing use. Here are the reasons:- I I 1 High rate of heat transfer-at least 50% better than con- ventional types for the same order of pressure drop. I 2 Compactness-very small floor area. 3 Full accessibility of all liquid-bearing surfacesit can be I opened in minutes. I 4 Flexibility-it can readily be sectioned to include a number of heating and cooling duties as well as regeneration up to 85 % in one frame. 5 Ease of modification-its capacity can easily be increased or decreased or its duty changed. 6 Small temperature " Split "-ability to work to small end temperature differences, resulting in more accurate tem- perature control. 7 Small liquid hold-upfar smaller than a tubular heat exchanger. 8 Interchangeable components-plates can easily and quickly ~~.p~~$~; be replaced. are avaikzbk A 9 Alternative materials of construction-while plates are normally in stainless steel other metals can be supplied. 10 Wide range of capacities.

*: .I I. PARAF$~JW~I"......

The A.P.V. Company Ltd., Manor Royal, Crawley, Sussex Telephone: Crawley 1360 Telemms & Cahler Anarlaatir1 rmsul- ii THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956 27 October 1956 THE CHEMICAL AGE 157

d biirriry o/ Scr iii:. Type 1.711, Whatever your nlix~ngrequirements may Class B.B. Utiiversnl ,bfixers. be Baker Perkins can ofler you author- itative and objective guidance, deriving from 75 years experience in the vast field in which mixing forms part of industrial processes. They advise on familiar pro- blems and experiment to solve new ones equally without fee or obligation.

$ T11k booollc~ ~llurrraresond describes L'niversnl Mixing Machines br rypes, sizes and cnpacirie~ ch~rrocrrrirric

Bzs 12 ti,~n.ersoi He.ny Duty Fully jackefed for rnnperarure Mixer for Rubber and Plos~~cs. conrrol and wirh pressure ram Copaciry per njrx 9 Imp. gollo~e. acrsared hydraubcaily or pneu- H.P 40. rnnricaNy as preferrd 158 THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS TheJirstfigures refer to advertisement in The Chemical Age Year Book, the second to the crirrent issue ------Page Page Page Page Pace Page 283 A.P.V. Co., Ltd., The front cover Spine British Resin Products Ltd. - 250 Dowlow Lime & Stone Co., 21 6 Acalor (1948) Ltd. - 372 British Railway Traffic & Ltd., The - 277 Amrington Brick & Tile Co., Electric Co., Ltd. - Dring & Fage Ltd. - Ltd., The - 256 British Rototherm Co. Ltd. The - 258 Dmnmond Patents Ltd. - 229 Adequate Weighers Ltd. - 166 British Steam Specialties Ltd. - 257 Dryden, T., Ltd. cov. iii 270 Aimer Products Ltd. - 236 British Tar Products Ltd. - 280 E.C.D., Ltd. - 158 Albany Engineering Co. Ltd. The - British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd. - Edison Swan Electric Co., Ltd. - 294 Alcock (Peroxide) Ltd. - Electronic Switchgear 159 Alexander, Herbert, & Co., Ltd, - 292 British Titan Products Co., Ltd. - 259 Electrothermal Engineering Ltd. - Thomas, & Sons, Ltd. - Alginate Industries Ltd. - - B/Mk. Elliott, H. J., Ltd. - 191 Brooks & Walker Ltd. 211 Elliott Brothers (London) Ltd. - 178 Allen, Edgar, & Co., Ltd. - 209 Brotherhood, Peter, Ltd. - 370 Alumina Co., Ltd., The - 230 English Glass Co., Ltd., The 184 232 Brotherton & Co., Ltd. 161 G/Cd. Erinoid Ltd. 366 Amalgamated Oxides (1939) Ltd. - Brough, E. A,, & Co., Ltd. - - 186 Angel, H. Reeve, & Co., Ltd. - 296 Evered & Co., Ltd. - 214 Browns Foundry Co., Ltd. - Ewart, M. D., & Co., Ltd. 183 Armour & Co., Ltd. - - G/Cd. Ashmore, Benson, Pease & Co. - 260 Brush Design Group, The 288 Farnell Carbons Ltd. - 274 Bryan Donkin Co., Ltd., The - 289 Ashworth, Arthur, Ltd. - - Faw.e:t Finney Ltd. - 386 Audley Engineering Co., Ltd. . - 290 Buell (1952) Ltd. - 228 Feltham, Walter H.,& Son Ltd. - 146 Autometric Pumps Ltd. - 273 Burnett & Rolfe Ltd. 230 Ferris, J. & E., Ltd. - 190 B. A. Holland Engineering Bush, W. J., & Co., Ltd. - 264 Film Cooling Towers (1925) Ltd. - Butterworths Scientific Publica- 21 1 Fisher Governor & Co.. Ltd. - Co., Ltd., The - - B.X. P;astcs Ltd. - tions 159 Foster Instrument Co., Ltd. - 295 Baird & T?tlock (London) Ltd. - 213 Buttefield, W. P.9 Ltd. - 227 Foxboro-Yoxall Ltd. - 171 Baker Perk~nsLtd. Calder Vale Glassworks Ltd. - Fraser, W. J., & Co., Ltd. - 350 Baker Platinum Division, Callow, F. E. (Engineers) Ltd. - 314 Fuller's Earth Union Ltd., The - Engelhard Industries Ltd. - Callow RockLimeCo. Ltd.The - 182 Gallenkamp, A., & Co., Ltd. - 225 Balfour, Henry, & Co. - 364 Candy Filter Co., Ltd., The - Geigy Co., Ltd., The - 222 Barclay Kellett & Co., Ltd. - 264 Carbon Dioxide Co., The - 276 Geigy Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. - 215 Bennett, Sons & Shears Ltd. - Cekop Trading Corporation - General Electric Co., Ltd. - G/Cd. Berk, F. W., & Co., Ltd. - Chapman & Hall Ltd. - 243 Grazebrook, M. & W., Ltd. - 282 Beryllium & Copper Alloys 207 Chemical Workers' Union, The - 226 Greeff. R. W., & Co., Ltd. - (Safety Tools) Ltd. - Chemicals & Feeds Ltd. - 222 Grindley & Co., Ltd. - 263 Blundell & Crompton Ltd. - 354 Chemitrade Ltd. - 226 Hackbridge & Hewittic Electric 148 Borax Consolidated Ltd. - 275 Chesterfield Tube Co, Ltd., The - Co., Ltd. - Borax & Chemicals Ltd. - 297 Ciech Ltd. - 240 Haller & Phillips Ltd. - 237 Boulton, William, Ltd. - 248 Cinema Television Ltd. - 266 Hanovia Lamps - 236 Bowmans Chemicals Ltd. '58 244 Clark, T. C., & Co., Ltd. - 218 Harris (Lostock Gralam) Ltd. - 290 Braby, Fredk., & Co., Ltd. - 173 Clayton DyestuffsCo. Ltd.The - 258 Hawofih, F. (A.R.C.) Ltd. - 231 Bramigk & Co., Ltd. - 176 Clayton, Son & Co., Ltd. - 161 Hearson, Charles, & Co., Ltd. - 252 Brannan, S., & Sons, Ltd. - Clydesdale Chemical Co. Ltd.The 164 220 Herbert, Alfred, Ltd. - 21 1 Bristol's Instrument Co., Ltd. - 183 Cole, R. H., & Co., Ltd. - Holmes, W. C., & Co., Ltd. - British Acheson Electrodes Ltd. - 238 Cole & Wilson Ltd. - 194 Honeywill & Stein Ltd. - 232 British Arca Regulators Ltd. - 196 Collins Improved Firebars Ltd. - 279 Hopkin & Williams Ltd. - 268 British Assoc. of Chemists The - 356 Comet Pump&Eng.Co. Ltd.The - 4 Huntington, Heberlein&Co. Ltd. - British Carbo Norit Union Ltd. - CostainJohn Brown Ltd. - I.C.I. Limited, Billingham - British Ceca Co., Ltd., The - 256 Crockatt, W., & Sons, Ltd. - I.C.I. Plastics-Fluon. - 292 British Chrome & Chemicals Cromil & Piercy Ltd. - Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. - Ltd. (London) - 157 Imperial Smelting Corporation 169 Cruickshank, R., Ltd. - 254 British Chrome & Chemicals (Sales) Ltd. - 328 Cyanam~dProducts Ltd. -. Ltd. (Lancs) - International Combustion British Drug Houses Ltd., The 250 Cyclops EngineeringCo. Ltd. The - - 254 Cygnet Joinery Ltd. Group - British Electrical Development - Isopad Ltd. - Association - 298 Danks of Netherton Ltd. - 278 Jackson, Henry (Liverpool) Ltd. - British Geon Limited - 238 Davey, Paxman & Co., Ltd. - 382 Jackson, J. G., & Crockatt Ltd. - 8 British Industrial Solvents - Dawson, McDonald&Dawson Ltd. - I 85 Jenkins, ~obert,& CO., ~td. - 330 Derby Luminescents Ltd. - & , 187 Jenkinson, W. G., Ltd. - 234 235 British Laboratory Ware - Association Ltd. - Dia Chemieausruestingen 3 Jobling. James A., & Co., Ltd. - 233 British LaBour Pump Co., Ltd. - 177 Dorr-Oliver Co., Ltd. - 210 Johnson, G. T., & Co., Ltd. - 239 British Lead Mills Ltd. - 248 Douglas, William, & Sons Ltd. - [continued on page 160 LACTIC ACID 1 for TANNING . TEXTILES . CHEMICALS

PRINTING INKS . BREWING . SOFT DRINKS PICKLES . SWEETS . CONSERVES

CHEMICALS CARBOYS . PACKED CARBOYS CARBOY TILTERS AND BARROWS BOWMANS LIMITED SAFETY CRATES TOP PROTECTORS WIDNES LANCASHIRE 27 October 1956 THE CHEMICAI; AGE FLUID LEVEL CONTROLS CONTROL

A.C SUPPLY

STARTER FIG I FIG 2 FIG. 6 HOLDERS

DIPSTICKS An extensive range of single- and double-circuit level controls with simple dipstick - HIGH LEVEL electrode fittings cover practically every known application involving the automatic level control of electrically conductive fluids. The controls are notable for their high adjustable sensitivity, reliability and economy. PUMPING RANGE Other items in our standard range include controls for- Powder Level Furnace and Machine Electrolytic Conductivity LOW LEVEL Counting Safety Conveyor Blockage Inspecting Packaging Detection TANK '- Botching Temperature Paper Break and Sorting Automatic Timing loin Detection etc. FIG 7 and a host of other functions

Fully descriptive tllustrated literature immediately available upon request. ELECTRONIC SWITCHGEAR I'PCP,",Nd 47 VICTORIA STREET . LONDON S.W.1 Telephone : ABBEY 2771 Works : Works Rd., Letchworth, Herts. Tel : Letchworth 1853

Each job has its problems. Chemical Plant construction-Specia- lised Lead Fabrications, each receives the same meticulous attention to detail and careful planning - that is the hall-mark of any Mills Packard undertaking. however big or small. Let us examine your problem - our long experience is at your service.

Chemical Engineers & Contractors Construction Company 1s PACKA1 RD Limited DUKE STREET, IPSWICH, SUFFOLK. Tel. 2177 @ 160 THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Thefirstfigrrres refer to advertisement in The Chemical Age Year Book, the second to rhc current issue

Page Page Page Page 206 Johnsons of Hendon Ltd. 253 Mitchell, Cotts & Co., Ltd. - Simon, Richard, & Sons, Ltd. 'O' 201 Jones, Tate & Co., Ltd. Mond Nickel Co., Ltd., The - 320 Southern Instruments Computer 21 6 K.D.G. lnstruments Ltd. Monsanto Chemicals Ltd. - Division 266 K.W. Chem cals Ltd. Moore, W. & E., Ltd. - Soyozchimexport (Moscow) Kaylene (Chem~cals)Ltd. 196 Moritz Chemical Engineering 348 Spencer Chapman & Messel Ltd. 2 Keith Blackman Ltd. Co., Ltd. - 280 Spesco (Developments) Ltd. 284 Kernick & Son Ltd. Morgan Crucible Co., Ltd., The - Stabilag Co., Ltd., The 403 Kestner Evaporator & Engineer- 252 Murphy, G. L., Ltd. - 404 Stanton Instruments Ltd. ing Co., Ltd. 197 National Enamels Ltd. - Staveley Iron&ChemicalCo.Ltd. Key Engineering Co. Ltd. The 21.7 Neckar Water Softener Co. Ltd. - 208 Steel, J. M., & Co.. Ltd. 160 Kier, J. L., & Co., Ltd. 181 Nederlandsche Verkoopkantoor - 194 Stockdale Engineering Co., Ltd. 288 Kingsley & Keith Ltd. VoorChemischeProductenN.V. - Stonehouse Paper & Bags Mills 267 Kleen-e-ze Brush Co., Ltd. 206 Nederlandse Emballage Ondeer- Streamline Filters Ltd. 193 & 269 Klingef, Richard, Ltd. neming Gebr. de Wilde N.V. - Sturge, John & E., Ltd. 202 Lankro Chern~calsLtd. 262 Negretti & Zambra Ltd. - 245 Sutcliffe Speakman & Co., Ltd. 198 Laporte Chemicals Ltd. 1648r 165 Newton Chambers & Co. Ltd. - 242 Taylor Rustless Fittings Co. Ltd. 192 Lavino (London) Ltd. New Metals & Chemicals Ltd. - 174 Tenaplas Sales Ltd. Nicolson, W. B. (Scientific --771 . --1 rda -- Chrrnicalr-. . -. . .. - -.- -I id. .-. 271 282 Thermal Syndicate Ltd., The Leeds & Bradford Boiler Co., Instruments) Ltd. - 324 Thermix Industries Ltd. - Ltd., The - 175 Nordac Ltd. 162 Thomason, W., & Sons Ltd. -- - 145 Thompson, John (Dudley) Ltd. - 204 Leigh & Sons Metal Works Ltd. 158 {~::~~,""~~l~,"~I~~,"undry Leitch, John W., & Co., Ltd. - :g Thorium Ltd. - Co., Ltd., The - Todd Bros. (St. Helens & Lennig, Charles, & Co. (Great Northey Rotary Compressors Ltd. Britain) Ltd. - Widnes) Ltd. - - Northide Ltd. - 219 Towers, J. W., & Co., Ltd. - Lennox Foundry Co., Ltd. - - T II 306 Palfrey, William, Ltd. 191 Trent Valve Co.. Ltd. - LCJ, IV1. Pa~er Goods Manufacturing & Tungstone Products Ltd. - Light L., Co., Ltd. CO., Ltd. Lind 'peter & Co., Ltd. Unifloc Ltd. - Pascall Engineering Co. Ltd. The - UnitedCoke&ChemicalsCo.Ltd. - rer oddo on ~iuminiumCo. Ltd. The Paterson EnaineerinaCo. Ltd. The 18.5 United Filters & Engineering Ltd. - London Metal Warehouses Ltd. Peabody ~ta. - - W.E.X. Traders Ltd. - Lonemans Green & Co..' Ltd. Penhryn Quarries Ltd. - ~ord:John L., & Son WalkerExtract&ChemicalCo.Ltd. - & 338 Permutit Co.,,Ltd., The - Wallach Bros. Ltd. - Machinery (Continental) Ltd. Pott, Cassels & Will~anison - Waller, George, & Son Ltd. - MacLellan, George, & Co., Ltd. Powell Duffwn Carbon Products Walley, A. L. - Mallinson & Eckersley Ltd. Ltd. - Wallis,Charles, &Sons(Sacks) Ltd. - Manesty Machines Id. Power-Gas Corporation, Ltd. Ward, Thos. W., Ltd. - Marchon Products Ltd. The cov. iv Watford Chemical Co., Ltd. - Marco Conveyor &En&Co. Ltd. Press at Coombelands, Ltd., The - Watson, Laidlaw & Co., Ltd. - Mattheys & Yates Ltd. Price Stutfield & Co., Ltd. - Webb. William A,. Ltd. - May & Baker Ltd. - Prodorite Ltd. ~e~nieb& anda ail Ltd. - 162 Measuri?g.& Scientific Equip- 1 320 Production Chemicals (Rochdale) - 1 195 wells. A. c.. & CO.. Ltd. - ment Lta. Ltd. - ~engers~td. 330 Meigh Castings Ltd. Pyrethrum Board of Kenya - Whitaker, B., &Sons Ltd. 168 Metal Box Co., Ltd., The Q.V.F. Ltd. - Widnes Foundry & Engineering Cover Metal Containers Ltd. Reads Ltd. - Co., Ltd. Metal lndustries Ltd. Richmond Welding Co., Ltd. - Wilkinson Rubber Linatex Ltd. Metalfiltration Co., Ltd., The Robinson, F., & Co., Ltd. cov. li Willcox, W. H., & Co., Ltd. G/Cd. Metalock (Britain) Ltd. d. Rose,Downs &Thompson Ltd. - Wilson, Edward, & Son Ltd. 228 Metcalf & Co. RotometerManufacturingCo.Ltd. - Winn & Coales Ltd. Metroool~tan- Vickers Electrical St.HelensCable&RubberCo.Ltd. - Wood, Harold, & Sons Ltd. Co. ' Ltd. Sandiacre Screw Co., Ltd., The 161 Worcester Royal Porcelain Co., 198 id diet on & Co., Ltd. Scientific Glass-Blowing Co. The - Ltd., The Mills Packard Construction Co. Shaw Petrie Ltd. - Worthington-Simpson Ltd. Ltd. Shawinigan Ltd. - Wynn (Valves) Ltd. 261 Mine Safety Appliances Co. Ltd. Shell Chemical Co., Ltd. - Yorkshire Tar Distillers Ltd. Mirrlees Watson & Co. Ltd. The Siebe, Gorman & Co., Ltd. - Zeal, G. H., Ltd. 260 Mirvale Chemical Co., Ltd. Sigmund Pumps Ltd. -

------p-p -

I The Classification NEWexpansion FIRE ofHAZARDS certain arechemical increasing industries, with notablythe rapid in the field of plastics. The nature of these hazards has been explored in this book, which gives classified of Fire Hazards and lists or ~~bstance~and extinction agents. and detailed analyses and conclusions based on these tables. This information about chemicals, plastics, dust, 1 EX^ itlctiotl Met hods and liquids is of the utmost use in every industry 1 where new risks are attendant on the employment of . i new materials. By JAMES D. BIRCHALL Published by ERNEST BENN LIMITED ' 8s. 3d. [postage paid] Bouverie House . Fleet Street London EC4 - 27 October 1956 THE CHEMICAL AGE 161

THROWING

P O TS (ceramics)

TO TANNING LEATHER If you've a job for basic chemicals, con tact

O'I,<,l<,I~Z, C<,,,ll,'~Z,

BrothertonA BIG NAME IN THE CHEMICAL WORLD One of thr ,u;orld's lnror'sl ~r~~r~l~rJ~~cturrrsof Itydruslllpliilrq th?~(lros.lor~nusol. ~rdilsolZ. Illidros I). liquid SlllDhur diox.d? and hm,lnzznr. Mokc,>a rvl ir~clirehromeatid,other dyrstittJs,(ait~~rchro~~z~,acrd) for d~rr,rrtn~rool in all ~tsfornzs. Other chrnllcals ~nrl~rdrliyur~r ir~~r~r~on~a, salgli~trzc acid, arntnonzllltl thlosnll>hatc,ar~i~rzon~i~rn btcarbonate, sodtum sulp12ite. bisuli7hztr and ~netnl~rsiil~~ititr. Brotherton & Co. Ltd.. P.O. Box No. 6. Lerds. 1. Telephone No. 2-9321 Telegrams Brotherton Leeds London Office: Winchester House. Old Broad Street. E.C.2. Telephone London Wall 2122 162 THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956 '----!

Multivane fon runner of an unusually complex Lsigrr cotnpletely covered with V ULCOFER RAN. The high degree of adhesion obtaitzed tvith this acid resisting covering renders it partictrlarly sliitable jor machines and equipinent revolving at higlz speeds. This fan runner is dealing with gases of high acidity to which VULCOFERRAN is conrpletely resistant.

NORDAC LIMITED

CHEMICAL ENGINEERS . UXBRIDGE MIDDLESEX - TELEPHONE : UXBRIDGE 5131

164 THE CHEMICAI, AGE. 27 October 1956

1 chemical plant The Kestner organization serves many industries. In fact, wherever chemicals are manufactured or used, it is more than likely that you will find some Kestner plant-it may be a stirrer or other small item-it may be a large spray drier or the entire process plant. Whatever it be, large or small, you will find it doing "a good job."

If yori arr nreding a~rj~new plant, Krsni[,rs call lrrlp jorr on anjr of /he follo~vin~slrhjerts: AClD HANDLING. Pumps, Fans, Pipe Lines, etc. ACID RECOVERY PLANT. DRYING PLANT. All types. EVAPORATION PLANT. A complete range of plants to suit all evaporation problems. FLUID HEAT TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS. GAS ABSORPTION AND REACTaON SYSTEMS. ISOLECTRIC SYSTEM FOR PROCESS HEATING. KEEBUSH. A constructional material resistant to the action of all corrosive liquids and gases. LABORATORY AND PILOTPLANT. STIRRERS I Kestner AND MIXING EQUIPMENT. CI7~n!icolEngineers I 5 GROSVENOR GARDENS LONDON S.W.l

. . . the highly activated Carbon for ALL Decolourising purposes

THE CLYDESDALE CHEMICAL CO. LTD. 142 QUEEN STREET GLASGOW C.1 Phone: CENtral 524718 Groms: "Cactus" Glosgow 27 October 1956 THE CHEMICAL AGE

VIEWPOINT After Graduation

N IMPORTANT BOOK, Graduate Employment, the civil service-were the most attractive, being chosen the results of a survey by Political and Economic by 29.4, 23.4, and 8.6 per cent respectively. (But only 'Planning (PEP), was piblished on I I October. 6.7 per cent chose mathematics and science teaching!) The survey was begun in 1954 when a questionnaire These major classifications of choice perhaps do nothing was sent to 6,841 men, i.e. one in two of all men more than reflect the fact that they are the three biggest graduating in the faculties of art, science and technology employment-offering classes. in 1949-50 at British universities, university colleges It is of interest to note that 70 per cent of those and technical colleges. A 66 per cent response (4,535 with early preference to enter industry did in fact do replies) was obtained. Of these replies 3,961 were used, so, and of those who had looked upon industry as a a reduction not made selectively but due to wastage, second-choice career, 24 per cent eventually chose it. late return, etc. Broadly, then, the survey sample The missing 30 per cent of industry-preferring students covered 30 per cent of all male graduates in 1949-50. is explained by the fact that 25 per cent eventually Before this survey no reliable knowledge existed as took teaching posts. However, there is more than a to the post-university history of graduates. PEP'S effort suggestion that this change of intention mainly involved to fill this gap was undertaken at DSIR request and arts graduates, and had industry been more prepared financed by a grant from the Conditional Aid Scheme to offer openings to arts graduates, teaching's gain sponsored by US economic aid. would have been much smaller. When a rising proportion of the country's youth Average starting salary (for this 3,357 cases were receives university education. it is of far-reaching considered) was £464 while technologists started at importance to learn what happens after the B.A., B.Sc., about £433. Salaries above this average were paid in or Diploma has been acquired. Nor are background the following groups of employment+il, teaching, factors that influence degree-subject choice any less mining and quarrying, university posts, the scientific important. One salient passage from the survey states: civil service, research association posts. Industry's 'Just over half (52 per cent) read for an arts degree, demands upon each year's flow of graduates are 28 per cent for a science degree, and 20 per cent for certainly not strongly shown by the odd coincidence a technology degree. Nearly two-thirds of the public that the starting average salary paid by industry was or independent school men read for an arts degree as the same as that received for all types of employment. against under half of those from other schools.' There is a firm relationship between starting salary Of the arts graduates, one-third became teachers and employment-stability. Over half the graduates who compared with about one-fifth of the science graduates. received low salaries. but only one in six of those who There is, therefore. some danger of a semi-vicious began with high salaries, had changed their first post circle in the educational system-with steadily more in the 1950-54 period. Twenty per cent who started at arts graduates teaching and producing an output of under £400. 15 per cent who started at £400-500, and more arts graduates. A case can be presented for the 10 per cent who started at £500-600 also changed jobs arts. but it seems that the urgent essentiality of the between graduation and the survey date. That sciences has yet to be insisted upon with sufficient force. two-fifths of the graduates covered in the survey left One of the unavoidable weaknesses of the survey is their first place of industrial employment within four that it covered a year of graduation when the direct years is disturbing. Men from the universities are impact of the war was still being felt. Thus, only one normally attracted by long-term prospects. graduate in three was 22 years or less and only a Graduates seem to justify themselves readily enough. third had gone straight from school to university; and The average increase upon starting salary during one in four had graduated in a shortened course as 1950-54 was 53 per cent; by 1954 80 per cent of the a result of war service years. The sample may not be graduates were earning from £500 to £1,000, with half typical of graduates for later years in that a larger in the £600-800 range. Incidentally, technologists had number of men were older or had already married. by 1954 overtaken both in earning power. This must be considered when such results as 'influences These are but a slender selection of the findings upon choice of career' are studied. recorded by this survey. The plea made for annual Half the graduates said they did not know what surveys, and for surveys that cover women graduates employment to aim at before entering universities; two and other faculties besides arts, science, and technology, out of three acknowledged no influence upon their deserves immediate official support. It is not enough choice other than their own decisions in the matter. to have statistics on the university end-product at the Three classes of employment-industry, teaching and single moment of degree award. THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956 Oxycat GERMAN PLASTICS IN UK New Firm to Market Anti- Effluent Device London Demonstration of Farbenfabriken Bayer Products OXY-CATALYST CO. and Vokes THREE plastics made by Farben- centrated acids), oils and fats ic- Ltd. announce the formation of Oxy- fabriken Bayer, Leverkusen, were claimed for Durethan BK which is Catalyst Sales Ltd. to market the Oxy- demonstrated in London recently. said to be complementary to the cat, which is described as 'a new, They were: Cellidor B (cellulose aceto. nylons produced in this country. It can revolutionary and practical solution butyrate), Durethan BK (a nylon 6 be applied in the form of a fine powder to the ever growing problem of air polycaprolactum) and Durethan U (a to a hot metal surface to produce a pollution by industrial fumes.' - polyurethane linear polymer. continuous coating which possesses The Oxycat, invented by E. J. Cellidor 8, which has previously great mechanical strength. only been available from dollar Houdry, the originator of the It is claimed for Durethan U that sources, is claimed to have superior petroleum cat-cracking process, is said no material with quite the same proper- properties to other injection mould- to have been in successful operation ties has been available to manufac- in the US for several years. Its primary ing compounds based on organic cellu- lose esters. Crude oils will not stick turers before. It is similar to the nylon function is to eliminate the obnoxious types of plastics, and has applications nature of industrial effluents but in to Cellidor B, a property of impor- tance in the oil industry. It was lound in the construction of chemical engin- many operations it is claimed to have eering plant. an important heat-recovery or fuel in the case of one oil well that steel conservation function. It consists of pipes needed cleaning after about four These materials are imported into two end plates, a tie-rod and a number months use. Pipes made of Cellidor R. this country by J. M. Steel & Co. and of streamlined elements coated with on the other hand, were found to be marketed by R. H. Cole & Co. Ltd.. a film of catalytic alumina and plati- quite free of any deposit after the same 2 Caxton Street, London SWI. Ade- num alloy. This film, resistant to high length of time. quate stocks are held in this country temperatures and thermal shock, con- High resistance to shock, tempera- and it is believed that there will be no verts foul and waste material such as ture, abrasion, chemicals (except con- delay in meeting orders. obnoxious gases or fumes into their oxides with evolution of heat. To start the catalyst reaction, the gaseous stream entering the unit has to be at a minimum temperature of ALFA-LAVAL'S NE iW LABORATORIES 500°F. Once started, the reaction is EXTENSIVE new process laboratories transfer problems, as well as stainless said to increase the Oxycat temperature have recently been opened by Alfa- steel pumps, oil filters etc. until a state of equilibrium is reached. Laval Company Ltd., at their premises Chemical checks on works carried The normal procedure is to fit a pre- on the Great West Road, Brentford, to out in the process laboratory and also heat burner ahead of the catalyst to meet an ever increasing demand for on field work carried out on full-scale assist in starting up. Various auto- experimental work in the application centrifuges etc. are handled in the matic means of controlling this burner of De Laval equipment, including extensive chemical laboratories. These can be adopted so that it only remains centrifugal separators, pumps, heat laboratories also maintain material in operation as long as necessary. exchangers, filters etc. in the chemical, checks for the production factory. engineering and process industries. The build~ngincludes process, engin- Copper Sulphate Association eering and chemical laboratories. Union Fears photographic section, library and tech- AN AMENDMENT of the law relat- EXPORTS of copper sulphate in- nical otlices. ing to river pollution was called for by creased by about 10,'OOO tons in the For processing of customer< samples a regional committee of the Transport year ended 31 July. Total value of and General Workers Union at exports amounted to about f4f mil- a range of pilot scale centrifugal separators is included in the process Shotton on 22 October. lion, of which 2800,000 was for dollar The resolution was presented by markets. These figures were given by laboratory. These machines are exact replicas of the full scale commercial representatives of 1,500 members of Mr. J. D. McKechnie, chairman of the the union employed by Monsanto British Sulphate of Copper Associa- centrifuges and hence results obtained in this way on samples of one or two Chemicals Ltd., Ruabon, which was tion Ltd., at the annual meeting in recently involved in heavy damages London on 23 October. gallons of material can be translated with every confidence to full scale in- for alleged pollution of the River Dee 'Home trade deliveries unfortunately dustrial operation. This work is (see THECHEMICAL AGE, 14 July, p 89; showed a decrease.' said Mr. 28 July, p 164; and 4 August, p 205). McKechnie. closely allied with the sales depart- ments and several hundred samples are As the law now stood, said Mr. Tom 'Although copper sulphate is sup- treated annually in the Brentford Jones, regional secretary of the TGWU, posed to have been on the way out for laboratories alone. This service is it appeared that the well-being of a many years, it is still very much in olfered free to customers. few fresh-water fish was more impor- demand and figures of world con- tant than the well-being of human sumption show that it has not lost Engineering Research beings and the country's economy. much ground during the past 18 Monsanto had spent £1,000,000 to years. An engineering laboratory is used build an effluent bay to prevent 'The extremely severe frosts last for larger scale development. particu- pollution. spring destroyed large numbers of larly on new equipment, including Union employees feared that if the vines in parts of Europe and this may special washing equipment for company was constantly harassed by reduce the consumption of copper sul- machine parts. oil purifying equipment the costly problem of river pollution phate. However, on the whole, pros- for turbine, Diesel and transformer it would restrict its expansion pro- pects for the present year are good.' oils, plate heat exchangers for all heat gramme, 27 October 1956 THE CHEMICAL AGE 167

FUEL RESEARCH PROGRESS High styrene copolymer is the basic chemical material. This is blended with rubber-natural or ' CONTRIBUTIONS of Chemical Engineering to the synthetic-to produce toughness. Blending is done by Processing of Coal ' was the title of the fifth coal science the rubber companies; the styrene copolymer is sold lecture of the British Coal Utilisation Research to them as the major raw material by the chemical Association, which was delivered by Professor D. M. industry. The fact that both ICI and Monsanto have Newitt, Courtauld's Professor of Chemical Engineering, new styrene copolymer plants scheduled for full output the Imperial College of Science and Technology, in 1957 is hardly a comforting thought to the leather London. In his address Professor Newitt stated that industry. The Monsanto plant will produce 4,000 tons the role of the chemical engineer was of special a year of the polymer-the ICI plant will have an importance to the fuel industries. Fundamental research even larger tonnage output of butadiene products (the into the physical structure and chemical constitution soling copolymer is made from styrene and butadiene) of coal was leading to the introduction of more refined but only part of this output will be in the form of methods. the copolymer for making shoe soles. It may be fair Professor Newitt referred to the coal-water system to say that 6.000 tons of the copolymer will become which is involved in the processes of drainage, flotation, available. This must be compared with the import washing and granulating. and plays a part in the tonnage from Canada upon which synthetic soling here reactions associated with carbonisation and combustion. has so far relied-2,200 tons a year, a figure deter- He discussed the mechanism by which capillary, mined by Board of Trade quota. Indications are that diffusional and gravitational forces control the move- the imported copolymer will remain slightly cheaper ment of liquid and vapour in beds of sand. On the than the British product; for this reason, a good deal basis of Poiseuille's treatment of capillary flow, quanti- of Canadian copolymer may still be used. Thus, quite tative expressions for the rates of drainage and of shortly three times as much high styrene copolymer drying of such beds can be derived to provide data may be annually available as the restricted imported upon which the design of de-watering and drying tonnage of the past, and the real struggle between equipment can be rationalised. leather and synthetic soles will begin. He said that when applied to coal and coke, however, modifications to the simple theory are required. Porosity significantly affects moisture distribution and the rates SYNTHETIC AND LEATHER of drainage and drying. Where the pores are very fine SYNTHETIC soling is not very different in price there is evidence that the abnormal physical properties from leather so far as the manufacturer of shoes is con- of the adsorbed water influence water movement. cerned, although the price of leather is more variable The lecturer showed how. on the basis of curves for quality reasons. However, there is less wastage in relating the suction potential of a moist bed with its making soles from a sheet of synthetic than from a average moisture content, the optimum conditions for bend of leather, and this seems to give some manu- drying could be predicted. He concluded by stressing facturing cost advantage to the synthetic. But in shoe the importance of an understanding of the detailed manufacture the share of cost represented by the soles mechanisms of mass and heat transfer as a prerequisite is not high, and the principal virtue of the synthetic for designing plant in which inter-related changes of soling is embodied in the sales-claim that it lasts so physical state and chemical composition take place. much longer. Against this, leather producers are claim- ing that leather allows the foot to breathe, keeps its SOLELY STYRENE shape better, and will not, for juvenile shoes, tempt parents to keep children wearing sizes they have out- SYNTHETIC SOLES for shoes and boots have made grown. As a counter-claim the last point seems an much slower advance here than in North America injudicious one for leather to back. (THE CHEMICALAGE, 13 October). The percentage of synthetic-soled British shoes is now about 15, with Perhaps the biggest market of all may be the some 20 per cent rubber-soled and 65 per cent leather- inestimable one of shoe-repairing, although it has been soled. The main market here is with children's shoes; widely mmoured that many repairers will not encourage as synthetic soling is said to last two or three times a material that gives them less repeat work. One point as long as leather. it has made its strongest entry into is abundantly clear--chemical industry is going to this class of footwear. Figures in The Financial Times contribute a greatly enlarged share of the footwear show that in 1955 33 per cent of children's shoes, industry's materials. This is inevitable though the extent 22 per cent of women's, and 10 per cent of men's were to which synthetic soles will displace leather cannot be produced with modern synthetic soling. predicted. THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956 US Raw Materials NUCLEAR POWER IN ACTION Titanium & Aluminium Production Demands Increase Natural Uranium as Fuel at Calder Hall Station

PRODUCTION of titanium sponge DETAILS of some of the chemical A heat output of 3,000 MW-days metal in the US in the year ending aspects of Calder Hall, Britain's first per ton of fuel is the declared aim 30 June 1956 was 8,803 tons; con- atomic power station, appeared in for these reactors before removing the sumption was 6,656 tons of which 901 THECHEMICAL AGE for 6 October (p. uranium for processing because tons were imported. Most of the 23). Calder Hall has been an expensive poisons have built up and the rods excess production went into Govern-. project and, despite the publicity given become distorted. The need to give ment stocks. Because they anticipate it in the national Press and the early fuel supplies to the Windscak a rapid increase in consumption, the glamour of its royal commissioning on plutonium plant, where spare process- Titanium Metals Co. has recently 17 October, is really only a prototype ing capacity is available, will overrule announced plans to increase titanium marking the pattern for things to this objective with the initial charges sponge output by 50 per cent. The come. at Calder Hall. Office of Defense Mobilization has Britain's programme for nuclear If the spent fuel rods are processed also announced its intention o£ power reactors is based on natural and the fission products and the making ' a new evaluation' of the uranium as fuel. Uranium occurs as plutonium formed separated, the titanium programme. The Climax an important constituent in nearly 100 plutonium being again used in the Molybdenum Co. has increased the mineral species and as a minor element same reactor, it is estimated that over prices of its products by about 7 per in about 50 others. Natural uranium one per cent of the natural uranium cent. This increase is due partly to consists of 1 part by weight of 275U could be burnt. In this case 1 Ib. of recent general wage increases and and 140 parts by weight of 238U. natural uranium would he equivalent partly because growing demand has to 30,000 Ib. of coal (c.v. 12,000 BThU) led to processing of lower grade ores. Real Fuel instead of the present 10,000 lb. of The Aluminium Co., Alcoa, US, coal. In the fast breeder reactor a expects to increase its annual pro- The real fuel in the reactors at figure of 1 lb. of uranium equivalent duction capacity to 962,500 tons by Calder Hall is 215Usince it undergoes to 60.000 Ib. of coal should be avail- 1958 as a result of extension of facili- fission readily even with thermal or able in the near future, and an equiva- ties at Point Comfort, Texas, and the slow neutrons; ?lSUwould require fast lent of one million Ib. of coal should commencement of production at its neutrons of at least 1 MeV to induce be attainable ultimately. new works at Evansville, Indiana. fission to any extent. But '"U is fertile; As the programme of nuclear power Recently the chairman of the Kaiser it absorbs neutrons to form 23TJwhich develops, different types of reactor Aluminium and Chemical Corp. in changes to the highly fissionable 23qP~. being investigated by the Atomic his annual report expressed the con- When the neutrons emitted by fission Energy Authority will replace the viction that by 1965 annual consump- are slowed down they are more likely original designs. Six different systems tion of aluminium in the US will to strike further n5U targets and cause are under investigation. increase to over four million tons. further fissions than to be absorbed in atoms of 238U. Fast reactors of the future, such as Key Industry Duty that under construction at Dounreay, will require considerable amounts of Accelerator Bought THE Board of Trade has made the plutonium. Safeguarding of Industries (List of Operation of a power reactor starts PORTUGAL'S Junta de Energia Dutiable Goods) (Amendment No. 11) with the slow withdrawal of the boron Nuclear, the country's atomic energy Order, 1955, adding vinylacetate to the steel coarse control rods until the commission, has purchased a 2-million- list of chemicals liable 40 key industry working temperature is reached. volt Van de Graaff particle accelerator duty. The order came into operation Further withdrawal takes care of the from High Voltage Engineering Corp., on 1 October and was published on effect of fuel depletion and poisoning Cambridge, Mass., US, to be used in 28 September, 1956, as Statutory by xenon and other neutron-absorbent research and training of nuclear physi- Instruments, 1956, No. 1518. Copies fission products. A fast acting fine cists. This is the first US-built particle may be obtained from HMSO, Kings- control rod maintains the neutron accelerator to be shipped to Portugal; way, London WC2. density at the required power level. it will be installed and operated in a Loss of the initial reactivity entails Lisbon suburb. Principal programmes removal of the fuel elements for to be carried out with the accelerator New Shell Fertiliser chemical processing. will be in nuclear physics, radiation SHELL Chemical Co. has announced chemistry and in general studies of that it is marketing a new ferti- Element Rods radiation effects. liser. Nitra-Shell. It will be imported The accelerator will be used for in considerable quantities from the The fuel elements at Calder Hall are investigations of protons, deuterons Netherlands and will be available for rods of natural uranium (density 18.7 and heavier ions, and it will be the 1957 agricultural season. g. per cc.) in magnesium alloy cans equipped with a beryllium target for with helical fins so that the coolant use with positive-charged partictes to COs flows in the annulus between the produce neutrons. The machine will graphite and the fin tips. also be supplied with a gold tar@ for Chemical Society Library The gas enters the bottom of the production of super-voltage X-rays for IT is announced that the library of reactor at 140°C and 100 p.s.i. and radiography of metal fabrications. the Chemical Society at Burlington rises through the reactor core to Research on methods of radiation House, London Wl, will close at 1 emerge at 336°C and pass into four detection and measurement will be o'clock on 22 December until 10 in heat exchangers whence it is returned carried out simultaneously with the forenoon of 28 December. to the reactor for recirculation. accelerator programmes. 27 October 1956 ' THE CHEMICAL AGE 169

On 2 October MR. C. M. HOULTON, European representative of the general sales manager of Borax Con- Development Company. He joined solidated Ltd., flew to the Far East the Union Carbide organisation in for a visit of several weeks. In Hone- 1936 as a research chemist in the Kong and Japan he IS meetlng the com- research laboratories of Carbide and pany's agents, members of Govern- Carbon Chemicals Company, a Divi- ment departments, industrial and agri- sion of Union Carbide and Caroon cultural research centres, and industrial Corporation, in South Charleston, users of boron products. West Virginia. In 1955 he was appointed assistant to the director MR. W. T. BUCKLEYhas joined the of the Research Department. staff of James A. Jobling & Co. Ltd. as area export manager, with respon- SIR ALEXANDERFLECK, chairman of sibility for markets in the Middle East, ICI Ltd.. received the honorarv. degree- Far East and South and East Africa. of Doctor of Science in Convocation at Oxford on 18 October. MR. L. A. BRADBURY,sports goods technical manager at Dunlop's Speke An 1C1 Ltd. director, MR. W. J. factory, has retired. He joined Dunlop WORBOYS,has been appointed a mem- in 1915 as an assistant chemist and ber of the panel which is to advise the was a senior assistant in the chemical STEIN; co-opted mernhers: MR. E. L. British Transport Commission on the laboratcry at Fort Dunlop, Birming- BUSH, MR. G. H. W. CULLINAN,MR. best means of attaining a high standzrd ham, before beginning his association R. S. HASKEW,DR. J. E. TAYLOR; of appearance and amenity in the with making sports goods. He honornry vice-presidents : MR. C. E. design of their equipment. developed for Dunlop in Germany CAREY, MR. NORMANN. HOLDEN, the waterproof silk tennis strings. LORD MCGOWAN,K.B.E., MR. K. H.

WILSON. O.B.E.., J.P.:~ director & MR. F. W. MARTIN has been secretary: MR. J. DAVIDSONPRATT, appointed a director of Tube Invest- C.B.E.; tiiant~ger: MR. A. J. HOLDEN. ments. Japanese Synthetic Rubber Each Year the Gas Council awards A REQUEST for budgetary appro- * Among those presented to the five research scholarships to students priations to finance a plan for estab- Queen on the occasion of the opening who have recently graduated in lishing a serni-oficial synthetic rubber of Calder Hall Power station were physics, chemistry or engineering. company has been submitted to the MR. C. M. SPIELMAN,of WhesSOe L1d.i Scholarships awarded this year went ~i~~~~~ ~i~i~~~~by the J~~~~~~~ SIR KENNETHHAGUE, of pabc~ck& to: ROY SALTER,B.A., University of ~i~i~~~~of ~~~d~.production is Wilcox; MR. A. J. HILL,Taylcr Wood- Oxford, department of inorganic and planned to start by 1959, row Construction Co. Ltd.; MR. R. physical chemistry; ALANWINT, B.Sc. PARKIN,resident engineer of Whessoe (Eng.), University of Cambridge, Of the 12,380 million yen required for the plan, 1,500 million yen will be Ltd.; MR. E. G. GALE,foreman erector department of chemical engineering; . of Strachan & Henshaw Ltd.; and MR. JOHN W. ARNOLD, B.Sc., A.R.C.S., provided by direct fiscal investment E. RICHARDSON,chargehand, Matthew from the Government and 7,800 mil- Imperial College of Science and Tech- lion yen by a low cost loan from the , Hall & Co. Ltd. no log^. University of London, depart- Japan Development ~~~k,Private in- ment of chemical engineering; PHILIP dustrial companies will put up CHARI.F.SG. CHISHOLMhas been OWENS, B.Sc., University of Bir- millicn yen, while commercial banks appointed General Sales Manager of mingham, department of chemical are expected to supply the remaining Haynes Stellite Company, a division engineering; and DOUGLASH. GRANT, ' million yen. of Union Carbide and Carbon Cor- B.Sc., University of Glasgow, Depatt- poration. ment of Chemistry. lnitial annual production will amount to 27,000 tons of GR-S and 3,000 tons of latex. Total production At the annual general meeting of THE RIGHT HONOURABLELORD the As>ociaticn of British Chemical for the following yeais is expected to GODBER,chairman of the Shell group be: 1960. 35,000 tons; 1961, 40,000 Manufacturers on I I October the of companies, has accepted an invita- foilowing were elected to the council tons; and 45,000 tons annually from tion to be president of the festival of then onwards. Selling prices are esti- for 1956-57 : pre~iderlt: SIR GRAHAM industrial films to be held at Harro- HAYMAN:vice-pre~ide~lts: DR. F. H. mated to be: GR-S, 220 yen per kg. gate in October next year. To be and latex 300 yen per kg. CARR.C.B.E.. SIR ROGER DUNCALFE. called 'Films in the Service of DR. E. V. EVANS,O.B.E., SIR HARRY After initial deticits in 1959 and Industry', the festival will show how 1960 it is estimated that the company JEPHCOTT,MR. C. F. MERRIAM.M.C.. films are being used in industry. MR. L. P. O'BRIEN. MR. W. J. will show a profit and should declare WORBOYS; elected members: choir- a dividend of 10 per cent after 1962. r~lon: MR. G. F. WILLIAMS:vice- MR. J. E. SAXTONhas been appointed It may then be placed in the hands of chnirrnnn: MR. B. HICKSON;honorcr~y lecturer in the department of organic private businessmen. trrosurer: MR. J. L. HARVEY,M.B.E.; chemistry, University of Leeds, from The Ministry of Trade is trying to council: MR. D. J. BIRD.MR. I. V. L. I September 1956. persuade private industrial groups to FERGUSSON.MR. E. M. FRASER, drop plans to build synthetic rubber C.B.E., DR. W. H.GARRETT,M.B.E., Union Carbide Development Co., plants capable of producing 15,000 MR. J. C. HANBIJRY.MR. E. LE Q. a Division of Union Carbide and tons annually and to support the HERBER~.DR. W. G. HISCOCK.MR. Carbon Corporation has appointed Ministry's project. Japan's rubber re- L. G. MATTHEWS,MR. F. G. PENTE- DR. D. M. YOUNG associate techni- quirements were expected to increase COST, MR. F. S. POOLE, MR. H. V. cal director. Dr. Young will be from 112,000 tons this year to 150,000 POTTER, MR. W. D. SCOTT, MR. E. located in Geneva, Switzerland, as a tons in 1962. THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956 Carbohydrate Structures' by E. J. Continuous Power Bourne; ' Tosyl Esters and Three- membered Oxide Rings' by J. C. P. Free Piston Engine System for Schwarz; ' Conformational Aspects of ICI Plant at Billingham the Formation and Reactions of Cer- tain Cyclic Derivatives of Carbo- INSTALLATIONS for a new chemical, hydrates' by A. B. Foster. Evening plant project at the Billingham Divi- session, 7.30 p.m.-9.30 p.m.: 'Hydro- sion of ICI Ltd. include the Pescara lysis of Glycosides' by W. G. free piston engine system to drive, Overend; ' Reactions of Halogeno- through gas turbines, several large sugars' by R. U. Lemieux. rotary gas compressors. Fifteen 1,000 h.p. GS-34 gasifiers are to be used. The Bristol : Chemistry Department, The majority are being supplied by Sigma University, 7 p.m. Tilden Lecture: and the remainder by the Free Piston 'Physical Properties of High Poly- Engine Co. Ltd., in conjunction with mers in relation to their Chemical Alan Muntz & Co. Ltd. Structure' by Professor G. Gee. The free piston engine system is Liverpool : Chemistry Lecture considered to be particularly suitable MONDAY 29 OCTOBER Theatre, The University, 5 p.m. for the supply of continuous power for 'Chemistry at Extreme Temperatures ' a chemical processing plant for the Chemical Society by Professor G. Porter. following reasons: Insensitivity of the Durham : Science Laboratories, The Nottingham: Lecture Theatre, gasifier to any kind of oil fuel so that University, 5.15 p.m. 'Nucleotide Chemistry Department, The Univer- the cheapest available fuel can be Structure and Function' by Professor sity, 4.45 p.m. ' Elaboration Products used; total power is divided between J. Baddiley. of Eucarvone' by Professor R. A. a number of independently operating Leicester : University College, 4.30 Raphael. units each of 1,000 h.p. and thus an p.m. ' Recent Advances in the St. Andrews: Chemistry Depart- additional and predetermined number Chemistry of Bile Salts ' by Professor ment, St. Salvators College, St. of stand-by units can be arranged G. A. D. Haslewood. Andrews, 5.15 p.m. Lecture by Pro- giving an inherent reliability to the 1nstitute.of Industrial Administration fessor Wilson Baker. plant as a whole; final power drive is through turbines. the characteristics of Manchester : Lesser Free Trade Institute of Metals Hall, 7 p.m. ' Operational Research- which can be matched to the perform- Its Application to Industrial Prob- London: Royal School of Mines, ance of the rotary compressors. It is lems' by Professor R. W. Revans. South Kensington SW7, 7 p.m. ' Primi- to these latter that technical attention tive Metallurgy' by Professor F. C. is being increasingly attracted. Thompson. TUESDAY 30 OCTOBER Leeds Metallurgical Society Chemical Society Leeds: Large Chemistry Theatre. ' Blown Up ' Hut Belfast : The Queen's University, The University, 2 p.m. 'Powder Metal- DEVELOPED by Elliot Equipment 7.45 p.m. ' Metal Atoms. in Covalent lurgy Applied to Mechanical Parts ' by Ltd., Llwynpia, Khondda, S. Wales, the Compounds, as Aromatic Systems ' by 'H. Davies. Numax hut is composed of an inflat- Dr. J. Chatt. able low pressure framework with a Institute of Metal Finishing ruhberised fabric covering. It pro- WEDNESDAY 31 OCTOBER Manchester : Engineers' Club, vides a clear floor space of 30 it. by Albert Square, 7.30 p.m. ' Cleaning 19 ft. with a height of 9 ft. The floor Chemical Society Technique in the Metal Finishing In- of tough ruhherised fabric is detach- Manchester : College of Technology, dustry' by H. G. Patching and J. E. able; windows are made of best flex- 6.30 p.m. Meeting for the reading of Entwistle. ible clear plastic and can be opened. original papers. Doors at each end can be opened from FRIDAY 2 NOVEMBER either side by quick fasteners. One THURSDAY 1 NOVEMBER man can erect the hut in less than Royal Institute of Chemistry three minutes by means of a small electric blower connected to a car bat- Royal Society London : St. Ermin's Hotel, Caxton London : Burlington House, Picca- tery, or by hand or foot pump in 30 Street SW1,,7 for 7.30 p.m. Eighth minutes. Fastening points are pro- dilly W1, 4.30 p.m. The Leeuwenhoek annual dinner and dance. Lecture : ' The Biochemical Organisa- vided for electric light and telephone tion of the Bacterial Cell' by E. F. Chemical Society fittings. Paraffin stoves may be used Gale. Dublin: Chemistry Department, for heating. Trinity College, 7.45 p.m. 'The Birth The Numax hut has been used as Royal Institute of Chemistry temporary accommodation on building Kingston : Technical College, Fassett and Death of Free Radicals in Poly- merisation ' by Dr. C. H. Barnford. sites, as temporary offices or canteens. Road, 6.30 p.m. ' Chromatography ' store sheds, garages etc. by Dr. Tudor S. G. Jones. Southampton : Chemistry Depart- ment, The University, 5 p.m. 'Some Chemical Society Applications of Radiochemistry ' by London: Chemistry Department, Dr. R. Spence. Fat by Micro-Organisms' by Professor University College, Gower Street T. K. Walker. WCI, 2.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. Sym- Society of Chemical Industry posium on 'Newer Interpretations of Manchester : The University, 4.30 Society of Cosmetic Chemists Reactions and Structure in Carbo- p.m. 'Optical Effects in Polymers London: Royal Society of Arts, hydrate Chemistry.' Afternoon session, under Strain ' by Dr. L. G. R. Treloar. John Adam Street WC2, 7.30 p.m. 2.30 p.m.-5.30 p.m. : 'Some Physical Liverpool : Nicholson Theatre, The 'Silicones in the Cosmetic Industry' Methods used in the Determination of University, 7.30 p.m. ' Synthesis of by T. W. Watson. 27 October 1956 THE CHEMICAL AGE CHEMICAL EXPORTS 15"/, UP Rumanian Chemicals Large-Scale Development Programme But Position Not Satisfactory in UK Worked Out SPEAKING at the annual general the chemical industry which was pre- A LARGE scale programme for meeting of the Association of pared and submitted, at his request, developing the chemical industry in British Chemical Manufacturers on 11 to the President of the Board of Trade Rumania has been worked out for the October, Mr. G. F. Williams. chair- in 1949 and the supplement of factual next 10 to I5 years, according to an man. said that in the dollar markets, data published four years later, the article in the September issue of the in the face of powerful American chairman said that the counc~l had Information Bulletin published by the competition, Britain exported chemi- now decided to prepare a second Rumanian Chamber of Commerce. cals to the value of 222 m. in 1955 supplement, indicating the position at Rumania, according to the article, which represented seven per cent of all the end of 1956. The questionnaire possesses considerable resources of raw dollar exports of manufactured goods. will follow the lines of that used for materials required by the chemical in- This year, to date, there was an in- 1953, which was much simpler than dustry: Crude oil, dry gas, coal, reed, crease of nearly 15 per cent. that of 1949, and members should be timber, salt, non-ferrous and non- ' But,' continued Mr. Williams, 'we able to answer it from their normal metallic ores, together with electrical must not rest on these laurels. ' A records without much trouble. The energy needed for processing. recent Board of Trade report showed council hopes that all members con- Work is under way at present for that between 1951 and 1955 the UK cerned will submit their returns as the completion of a number of con- share of the world's trade in chemicals soon as possible after the end of 1956 structions for the chemical industry, dropped from 17.3 per cent to 16.7 to ensure the early publication of the which were begun during the first Five per cent while the German share in- supplement. Year Plan. Before the end of the creased from 13.5 per cent to 17.4 per year a new superphosphates unit will cent. The overall export picture is Joint Safety Council be commissioned at the Petri Poni plant at Valea Calugarescea, as well as worse; from 1950 to 1955 the UK Mr. Williams went on to draw a sulphuric acid factory of 30,000 tons share dropped from 25.5 per cent to attention to the establishment of the a year output. 19.8 per cent while the German share joint British Chemical Industry Safety rose from 7.3 per cent to 15.6 per Council by the ABCM and the New Units cent. This is a clear indication of Association of Chemical & Allied the growing German competition Employers. 'It is hoped that all mem- Also during 1956 units producing which we have to meet. Therefore, bers will give it their utmost support. acetic acid and acetone from acetylene price restraint by itself will not solve The need. for obtaining complete made from dry gas were put into ser- the problems with which the country accident and sickness statistics is im- vice. At the Turda chemical plant a is faced, unless the breathing space perative and I certainly hope that new unit for the manufacture of poly- which it gives is used to bring down members who, for one reason cr vinyl chloride is being constructed. costs in order to maintain and, if another, have not supplied their The capacity of the Colorom fac- possible, improve our competitive figures in the past will do so regularly tory at Codlea and of the Spic factory position in the export markets.' in future, in. their own interests and at Bucharest will be considerably in- Council's Report those of the industry in general,' added creased by the commissioning of new Mr. Williams. sections for intermediary products and Presenting the report of the council fast dyestuffs. and the accounts for the year ending An important chemical works is to 30 June 1956, Mr. Williams referred Pfizer Antibiotic be built in Moldavia, where the con- to the instrumentation appreciation struction has already begun of an elec- conference held in April. ' In sum- PFIZER LTD., Folkestone, simul- trolytic soda plant fitted with the ming up the proceedings of the con- taneously with the parent company in latest type of machinery. It is esti- ference, Mr. A. J. Young, chairman of New York, announced on 17 October mated that the annual output of this our instrumentation advisory com- a new antibiotic named Sigmamycin. factory will be 30,000 tons of soda a mittee, invited firms to submit details A statement issued from the com- year. In the same region the con- of any of their plants which they pany's British headquarters at Folkes- struction will begin this year of an thought would benefit from instru- tone said that it marked 'a strikhg azotic fertiliser factory with an annual mentation. The instrumentation ad- advance in'the treatment of all infec- output of 150,000 to 200,000 tons, and visory committee,' continued Mr. tions for which antibiotics are used ' of a synthetic fibre (Perlon) factory, Williams, 'was willing to select one of and was the answer 'to one of medi- the first of its kind in Rumania. them and prepare a complete plan with cine's great and growing problems Developments are also planned in estimates of cost for its instrumenta- today-the patient's toleration to anti- the petrochemicals field. tion, together with an economic state- biotic treatment and the emergence of An oxygen factory in course of con- ment indicating the likely financial microbial resistant strains.' struction at Bucharest will consist of benefits to be gained. The committee The statement goes on to say that two units, each producing 200 cubic would supervise the execution of the the combined spectra of two anti- metres of oxygen an hour. The phos- job and the only proviso was that biotics-tetracycline and oleandomy- phate fertiliser factory of Navodari. when the work had been done and cin-have produced the desired result. with 100,000 tons estimated annual the economic benefits ascertained in ' The Americans are calling it a multi- capacity, and the soda factory of practice, the firm would give permis- dimensional antibiotic. It demon- Govora, with 150,000 tons estimated sion to use and publicise the informa- strates the phenomenon of synergistic annual capacity, are other plants whose tion as a case history. This,' said the activity. By this is meant that the construction has recently started. action of each antibiotic is greater in chairman, ' is a generous offer of which Footnote Rumanian imports of chemi- firms with little or no instrumenta- combination than when used singly. cals from this country in September of this tion should take full advantage.' It is a new concept of the principle of year amounted to only f.377, compared with Referring to the special report on antibiotic therapy.' $7,453 for September 1955. THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956 Fire Hazards of Radioactive Materials

N A RECENT LECTURE to lubrication studies on cylinders, and in Atomic Energy Commission when Manchester Insurance Institute on nietallurgical laboratories for measur- fire-fighting involves radioactive sub- I the fire hazards of radioactive ing infinitesimally small quantities of stances. Thus, firemen should con- materials, Mr. D. I. Lawson pointed metals. Chemical research labora- sult and comply with on-the-spot re- out that such materials are not more tories are now using radioactive atoms commendations from trained person- flammable than their non-radioactive to track any one ,particular element in nel associated with the project; counterparts. However, the danger a reaction and similarly radioactivity breathing apparatus should be worn is that radioactive substances may be is used in plant and animal nutrition to avoid the intake of radioactive par- dispersed by fire and either the mater- experiments and in medicine. The ticles through mouth and lungs; un- ials themselves or the radiations they future will undoubtedly see further necessary disturbance, or stirring-up give off could be absorbed in sufi- applications of radioactivity. of any materials, or smashing labora- cient quantity to give rise to untoward At the present time there are tory glassware or apparatus should be biological effects. The lecturer dealt no factory regulations dealing with avoided, the use of water should be first with the biological effects of general handling of radioactive minimised to prevent radioactive radiation and then considered what isotopes in industry but advice materials being washed away and dis- steps can be taken to avoid dispersing can be obtained from the factory persed: handling of apparatus, mater- radioisotopes in fires. department of the Ministry of ials etc., with bare hands should be Labour and National Service, and the avoided; and stay in the fire area Reducing Hazards industrial section of the Atomic Re- should not be longer than is neces- search Establishment at Harwell. The sary. Such precautions are the same Accepted ways of reducing radiation former is informed of all deliveries of as those which would be taken in hazards are shielding, remote con- radioactive materials, and the appro- dealing with a fire in any chemical trolled manipulation or handling, dis- priate district staff are then notified. plant. tance from radioactive materials and Visits are made to establishments The lecturer concluded with a con- least possible exposure to radio- where it is thought that advice may be sideration of insurance for atomic activity. It is these latter two mea- necessary. projects. Up to now no settled sures which can be considered the Mr. Lawson dealt with the trans- policy has been formulated in this most important in a fire emergency. port of radioactive materials by post, country, but current belief in the US Fortunately the range of alpha and rail and road, and then considered is that reactors are insurable at com- beta particles in air is limited, so that fire-fighting and radioactivity. He mercial rates; and they will be con- at a distance of a foot or so from the quoted the following advice given by sidered in the category of the more source of radiation, radioactivity falls Mr.' Edward 1. Keyhoe of the US hazardous types of chemical reaction. to an insignificant level. Also, expo- sure to radiation over a limited period of time, as in fire fighting, would not cause sustained damage. Radioactive materials are to be FLUID LEVEL CONTROLS found, at present, in Government re- Automatic Switching Device search laboratories, nuclear power stations, and to some extent, in indus- AN ECONOMICAL and trouble-free ing foodstuffs and pure chemicals etc., trial and chemical research laborator- means of automatically switching do not occur. ies and hospitals. Personnel in electrically powered Pumps, signal There is a selection of control relay Government departments handling lamps and alarm devices in relation to ,,,,its available to suit almost every radioactive substances and fire the level of electrically conductive industrial application. Type RCI brigades attached to the departments fluids, or their foams, contained in contro~is stated to be suitable for all all receive special instructions as will sumps, boreholes and installations handling water or other persons engaged for nuclear power stations. It is largely in chemical rntcaodL fluids which have specific resistances separation processes for uranium and One or two metal dipsticks are em- less than 503000 plutonium and in the treatment of played to detect the rise or fall of 1x2 control is suggested for a liquid waste materials that there is a danger level above or below one or two resistance of UP to 20 megohms. Both of dispersing radioactive compounds pre-selected points in the containing controls are available in two forms- should fire occur rather than through vessel. ER~~~~~~is inde- Form 'H', in which the relay is ener- explosions or fires in reactors. pendent of vibration, turbulence, tern- gised when the level is beneath both Radioactive substances are now perature or pressure. As there are dipstick electrodes and Form ' L' in being used more widely in industry. no moving or intricate parts, clogging which the relay is de-energised when Thus they are used in the petroleum and failure to contact with floating fluid is beneath both electrodes. Vari- industry for tracing the flow of oil debris, or harbouring of contaminas ous dipstick electrode holders are in pipes, in the motor industry for ting matter in tanks used for process- available. 27 October 1956 THE CHEMICAL AGE

by Restrictive Trade Practices Peter Pain M.A. INVESTIGATION OF AGREEMENTS

N PREVIOUS articles I have outlined the classes (c) Protective Counter-Measure. The Court must be of agreement which are registerable under the satisfied that the restriction is reasonably necessary to IRestrictive Trade Practices Act and the machinery counteract measures taken by any one person not party by which registration is effected. This brings me to the to the agreement, with a view to preventing or restrict- third and vital stage provided for by the new machinery ing competition in or in relation to the trade or business --the examination of agreements before the Restrictive in which 'the parties to the agreement are engaged. Practices Court. This justification can be called in aid only where the It is the duty of the registrar lo lay agreements restriction is undertaken as a means of protection which have been registered before the Court. The against a single competitor. For this purpose inter- Court must then examine them and declare whether connected companies or partners are regarded as being any of the specified restrictions (set out in my first one person. If the single competitor is sufficiently large, article) are contrary to the public interest. If they are, it may be subject to investigation under the Monopolies the Court has certain powers to prevent their being Act. acted upon. (d) Protection Against Monopoly Buyer or Seller. Burden of proof lies upon the parties to the agree- The Court must be satisfied that the restriction is ment; they must show that the restrictions are not reasonably necessary to enable the parties to the agree- contrary to the public interest. The Act lays down seven ment to negotiate fair terms: sets of circumstances which may justify a restriction. (i) for the supply of goods to, or the acquisition The parties must show that their restriction falls within of goods from, any one person not party thereto one of these seven headings and must then go on to who controls a preponderant part of the trade or show that, having regard to the balance between such business of acquiring or supplying such goods; circumstances and any detriment to the public or or persons not parties to the agreement, the restriction is not unreasonable. (ii) for the supply of goods to any person not party to the agreement and not carrying on such a Sets of Circumstances trade or business who, either alone or in com- bination with any other such person, controls a The seven headings are as follows: preponderant part of the market for such goods. (a) Safety of the Public. A party must satisfy the Court that the restriction is reasonably necessary, Justification having regard to the character of the goods to which it applies, to protect the public against injury (whether In order to justify their restrictions under this head, to persons or tp premises) in connection with the con- the parties must show that it is necessary in order to sumption, installation or use of those goods. This is obtain fair terms, whereas under (c) it had only been of considerable importance in the chemical industry. shown as a necessary counter-measure; or (d) would where many goods are inherently dangerous or require not provide a justification where the monopoly had special skill in their installation. Manufacturers could acted fairly throughout and there were no grounds for use this heading to justify the restriction of the supply suggesting it would do otherwise. of dangerous goods to persons with the necessary (e) Eflect on Employment. A party must satisfy the know-how as to their use and the attendant dangers. Court that, having regard to the conditions actually (b) Benefit to the Public. A party must satisfy \he obtaining, or reasonably foreseen at the time of the Court that the removal of the restriction would deny application, the removal of the restriction would be to the public as purchasers, consumers or users of any likely to have a serious and persistent adverse effect on goods, specific and substantial benefits or advantages the general level of employment in an area, or in areas enjoyed or likely to be enjoyed by them, whether by taken together, in which a substantial proportion of the virtue of the restriction itself or of any arrangements trade or industry to which the agreement relates is or operations resulting therefrom. It is under this situated. heading that the most difficult cases are likely to arise. (f) Eflect on Export Trade. The Court must be The whole problem of the benefits of a stable market satisfied that, having regard to the conditions actually controlled by the producer, as against a free market, obtaining or reasonably foreseen at the date of the will arise time and time again. The earlier decisions application, the removal of the restriction would be of the Court on this ground will give an important likely to cause a reduction in the volume or earning indication of its whole attitude to the problem of of the export business which is substantial, either in restrictive trading. relation to the whole export business of the UK or the 174 THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956 RESISTANCE THERMOMETERS The Restrictive Trade Practices Act Remote Reading Type whole business (including export business) of the trade WHAT are claimed to be the most accurate remote or business to which the restrictive agreement relates. reading resistance thermometers available commercially (g) AnciNary restriction^. The Court must be satisfied have been developed by Savage & Parsons Ltd., that the restriction is reasonably required for purposes Watford, Herts. Overall accuracy is stated to be within connected with the maintenance of any other restriction plus or minus one degree-according to the meter accepted by the parties, whether under the same agree- employed-and a sensitivity of within plus or minus ment or under any other agreement between them. This 0.1 degree C, thus allowing wide ranges of temperature latter restriction must be one which has been found by variations to be accurately shown on the 44 in. uniform the Court not to be contrary to the public interest upon scale of the meter. one of the grounds (a) to (0. The thermometers operate on the temperature/ resistance change of a platinum sensing element, the Court to Consider small heat capacity of which makes the instrument extremely sensitive to temperature changes, with little Once an agreement is brought within one of these time lag. Four models are available at present covering seven headings, the Court has to consider whether the a range of temperature variations of: - 50°C to 0°C; restriction is or is not unreasonable having regard to 0°C to 50°C; 50°C to 100°C; or 100°C to 150°C. the balance between the circumstances which have been Extensions to this range are being considered by the proved and any detriment to the public. The Court makers. has to consider any detriment to the public as a whole or detriment to persons who are not parties to the Self-Contained Unit agreement and who are purchasers, cons;mers or users of goods produced or sold by the parties to the agree- Sensing elements, which can be used at a distance ment. This includes persons purchasing, consuming or from the instrument, are available in flat form, for using such goods for the purpose or in the course of a attachment to surfaces and for interleaving, or alter- trade or business, or for public purposes, or detriment natively in the conventional immersion form. The to persons who are not parties to the agreement and thermometer, with its heavy duty battery, forms a who are engaged or seeking to become engaged in the completely self-contained unit housed within the casing. trade or business of selling goods produced by the and accurate thermometer readings are obtained parties to the agreement, or producing or selling similar throughout the 400-hour life of the battery. A strong, goods. compact case encloses the unit, which weighs 12 Ib. and measures about 12 in. by Ilt in. by 9+ in. The Reasonable or Unreasonable instrument has a wide range of applications in all branches of the process industry, from the manufacture, Although the burden of proof lies on the parties of petroleum products and plastics materials, to bio- to the agreement, they do not have to go so far as chemistry, baking and brewing. to prove that the agreement is reasonable. They have Further details can be obtained from Savage & to establish that it is not unreasonable. Whatever the Parsons Ltd. practical man may say, there is to the lawyer a sub- stantial difference and in this case it is a great deal easier to establish the double negative. Having regard to fhe importance of its task, it is fitting that the Restrictive Practices Court should be A restriction becomes void upon the Court declaring invested with the highest authority. It is to be a that it is contrary to the public interest. The Court ' superior court of record' having the same powers, may enjoin the parties to the agreement from giving rights, privileges and authority as the High Court in effect to the restriction or making any other agreement England and Wales, the Court of Session in Scotland to the like effect. Whether the whole agreement will be and the High Court of Northern Ireland. It does not void depends upon the circumstances; broadly speaking form part of these courts or of the Supreme Court of it will be void where the extinguishing of the agree- Judicature. ment destroys the whole foundation of the agreement. The Court consists of five High Court judges and Where there has been a material change in the relevant 10 lay members. Three of the judges are from England circumstances the Restrictive Practices Court may vary and Wales, and one each from Scotland and Northern a previous decision. Ireland. One of the judges will be nominated president. The Lord Chancellor is to make rules of procedure The lay members are appointed by the Crown on the for the Court. The right of audience is safeguarded to recommendation of the Lord Chancellor for three-year a party by the Act itself. It seems probable that the periods. Unlike the judges they are removable; the rules will in the main follow fairly well established qualification is knowledge of or experience in industry, principles of judicial procedure. commerce or public affairs. Appeal lies on a question of law only to the Court The Court may sit as a whole or in divisions; there of Appeal, Court of Session or Court of Appeal in must be at least one judge, who presides, and two other Northern Ireland as the case may be. A further appeal members. The opinion of the judges is final on any on a point of law lies to the House of Lords. question of law. (To be continued) 27 October 1956 THE CHEMICAL AGE Food Additives Seaweed Research Institute Esso Refinery in Wales Recommendations in Stationery THE Institute of Seaweed Research, Development Permission Being Office Report Inveresk, Musselburgh, Scotland, is Sought being taken over by Arthur D. Little EMULSIFYING and stabilising Inc., an US industrial research organi- PERMISSION for the industrial de- agents which can be added to food- sation. It is anticipated that consider- velopment of approximately 1,000 stuffs are listed in Food Stundurds able scientific staff will be employed. acres of land in the Milford Haven Committee Report on Emu!sifying and The Institute was set up to determine area is now being sought by Esso Stahilising Agents (HM Stationery the scope for an industry based on Petroleum Co. Ltd. Office, 9d). It is recommended that, seaweed, but the useful employment Sir Leonard Sinclair, chairman apart from certain substances which of the premises has been a matter of and managing director of the com- are natural constituents or common in- - discussion since the decision to close pany, has said that Esso is consider- gredients of food and need not be down the Institute was announced ing the erection on this site of a major regulated, official approval should be earlier this year. oil refinery, but 'no final decision can restricted at present to the following yet be made to build the plant, and no substances : forecast is possible of the timing of Super-glycerinated fats, synthetic the project '. lecithin, propyleneglycol alginate, pro- Esso's plans provide for a refinery pyleneglycol stearate, methyl cellulose, Portuguese Fertilisers with a capacity of five million tons a methylethel cellulose, sodium carboxy- REPORTS on the use of chemical year throughput, and with marine methyl cellulose, stearyl tartrate, di- fertilisers appear in the Decree-Law facilities for berthing tankers of the acetyl tartaric acid esters of super- dated 28 August. The following largest forseeable tonnage. glycerinated fats, monostearin sodium figures (in metric tons) are given : sulphoacetate, sorbitan esters of fatty f2O Million Cost acids. Cereal Phos- Poras- The report, which was prepared by Yeor Nilroles pharcs sium Tolot Such a plant would require a capi- the Preservatives Sub-committee of tal investment of about £20 million, the Food Standards Committee, says and would provide regular employ- that only substances which do not, on (provisional) ment for approximately 2,000 persons. the available data or in certain cases Average consumption of chemical Construction would occupy up to by reference to their chemical formula- elements in kilograms per cultivated 5,000 men over a period of two and tion, present a health hazard in the hectare is shown in the f+ollowing a half years. At least a year would amounts customarily used in foods table : be needed to complete the design and should be regarded as suitable for in- Pho~ planning stages before building phoric clusion in the permitted list of food- Anhy- Polos- began. stuffs. Nilroten dride sium Tolol It is understood that these develop- 1937 4.3 9.3 0.7 14.3 1953-54 12.1 21.0 1.7 34.8 ments are the outcome of long-term Rapid Development 1954-55 13.6 18.8 1.8 34.2 1955-56 14.6 20.9 2.1 37.6 planning of the company's future ex- pansion. The initial purchases of In view of the rapid development of This notable increase is considered new substances the sub-committee con- land were made more than 18 months to be due to the policy of the Portu- ago, and further purchases have sider that appropriate arrangements guese Government, in force since been made subsequently. There is no should be made for substances to be 1937, of subsidising the sale of ferti- connection between the present pro- added to the permitted list if a strong lisers. The Government recognise that posals and recent international case can be made for them on the further advances need to be made in events. grounds of advantage to the consumer, the use of potash fertilisers. Also in and provided there is adequate evi-. view of the high acidity of a great dence that their use will present no proportion of the cultivated soil in health hazard. Portugal (86.8 per cent) they wish to The report recommends that the encourage the use of lime and they German Aluminium addition of emulsifying and stabilising propose, therefore, to extend the sub- agents to milk should not be allowed; sidies in future to cover lime for CONSUMPTTON of aluminium in the that of the permitted substances only agricultural purposes. Federal Republio is rising rapidly and super-glycerinated fats and stearyl tar- dependence on imported supplies has trate should be allowed in bread and become more marked. There is full that the existing prohibition on the use utilisation of productive capacity but of thickening substances in cream completion of the reconstruction of should be extended to cover reconsti- Sasol Progress the plant at Grevenbroich will raise it .tuted cream. OUTPUT of ammonium sulphate at by 12,000 tons to a total of about The sub-committee do not consider Sasol-the oil-from-coal organisation 150,000 tons. The state-owned United it necessary or practicable to specify -is reported to be of the order of Aluminium Company of Bonn which limits to the amount of a permitted 40,000 tons a year. This is stated to is responsible for more than 70 per emulsifying or stabilising agent which meet about half of South Africa's de- cent of German aluminium produc- may be present in food. They stress. mands for this fertiliser. Saving in tion is considering the building of a however, that the amount used should foreign exchange is about f750,OOO. new plant. A major factor is the prob- always be the smallest quantity con- The chairman of Sasol, Mr. F. J. du lem of obtaining adequate supplies of sistent with the best commercial prac- Toit has. however, issued a warning electric power at low cost. The choice tice and recommend that specifications that if the basic chemicals produced by of site, therefore, is likely to fall on of purity for the permitted substances the plant are not absorbed by local the Rhineland area where new gener- should be drawn up to ensure that manufacturers, the organisation will ating plants based on their own coal they are of a high standard of purity have to depart from its present policy resources are planned by electric when used in food. and ,process them. power producers. 176 THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956

* PUBlLICATTOEdS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS *

7

WITH the newer developments in electronic design, in A CATALOGUE describing goods manufactured for television, radar and communications has come de- the chemical, food and distillation trades has been mands for new and more efficient components, for con- issued by Bennett, Sons & Shears Ltd., 9-13 George ductive ceramics, for semi-conductors and resistors, Street, Manchester Square, London W1. Included in for magnetic ceramics, for new insulating materials, and this catalogue is an account of an absolute alcohol for chemical and metallurgical materials possessing plant which is in operation at the Government central closely defined electrical or magnetic properties. The laboratory, Nasik Road, Bombay, and a sea water Chemical and Metallurgical Division of the Plessey. Co. distillation plant which is part of the second stage of Ltd., .has now introduced just such a new range of a water supply scheme for the state of Qatar. For components and materials to meet developments in each stage of this scheme a sea water distillation plant electronic design. Technical information, applications consisting of three sets of triple-effect evaporators with and performance data are available to design engineers an output of 150 tons of distilled water a day per set, in a brochure entitled Plessey at Towcester. The com- has been supplied by Bennett, Sons & Shears. pany will issue from time to time technical data sheets which will describe fully the properties of products of the Plessey Chemical and Metallurgical Division. The present brochure has a pocket to provide for the VACUUM ultra-violet spectroscopy and stellar spectra storage of these sheets. The brochure (and further in- are considered in a recent Hilger Journal (Vol. 111 formation) is available from the Plessey Co. Ltd., No. 1. August 1956). Vacuum spectroscopy has been Chemical and Metallurgical Division, Wood Burcote of academic interest since 1919 but today industrial , Way, Towcester, Northants. 0 spectroscopists are finding the vacuum ultra-violet a useful region of the spectrum for analytical purposes, Mr. J. R. Stansfield lists the desired criteria for the spectrography and deals with problems encountered in vacuum spectroscopy. CARBON BLOCK heat exchangers are being made in UK in two sizes, standard and small, under licence from Le Carbone-Lorraine of Paris by Robert Jenkins & Co. Ltd., Rotherham. The company has issued a TWO TECHNICAL bulletins describing p.v.a. leaflet (number 11) describing these heat exchangers emulsions for paint manufacture have been issued by which are said to have proved popular in France, but British Oxygen Chemicals Ltd. Technical Bulletin are entirely new to this country. Both sizes of exchanger Nu. I2 and Technical Bullerin No. 13 describe the consist of a pile of impermeable cylindrical graphite properties and main uses of Vandike emulsions 1100, blocks having two groups of flow passages for two 1107, 1115, and 1120. This series has been specially different heat exchange fluids. One group is parallel formulated for use in the manufacture of emulsion with the axis and the second group is arranged radially. paints. It also has uses such as in the production of textile finishes. Vandike 1100 is unplasticised and Vandike 1107, 1115, and 1120 contain seven per cent, 15 per cent and 20 per cent dibutyl phthalate respec- THE ELIMINATION of electro-static charge from the tively. Vandike 5100, which is described in Technical surface of polystyrene materials is discussed in tech: Bulletin No. 12, is a general purpose unplasticised nical service bulletin No. P6/3 Anti-Static Finishes for p.v.a. emulsion of higher viscosity. Polystyrene published by Monsanto Plastics Ltd., 10-18 Victoria Street, London SWl. Among temporary destaticisers may be mentioned common household detergents which are best used in the proportion of TECHNICAL BULLETINS to cover the complete 1 part detergent, 1 part glycerine and 64 parts water. range of products manufactured by Price's (Brom- Buffing compounds are also suitable temporary de- borough) Ltd., at Bromborough Pool have now been staticisers as are deionising salt sprays. There are a issued. One publication concerns fatty alcohols, another number of proprietary anti-static agents on the market. is on the subject of fatty acids and a third deals with Arquad 18, made by Armour & Co. Ltd., has been oleines and stearines. In addition to setting out the tested by Monsanto and found satisfactory. Permanent specification for each individual product, the typical removal of static charge can be obtained by the use composition is featured, together with suggested uses of certain lacquers. Lacquers have the advantages that and the type of pack employed. Copies of these tech- they can be combined with colourants and used as a nical bulletins can be obtained on application to Price's decorative finish. Lacquered polystyrene has an (Bromborough) Ltd., Bromborough Pool, New Ferry, improved scratch resistance and gloss. near Birkenhead. 27 October 1956 THE CHEMICAL AGE 177 Chemical Plant & Equipment SOME RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

In this way all danger of the operators' the resin. Rigidity is achieved by AT new fermentation plant near hand being hurt in the mechanism is moulding a cruciform member into Sandwich, Pfizer Ltd. cultivates anti- eliminated. Opening and closing of the bottom of the tray. biotics effective in the treatment of the Richardson bag holder is con- In use the tray is loaded with 30 to over 100 diseases. W~thinthe refining trolled by a foot valve and an air 40 Ib. of wet chemical paste, which is area, which is the final sterile state of control unit, leaving the operator's then dried in an oven at a temperature the manufacturing process, and the hands free to attach and remove bags, of up to 250" F. filling rooms, pharmaceutical products thus increasing filling speeds and bag- The manufacturing specification are handled under strictly controlled ging rates. for the chemical requires that the aseptic conditions. Air is supplied at The system operates on air pressure maximum metallic contamination 65°F dehumidified by a Birlec direct from 30 to 40 p.s.i. and requires two must not be greater than one or two dehumidifier, nianufactured by BIRLEC cu. ft. of free air per minute com- parts per million. With enamelled iron LTD., BIRMINGHAM,capable of main- pressed to 60 p.s.i. for 10 cycles per trays formerly employed, this specifi- taining relative humidity well below minute. Standard bag holders are cation was difficult to meet. The 20 per cent. equipped with round or oval spouts in manufacturers claim that the new type Activated alumina, the drying agent various sizes to suit the bags to be of tray has successfully overcome this employed in Birlec direct dehumidi- filled. A small-diameter slip-on spout problem. Cellobond polyester resins fiers, is a granular. porous material, is available for manual filling of small are manufactured by British Resin which is chemically inert and does not bags, with the spout held in place by Products Ltd. break into powder in service. It will the Richardson Universal bag holder. readily dry gases to dew points of Burlap, cotton, paper or lined bags can minus 70°C (1.5 p.p.m.) or lower. all be held by this holder and also THEBritish Transport Commission gussetted multi-wall paper bags with- and the Port of London Authority out damaging the gussets. have just placed orders with F. E. SMOKE density equipment Mk. I, The Universal bag holder can be WEATHER~LLLTD., WELW GARDEN manufactured by KELVIN& HUGHES combined with automatic scale and CITY,for Epping auto-shunters. Lro. was being shown for the first time packer operation, so that opening and at the Fuel Elticiency Exhibition. It Powered by the Fordson four- closing of the clamping device can be cylinder Diesel engine and designed to was designed to meet the need for a synchronised with weighing and pack- cross or work over high railway track, simple, low cost, accurate and reliable ing. It is also available in a manually the Epping shunting tractor can move means of measuring smoke emission operated model. Other Richardson and is said to be suitable for all types loads of up to 180 tons. With a fuel bag holders include the Swellgrip, air- consumption of only half a gallon per of boiler plants. tight system for handling toxic The basic equipment comprises a hour, this machine is claimed to pro- materials: the Cablegrip for large vide one of the cheapest means of smoke detector assembly (transmitter bags: and a cam grip holder. and receiver units). This can be sutl- dealing with many shunting problems. plied with any one, or combination df. three additional instruments-indica- THEWayne contactless self-winding tor. recorder and alarm circuit. The electric cable reel has been specially HANDLING and storage costs for jute and multiwall paper sacks can, it equipment is unaffected by voltage developed for use where there is a is claimed, be reduced by using the variation. danger that fine particles of dust in the Strong-Scott bag flattener, an Ameri- The design of the equipment is atmosphere as a result of a number of can machine now distributed by based upon the principle of absorption chemical processes might be ignited WILLIAMPALFREY LTD.. LONDON.The of light by solid matter in the flue gas. by a spark. Manufactured by POWER machine smooths and flattens filled A beam of light from the transmitter HOUSE COMPONENTSLTD., NOT~ING- sacks, expelling surplus air, thus unit is focused across the stack or flue HAM,the cable reel has an unbroken eliminating wasteful air space and so to'the receiver unit containing a barrier rubber cable between the point of layer photo cell. The output of this contact with the machine being speeding up stacking rates. Loaded onto a conveyor belt the sacks pass is fed to the indicating, recording and supplied with current and where it is beneath a pressure roll, with adjust- alarm units. connected up to the electric supply point. able pressure and clearance of seven to 12 inches. The machine is powered ANAUTOMATIC bagging scale. by a one h.p. enclosed electric motor manufactured by RICHARDSONSCALE CHEMICAL drying trays made with (60 cycle, 3 phase, 220 volt). Overall Co. CLIFTON, NJ, incorporates an Cellobond polyester resin and glass dimensions of the standard model are important safety feature. The pneu- fibre are now being employed in the 32 in. wide, 44 in. high and 82 in. matic mechanism that closes the bag works of John & E. Sturge Ltd. These long. The belt, 20 in. wide, moves at clamps around the spout is designed trays are manufactured by MICRO- 32 ft. per minute, and 300 to 500 bags to apply high pressure only during PLAS LTD.. MITCHAM.who use a of up to 100 Ib. in weight can be the last 11 16 in. of the clamps' travel. special chemical resistant filler with flattened per hour. THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956

installation where the interior of the drives. In all cases a totally enclosed vessel being controlled is not readily motor wound for either single or Chemical Plant & Equipment accessible for cleaning or repair. three-phase electrical supply is em- The switch is a thermal instrument ployed, Eight angles of discharge For bags from 125 to 250 Ib., there operating on a difference in heat trans- can be arranged with either rotation. is a Jumbo model, similar to the stan- fer between the sensitive element and The multivane impeller incorporates a dard, but with a 30-in. belt and over- the liquid in the vessel, or the sensi- mild steel hub which has a p.v.c. all dimensions 42 in. by 54 in. high by tive element and the vapour. covering extending over the shaft and 96 in. long. All models, which are This principle, patented in the UK, to the outside of the casing to ensure constructed of steel throughout, are gives a sensitive response; changes of protection against chemical elements. completely portable on swivel casters. level in the order of + in. are suficient All motors-support frames and bases For convenience in loading hand to operate the switch. The operating are in a matching stove enamelled trucks, flatteners which operate on an mechanism is temperature compen- finish. Delivery at present for all incline can be supplied. sated. sizes is four weeks. Two models are available offering alternative methods of mounting. BYMAKING use of gamma radia- Production will commence during HEPBuRN CONVEYOR co. t~on, the nucleonic level indicator, December. Lro., ROSA WORKS,WAKEFIELD, have designed by BALDWIN INSTRUMENT obtained sole manufacturing rights in Co. LTD., DARTFORD, KENT, has the Great Britain of the shot blasting and advantage that nothing needs to be NEW TYPES of protective gloves dust control equipment of the Pang- inserted in the container. Both the for men and women concerned with born Corporation of Hagerstown, isotope and the detector are simply chemical handling and manufacture Maryland, US, and the selling rights fixed to the outside. The gamma- are being introduced by MARTINDALE for Great Britain, the sterling area emitting isotope is placed on one side ELECTRIC CO. LTD.. LONDON. One and non-exclusive rights for many of a container and a detector on the type of glove has a chrome leather other countries including Germany other. Radiation passes from the iso- palm and thumb with a knitted 2-in. and India. Pangborn Corp. have tope, through the container, to the wrist and twill back, for protection of been manufacturing this type of equip- detector (a Geiger counter). The out- the hand during light manual (and ment for fifty-two years and are prob- put from the detector is proportional assembly) work. Another type of ably the greatest authority on this to the amount of radiation which it glove for similar work is of cotton type of machinery in the world. receives. Thus, when the contents of twill. The company hope to be in produc- a container are below the radioactive tion on the 6 ft. Rotoblast table room 'beam ', maximum radiation will be model and the 6 cu. ft. Blastmaster received by the detector. When the A NEON signal lamp with snap-in before the year end, and to have pro- contents rise the beam is cut and the fixing for ease of installation has totypes ready in the spring of 1957. radiation reaching the detector will been introduced by ARCOLECTRIC There are more than 28,000 Pangborn be substantially smaller. The differ- (SWITCHES) LTD., WEST MOLESEY, machines serving industry today. ence in radiation reaching the detector SURREY. A standard model is avail- Leaflets on the above machines will is shown as a difference in electrical able for 2001250 V. Other models are be available at an early date. output from the Geiger counter, and available for all mains voltages. The this is arranged to operate a relay. An built-in neon tube is mounted length- indicator unit houses the relay and two wise to obtain maximum light output. ANANSWER to the problem of cor- lamps show whether the 'beam ' is The prismatic lens may be coloured rosion of laboratory sink traps is the broken or not. The relay can be red or amber. or clear. new glass sink trap marketed by incorporated in an automatic control QVF LTD., of Stone, Staffordshire. circuit. The QVF sink trap has the advan- Two heads can be fitted to the con- A NEW RANGE of p.v.c. fans under tages of chemical stability and trans- tainer to indicate maximum and mini- parency. The latter property means the trade name ' Turbro-Cyclone ' has that the trap can be visually inspected mum levels, or a movable head can been designed by TURNER& BROWN at all times and blockages can be be fitted so that the level can be deter- LTD., chemical plant engineers, of dealt with in the earliest stages. mined at any given time. Bolton, in association with MATTHEWS As the operation of the relay is Traps and sink wastes are in stan- & YATESLTD., fan engineers, of Swin- dard fittings and can be fitted in the dependent in the first instance on the ton, Manchester. The fans are fabri- difference in radiation, it is possible normal manner to all sink waste out- cated throughout from olive green lets. The company can also supply to detect the boundary between, for ' Cobex ' rigid p.v.c. sheet, which is example, two liquids having substan- the QVF standard range of Visible tough and light, dimensionally stable, Flow pipelines, thus enabling a drain tially different densities (the lower the and non-inflammable. It also pos- density, the greater will be the amount system to be constructed entirely in sesses inherent corrosive-free charac- glass. of radiation passing through). teristics against both weathering and chemical attack. Such construction makes these fans ideal for all kinds of Algerian Petroleum Research A LIQUID level switch has been fume removal installations which developed by TEDDINGTONINDUS- handle chemical and corrosive fumes OIL has been struck at Tiguentourine TRIAL EQUIPMENTLTD., SUNBURY- and moist gases etc., at temperatures (70 kilometres west of Edjele, near the ON-THAMES,MIDDLESEX, for the con- not exceeding 140°F. frontier between Algeria and Lybia) trol and indication of liquid level in Especially designed for fume cup- by the Compagnie de Recherches et tanks, boilers, sterilisers and industrial boards, cabinets and small laborator- d'Exploitation de Petrole au Sahara vessels. ies is a small fan unit with direct (Creps) which reported finding oil Operating on a new principle, this coupled motor. Other fans have at Edjele last March. Initial output switch (type WX) has no moving larger outputs, and are available either of the new sounding was 4 cubic parts. It is said to be suitable for direct coupled or with vee-rope metres per hour. 27 October 1956 THE CHEMICAL AGE 179

CALDER HALL. By KENNETH JAY. Methuen & a chapter on the elementary aspects of modern physio- Co. Ltd., London. 1956. Pp. vii+88. 5s. chemical methods of analysis. The chapter on water Sub-titled 'The Story of Britain's First Atomic analysis has been deleted on the grounds of specialisa- Power Station ' this book tells in straightforward terms tion and the main subject matter of the text has been the history of the design and building of Calder Hall, brought up to date. The specifications of the BSI have the first atomic power station to operate on an industrial been used in the treatment of volumetric measurements scale. Although intended for the layman (and this does and calibration of titrimetric apparatus. not necessarily mean the non-scientist), the background It is debatable whether water analysis is more information contained here will be of interest to many specialised than, say, gas analysis. Indeed the latter directly concerned with atomic energy. topic has changed little over the past few years, while The first two chapters describe the preliminary ideas the technique of water analysis has been influenced and plans and show how these culminated in the choice greatly by recent advances in reagent chemistry. For of reactor. The building of Pippa, the chosen reactor, example, it would have made an excellent peg on which is then described in considerable detail. to hang the fascinating new topic of complexometric A further chapter, called 'Answers for the Engineers : titration which has arisen as a result of Schwarzen- The Role of Research.' gives an account of the many bach's 'Complexone' work. Dr. Chalmers has by no details. large and small, which had to be studied by means neglected the use of ethylenediaminetetraacetic the research groups of the Atomic Energy Authority. acid (EDTA) in writing his text, although it might be The final chapter considers the future of atomic thought that modem usage would justify a gpecial power and is probably the most important chapter in chapter devoted to these new-found complexometric the book. It is a pity it is so short for much is hinted methods. at that could well be expanded into a book the length Reference is made on p. 163 to the use of mercurous of the present one. Nevertheless this final chapter should nitrate as a reductimetric titrant. The method given give a fair idea of the potentialities, limitations and, for the standardisation is a most unsatisfactory one. most important to the general public, cost of atomic Recent work has shown that potassium dichromate may power in the future. J.P.S.J. be used as a primary standard. The scope of mercurous nitrate is much wider than is indicated in the text and the use of a stoppered bottle for the titration is super- QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS.. By fluous since stoichiometric relationships exist when CUMMING & KAY. 11th edn. revised by R. A. open conical flasks are used in the normal way. CHALMERS. Oliver & Boyd Ltd., Edinburgh. 1956. This is only one minor blemish in a book which is Pp. xvi +540. 30s. well-balanced, well-written and refreshingly modern in In its previous 10 editions, 'Cumming & Kay' has outlook. It still carries the solid backbone of funda- formed the basis of the analytical training of countless mental analytical chemistry which is so essential to the students in universities and technical colleges through- education of the chemist, even in these days of push- the country. This new revised edition will perform button instrumentation. The eleventh edition can be this same service even more satisfactorily. Dr. Chalmers recommended with confidence. T. S. WEST is to be congratulated in his careful selection of those older methods which had to be omitted from the new text and for his wise choice of new material. He has succeeded most admirably in introducing those trends Antifreeze Properties in the practice of modern analytical chemistry which INFORMATION about the basic properties of various have obviously come to stay, for example, ion-exchange antifreezes is contained in Automotive Antifreezes, methods, chromatography, solvent extraction processes, National Bureau of Standards Circular 576, from the radioactivation methods. polarography, etc. Indeed one Government Printing Office, Washington 25, DC, US. wishes that the author had developed this side of the Certain types of antifreeze, says the publication, have book somewhat more thoroughly and provided more potentially hazardous effects which are not generally practical exercises than he eventually decided. However known. In addition to giving technical data on the it is difficult to decide where to draw the line and, in corrosion that may result from their use, information this respect, it is noteworthy that the text avoids the is also provided on the identification of the various all too common pitfall of giving experimental details types. A by-product of the Bureau's activities in con- for the use of, say, one particular firm's polarograph etc. nection with the development of standards of physical New features in the present edition are: A new measurement, the circular contains information accumu- section on colorimetry and spectrophotometry with very lated over a period of 35 years. Price is 15 cents and many exercises; a brief non-mathematical treatment of foreign remittance must be in US exchange and should the nature of precipitates in gravimetric analysis; and include an additional one-third of the price for postage. 180 THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956 British Chemical Prices (These prices are checked with the manufacturers, but it must be pointed out that in many cases there are variations according to quantity, quality, place of delivery, etc.) LONDON The industrial chemicals market has been Manchester market during the past week, including without any special feature during the past week and some from shippers. Quotations generally are on a prices generally are unchanged at recent levels. Home steady basis. There is a fair movement in several users have been calling for steady deliveries against ,,,-tions of the fertiliser market, including basic slag contracts. Interest in new business, although fairly and the compounds, ~h~ position of the tar products widespread, is inclined to be restricted to spot and is much the same as of late, with the leading light and nearby requirements. Export trade continues good and, heavy materials being called for steadily, with few exceptions, the supply position is adequate. In the coal-tar products market there has been a good GLASGOW A reasonable trading is reported outlet for the light products; cresylic acid and carbolic from the Scottish heavy chemical market, A varied acid continue in active request. range of chemicals have been demanded, with the bulk MANCHESTER ~~~di~~ hi^^ consumers of required for immediate delivery, although deliveries heavy chemical products, including the textile bleaching against contracts are being fairly well maintained. Prices and finishing sections, are taking reasonably satisfactory show little or no change and, generally speaking, have deliveries under contracts and a fair number of been steady. Exports continue satisfactorily. with a good additional inquiries have been dealt with on the volume of inquiries received.

General Chemicals Acetic Acid.-Per ton: 80% technical, 10 tons, £91; Boric Acid.-Per ton for ton lots, in hessian sacks, 80% pure, 10 tons, £97; commercial glacial, 10 carriage paid: Technical, granular, £71 ; crystal, tons, £99; delivered buyers' premises in returnable £79 powder, £76 10s; extra fine powder, £78 10s; barrels (technical acid barrels free); in glass car- BP granular, £84; crystal, £91; powder, £88 10s; . boys, £8; demijohns, f 12 extra. extra fine powder, £90 10s. Acetic Anhydride.-Ton lots d/d, £132 per ton. Calcium Chloride.-Per ton lots, in non-returnable packaging: solid and flake, £16. E25 per f.O.r. MANcHEsTER: Chlorine, L,iquid.-E38 5s per ton, in returnable 16-1 7- Ground, £25. cwt. drums, delivered address in 3-drum lots. Aluminium Su1phate.-Ex-works, £ 15 10s per ton d/d. Chromic Acid.-2s Ojld per Ib., less 2&%, d/d UK, in MANCHESTER:£15 15s to £ 18 10s. 1-ton lots. Ammonia, Anhydrous.-Is 9d to 2s 3d per Ib. Chromium Sulphate, Basic.-Crystals, 8&d per Ib. delivered (£75 16s 8d per ton). Ammonium Chloride.-Per ton lot, in non-returnable packaging, £29 2s 6d. Citric Acid.-1-cwt. lots, £ 10 5s cwt. Ammonium Nitrate.-D/d, £31 per ton (in 4-ton lots). Cobalt Oxide.-Black, delivered, bulk quantities, 13s 2d per lb. Ammonium Persulphate.-MANcH~s~~~:£6 2s 6d per Copper Carbonate.-3s 9d per Ib. cwt., in I-cwt. lots, delivered. f 112 10s per ton, in minimum I-ton lots, delivered. Copper Su1phate.-£94 10s per ton f.o.b., less 2% in 2-cwt. bags. Ammonium Phosphate.-Mono- and di-, 'ton lots, d/d, Cream of Tartar.-loo%, per cwt., about Ell 12s. £106 and £97 10s per ton. Formaldehyde.-£37 5s. per ton in casks, d/d. Antimony Sulphide.-Crimson, 4s 5d to 4s 10jd; golden, 2s 8id to 4s lid; all per Ib., delivered UK in Formic Acid.-85%, £86 10s in 4-ton lots, carriage paid. minimum I-ton lots. Glycerine.-Chemically pure, double distilled 1.260 SG, £12 9s Od per cwt. Refined pale straw industrial, Arsenic.-Per ton, £45 to £50 ex store. 5s per cwt. less than chemically pure. Barium Carbonate.-Precip., d/d; 4-1011 lots, £40 10s Hydrochloric ~cid.:S~ot, about 12s per carboy d/d, per ton, bag packing. according to purity, strength and locality. Barium Chloride.-£49 per ton in 2-ton lots. Hydrofluoric Acid.-59160%. about Is 6d per Ib. Barium Sulphate (Dry Blanc Fixe).-Precip., 24011 lots, Hydrogen Peroxide.-27.5 % wt., £ 128 10s per ton. £35 per ton d/d. 35% wt., £158 per ton d/d. Carboys extra and returnable. Bleaching E'owder.-f.28 12s. 6d Per ton in returnable casks, carriage paid station, in 4-ton lots. Iodioe.-Resublimed Bp, 16~2d per ~b,,in 284,. lots. 1odoform.-£1 5s 5d per Ib., in 28-lb. lots. Borax.-Per ton for ton lots, in hessian sacks, carriage paid: Technical, anhydrous, £62 10s; granular, Lactic Acid.-Pale tech., 44% by weight, 14d Per 1b.i £42; crystal, £44 10s; powder, £45 10s; extra fine dark tech., 44% by weight, 9d per Ib., ex-works; powder, £46 10s; BP, granular, £51; crystal, chemical quality, 44% by weight, 124d per Ib., ex- £53 10s; powder, £54 10s; extra fine powder, works; I-ton lots, usual container terms. £55 10s. Lead Acetate.-White: About £ 150 per ton. 27 October 1956 THE CHEMICAL AGE 181

Lead Nitrate.-About £135 I-ton lots. Sodium Bisulphite-Powder, 60162 %, £42 15s d/d in Lead, Red.-Basis prices per ton. Genuine dry red, 2-ton lots for home trade. £ 142 15s; orange lead, £ 154 15s. Ground in oil: Sodium Carbonate Monohydrate.-Per ton lot, in non- red, £ I60 15s; orange, £ 172 15s. returnable packaging, paid address, £57. Lead, White.-Basis prices: Dry English in 5-cwt. Sodium Chlorate.-About £80 per ton in I-cwt. drums, casks f I47 15s per ton. Ground in oil: English, carriage paid station, in 4-ton lots. ' I-cwt. lots 194s per cwt. Sodium Cyanide.-96/9X0/,, £ I13 5s per ton lot in I-cwt. Lime Acetate.-Brown, ton lots, d/d, f40 per ton; grey, drums. 80-820:, ton lots, d/d, £45 per ton. Sodium Dichromate.-Crystals, cake and powder, l lid Litharge.4 I44 15s per ton, in 5-ton lots. per lb. Net d/d UK, anhydrous, Is Id per lb. Net del. d/d UK, 5-cwt. to I-ton lots. Magnesite.-Calcined, in bags, ex-works, about £21 per ton. Sodium Fluoride.-Delivered, I-ton lots and over, £5 per cwt.; I-cwt. lots, £5 10s per cwt. Magnesium Carbonate.-Light, commercial, d/d, 2-ton lots, £84 10s per ton, under 2 tons, £92 per ton. sodium Hyposu1phite.-Pea crystals, £35 15s a ton; commercial, I-ton lots, £32 10s per ton, carriage Magnesium Chloride.-Solid (ex-wharf), £ 16 10s per ton. paid. Magnesium Oxide.-Light, commercial, d/d, under I-ton Sodium Iodide.-BP, 15s I Id per Ib. in 28-lb. lots. lots, £245 per ton. Sodium Metaphosphate (Calgon).-Flaked, paper sacks, Magnesium Sulpha1e.-Crystals, £ 16 per ton. 'f 133 per ton. Mercuric Chloride.-Technical powder, £ l 3s per Ib., Sodium Metasi1icate.-£25 per ton, d/d UK in ton lots, in 1-ton lots; smaller quantities dearer. loaned bags. Mercury Sulphide, Red.-£ l 9s 3d per Ib., for 5-cwt. lots. Sodium Nitrate.-chilean refined granulated over 98% Nickel Sulphate.-D/d, buyers UK £170 per ton. 6-ton lots, d/d station, £28 10s per ton. Nominal. Sodium Nitrite.-£32 per ton (4-ton lots). Nitric Acid.-YOo Tw., £35 per ton. Sodium Percarbonate.--124 % available oxygen, £8 6s 9d per cwt. in I-cwt. kegs. Oxalic Acid.-Home manufacture, minimum 4-ton lots, in 5-cwt. casks, about £ 131 per ton, carriage paid. Sodium Phosphate.-Per ton d/d for ton lots; di- sodium, crystalline, £40 IOs, anhydrous, £88; tri- Phosphoric Acid.-Technical (s.g. 1.700) ton lots, sodium, crystalline, £39 10s, anhydrous, £86. carriage paid, £100 per ton; BP (s.g. 1.750), ton lots, carriage paid, Is 34d per Ib. Sodium Silicate.-75-84" Tw. Lancashire and Cheshire, 4-ton lots, d/d station in loaned drums, £10 15s per Potash, Caustic.-Solid, £93 10s per ton for I-ton lots; ton; Dorset, Somerset and Devon, £3 17s 6d per liquid, £34 15s. ton extra; Scotland and S. Wales, £3 per to4 extra. Potassium Carbonate.--Calcined, 96/98 "/,, about L74 10s Elsewhere in England, excluding Cornwall and per ton for I-ton lots, cx-store. Wales, £ l 12s 6d per ton extra. Potassium Chloride.-Industrial, 96%, I-ton lots, about Sodium Sulphate (Desiccated Glauber's Salts).-D/d in £24 per ton. bags ton, £18. Potassium Dichromate.-Crystals and granular, Is led Sodium Sulphate (Glauber's Salt).-£9 5s to £ 10 5s per per Ib., in 5-cwt. to I-ton lots, d/d UK. ton d/d. Potassium Iodide.-BP, 12s 6d per Ib. in 28-lb. lots; Sodium Sulphate (Salt Cake).-Unground, £6 per ton 12s Od in cwt. lots. d/d station in bulk. MANCHESTER:£7 per ton d/d station. Potassium Nitrate.-In 4-ton lots, in non-returnable packaging, paid address, £63 10s per ton. Sodium Sulphide.-Solid, 60/62%, spot, £33 2s 6d per ton, d/d, in drums in I-ton lots; broken, £34 2s 6d Potassium Permanganate.-BP, I-cwt. lots, Is 9d per Ib.; per ton, d/d, in drums in I-ton lots. 3-cwt. lots, Is 8Jd per lb.; 5-cwt. lots, Is 8d per Ib.; I-ton lots, Is 7id per lb.; 5-ton lots, Is 74d Sodium Su1phite.-Anhydrous, £66 5s per ton; com- per Ib.; Tech.. 5-cwt. packed in I-cwt. drums, mercial, £25 5s to £27 per ton d/d station in bags. £ 8 14s 6d per cwt.; packed in I drum, £ 8 9s 6d Sulphur.-Per ton for 4 tons or more, ground, £20 to , per cwt. £22, according to fineness. Salammoniac.-Per ton lot, in non-returnable packaging, Sulphuric ~cid.-Net, naked at works, 168" Tw. accord- £45 10s. ing to quality, per ton, £10 7s 6d to £ 12; 140' Tw., Salicylic Acid.-MANCHESTER: Technical 2s 84d per Ib. arsenic free, per ton, £8 12s 6d; 140" Tw., arsenious, d/d. per ton, £8 4s 6d. Soda Ash.-58% ex-depot or d/d, London station, about Tartaric Acid.-Per cwt.: 10 cwi. or Inore £ 13 IOs, £ 16 8s per ton, I-ton lots. one cwt., £ 13 15s. Soda, Caustic.-Solid 76177% spot, £32 6s 6d per ton Titanium Oxide.-Standard grade comm., with rutile d/d (4 ton lots). structure, L172 per ton; standard grade comm., with anatase structure, £154 per ton. Sodium Acetate.-Commercial crystals, £91 per ton d/d. Zinc Oxide.-Maximum price per ton for 2-ton lots, Sodium Bicarbonate.-Per ton lot, in lion-returnable d/d, white seal, £ 115; green seal, £ 1 13; red seal, packaging, f 17. 2-ton lots, £ l I0 per ton. 182 THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956

Solvents & Plasticisers Carbon Tetrachloride.-Ton lots, £81 per ton. Acetone.-Small lots: In 5-gal. cans: 5-gal., £125, India-Rubber Substitutes.-White, Is 7fd to Is Ilid per 10-gal. and upward, £115, cans included. In 40145 Ib.; dark, Is 4d to Is 64d per Ib. delivered free to gal. returnable drums, spot: Less than 1 ton, £90; customers' works. 1 to less than 5 tons, £87; 5 to less than 10 tons, Lithopone.-30%, about £55 per ton. £86; 10 tons and upward, £85. In tank wagons, spot: 1 to less than 5 tons (min. 400 gal.), £85; Mineral Black.-£7 10s to f 10 per ton. 5 to less than 10 tons (1,500 gal.), £84; 10 tons Sulphur Chloride.-British, about £50 per ton. and upward (2,500 gal.), £83; contract rebate, £2. All per ton d/d. Vegetable Lamp Black.-£64 8s per ton in 2-ton lots. Butyl Acetate BSS.-£165 per ton, in 10-ton lots. Vermilion.-Pale or deep, 15s 6d per Ib. for 7-lb. lots. n-Butyl Alcohol BSS.-I0 tons, in drums, £152 per Coal-Tar Products ton did. Bemole.-Per gal., minimum of 200 gals. delivered in see-Butyl Alcohol.-5 gal. drums, £159; 40 gal. drums: bulk, 90's, 5s; pure, 5s 4d. less than 1 ton, £124 per ton; 1 to 10 tons, £123 per ton; 10 tons and over, f 119 per ton; 100 tons Carbolic Acid.-Crystals, minimum price Is 4d per Ib. and over, £120 per ton. delivered in bulk, id per Ib. extra in 40150 gal. returnable drums. Crude, 60's, 8s per gal. MAN- tert-Butyl Alcohol.-5-gal. drums, £195 10s per ton; CHESTER: Crystals, Is 4d to Is 7d per Ib., d/d crude, 40145 gal. drums: less than 1 ton, £175 10s per 8s naked, at works. ton; 1 to 5 tons, £174 10s per ton; 5 to 10 tons, £ 173 10s; 10 tons and over, £ 172 10s. Creosote.-Home trade, Is to Is 9d per gal. according to quality, f.0.r. maker's works. MANCHESTER:IS Diacetone Alcohol.-Small lots: 5-gal. drums, £ 177 per to Is 8d per gal. ton; 10-gal. drums, £167 per ton. In 40145 gal. drums: less than 1 ton, £142 per ton; 1 to 9 tons, Cresylic Acid.-Pale 99/100%, 6s 4d per gal.; 99.51 £141 per ton; 10 to 50 tons, £140 per ton; 50 to 100%, 6s 6d per gal. D/d UK in bulk: Pale ADF 100 tons, £139 per ton; 100 tons and over, £138 from 7s 3d per imperial gallon f.0.b. UK, 95 cents uer ton. per US gallon, c.i.f. NY. Dibutyl Phthalate.-In drums, 10 tons, 2s per Ib. d/d; Naphtha.-Solvent, 90/160°, 5s per gal.; heavy, 90/190°, 45-gal. drums, 2s lid per Ib. d/d. 3s I Id per gal. for bulk 1,000-gal. lots, d/d. Drums extra; higher prices for smaller lots. Diethyl Phthalate.-In drums, 10 tons, 1s Illd per Ib. d/d; 45 gal. drums, 2s Id per Ib. d/d. Naphth1ene.-Crude, 4-ton lots, in buyers' bags, £ 18 6s Od to £29 19s 6d per ton nominal, according to m.p.; Dimethyl Phthalate.-In drums, 10 tons, 1s 9fd per Ib. hot pressed, £41 19s Od per ton in bulk ex-works; d/d; 45 gal. drums, Is 10fd per Ib. d/d. refined crystals, £61 10s Od per ton d/d min. 4-ton Dioctyl Phthalate.-In drums, 10 tons, 2s 8d per Ib. d/d; lots. 45 gal. drums, 2s 94d per Ib. d/d. Pitch.-Medium, soft, home trade, £9 per ton f.0.r. Ether BSS.-In 1 ton lots, 1s lld per Ib.; drums extra. suppliers' works; export trade about £ 10 10s per ton f.0.b. suppliers' port. Ethyl Acetate.-I0 ton lots, d/d, £135 per ton. Pyridine.-90/160, 20s to £ l 2s 6d per gal. Ethyl Alcohol (PBS 66 o.p.).-Over 300,000 p. gal., 2s llfd; 2,500-10,000 p. gal., 3s lid per p. gal., Toluole.-Pure, 5s 9d; 90's 5s Od per gal. d/d. 1,000 gal. d/d in tankers. D/d in 40145-gal. drums, Id p.p.g. in bulk. MANCHESTER:Pure, 5s 9d per gal. naked. extra. Xylole.-5s llfd to 6s 34d per gal., according to grade, Absolute alcohol'(75.2 0.p.) 5d p.p.g. extra. in 1,000 gal. lots d/d London area in hulk. Methanol.-Pure synthetic, d/d, £43 15s per ton. Intermediates & Dyes Methylated Spirit.-Industrial 66" 0.p.: 500 gal. and (Prices Nominal) over in tankers, 5s 4d per gal. d/d; 100-499 gal. in m-Cresol98/100%.-4s 9d per Ib. d/d. drums, 5s 84d per gal. d/d. Pyridinised 64 0.p.: 500 gal. and over in tankers, 5s 6d per gal. d/d; o-Cresol 30/3IoC.-Is per Ib. d/d. 100-499 gal. in drums, 5s lOtd per gal. d/d. pCresol 34/35"C.--4s 9d per Ib. d/d. Methyl Ethyl Ketone.-10-ton lots, £140 per ton d/d. Dichlorani1ine.--4s 6d per Ib. Methyl isoButyl Ketone.-I0 tons and over, £159 per ton. Dinitrobenzene.-88/99"C., 2s Id per Ib. isoPropyl Acetate.-In drums, 10 tons, £ 130 per ton d/d; Dinitroto1uene.-SP 15" C., 2s I&dper Ib.; SP 26" C., 45-gal. drums, £ 136 per ton d/d. Is 5d per Ib.; SP 33' C., Is 21d per Ib.; SP 66/68'' C., Is I ld per Ib. Drums extra. ' isoPropyl Alcohol.-Small lots: 5-gal. drums, £1 18 per pNitrani1ine.-5s Id per Ib. ton; 10-gal. drums, £108 per ton; in 40-45 gal. drums; less than 1 ton, £83 per ton; 1 to 9 tons, Nitrobenzene.--Spot, 10d per Ib. in 90-gal. drums, £81 per ton; 10 to 50 tons, £80 10s per ton; 50 drums extra, I-ton lots d/d buyers' works. tons and over, £80 per ton. Nitronaphthalene.-2s 54d per Ib. o-Tohidine.-Is Ild per Ib., in 8110-cwt. drums, drums Rubber Chemicals extra. Carbon Disu1phide.-£61 to £67 per ton, according to p-Toluidine.-6s Id per Ib., in casks. quality. Dimethylani1ine.-3s 5d per Ib., drums extra, carriage Carbon Black.-8d to Is per Ib., according to packing. paid. 27 October 1956 THE CHEMICAL AGE

hhhhhhhhhhhhhh-hhhhhnhhh-nhhhhh September Exports \ Chemicals Nearly £3 Million Less I Commercial Intelligence Than a Year Ago C~YV~wYYwYwY,Vw~,,V~~~~V~w~YY~J1 EXPORTS of chemicals for September were nearly £3 million less than for The following are taken from the Changes of Name September 1955. The actual figures are printed reports, but we cannot be f 17,937,879compared with£20,738,155. responsible for errors that may occur. CANCHEMICALS LTD. (535,359, 46 On the other hand the total figures for Brook Street, London W1, changed to Mortgages & Charges the nine months ended 30 September Soapmaster Ltd.. on 28 August, 1956. are higher at £179,812,457 compared The Companies Consolidation Act of with £ 172,256.21 1 for the previous ROMAC-ocpLTD. (382.501). manu- 1908 provides that every Mortgage or year. facturers of water conditioning Charge, as described herein, shall be India and Australia were again the apparatus, The Hyde, London NW9. registered within 21 days after its largest importers of Britishchemicals at creation, otherwise it shall be void name changed to RDE Ltd., on f 1.507,767 and f 1,178,147 respectively. against the liquidator and any creditor. 17 August 1956. The Act also provides that every The following is a short breakdown company shall, in making its Annual of the export figures: Summary, specify the total amount of Basic chemical elemenls and compounds f4.561.1W deht due from the company in respect Coal tar products f452.277 of all Mortgages or Charges. The Svnthetic dvestuffs f 703.404 ~Bints,pigments and tannins f 1.714;168 following Mortgages or Charges have Medicinal and pharmaceutic~lproducts £2,434,386 been so registered. In each case the Essential oils. perfumed. soaps. polishes ctc.f2.155.660 Fertilixrs £42,883 total deht, as specified in the last avail- Plastics f 1,940,324 able Annual Summary, is also given- marlted with an *-followed by the Irish Methyl Ltd. date of the Summary, but such total may have been reduced. Private company. (16,239). Regis- tered in Dublin, 21 September. Beckton Model LANGSIONJONES & SAMUELSMITH Capital £25,000 in £1 shares. Objects: A SCALE MODEL of the plant built LTD.. London E., oil & tallow refiners. To carry on the business of manufac- by the APV Co. at the Beckton by- -25 September, series of €20,000 turers of industrial and mineralised products works of the North Thames debentures, present issue f 15,000; methylated spirit and finishes etc. The Gas Board was presented to the Science charged on Compton Works. Bow directors are: Norbert Murphy and Museum on 16 October. Also made Common, & fixed plant etc. Nil. 12 Ronald Murphy, both of Lauriston, by APV, the model, which is built to December 1955. Glanmire, Co. Cork; and Stephen a scale of ) inch to one foot, will form Murphy, Myrtlehill, Tivoli, Co. Cork. a permanent part of the display in the WILBERFOKCETURNER & CO. Lm.. new organic industrial chemistry Manchester, soap manufacturers etc.- Metallic Surfaces Research Labora- gallery of the Science Museum. 27 September, mortgage & charge to tories Ltd. The model was formally handed Midland Bank Ltd. securing all moneys over by Dr. Richard Seligman, chair- due or to become due to the Bank; Private company. (573,120.) Regis- man of APV, and received on behalf charged on Irwell Mills, Broughton, tered 18 October. Capital £1,000 in of the museum by the director, Dr. Manchester & Clough Mills. & cot- f l shares (900 seven per cent redeem- T. C. S. Morrison-Scott. tages, Little Hayfield, with machinery, able cumulative preference and 100 Constructed by Mr. A. F. Spittle of fixtures etc. Also a general charge. ordinary). The permanent directors Southall, Middlesex, the model is are: Robert L. Samuel, 32 Dordrecht three feet wide by three feet high by Road, Acton, London W3; and Nor- one foot nine inches deep and took man A. Lockington, I9 Spring Grove, one and a half years to build. Loughton, Essex. Secretary: R. L. Increases of Capital Samuel. Registered office: The Mar- HoEcHsr CHEMICALSLm. (432,234)- ket House, Uxbridge, Middlesex. 50 Jermvn Street. London SWI. in- WILL creased by f50.000, in 48,000 ordinary Pestcure Sales Ltd. MR. NOEL DOUGLASRIDSDALE, of and 2,000 non-voting non-redeemable 21 Bedford Road, Nunthorpe, Mid- shares of £1 each, beyond the regis- Private company (572,838). Regis- dlesbrough, Yorks, analytical chemist. tered capital of £50.000. tered 12 October. Capital £100 in £1 managing director of Ridsdale & Co., shares (75 'A ordinary and 25 'B' metallurgical analysts, Middlesbrough. W. G. MACNAMARALm. (171,582). ordinary). The directors are: Edward of the Bureau of Analysed Samples, cliemical engravers on metal etc., 251 H. B. Boulton and Mrs. Dora I. Middlesbrough, and chairman of Aston Brook Street, Birmingham, in- Boulton, both of 'Detillens', Limps- Glycoline Lubricant Co. Ltd., Stilling- creased bv £10.000. in £1 ordinam field, Surrey. Solicitors: J. R. Greenop ton, who died on 17 July, left £34,870 shares, beiond the 'registered capitil & Co., 212 High Holborn, London 7s lld gross, £34,635 6s 8d net value. of £5,000. WCI. (Duty paid £ 10,529).

MANUFACTURERS' AGENTS FOR : IMPORTERS OF PRODUCE WOM: CHINA 31 M. D. WART AND CO. LTD. 1.5 Deronshire Row, Bishopsgate, London, E.C.2 1#- *.C Telephone: Biahopsgatc 4333 (10 lines) Telex: London 8466 Telegrams snd Cables: "Jasmine, Landon" W~$~-~.+HH~-H.~.FI..~-H~~~~+.FI.H~H~~H~~~.FI.H.FI.~I 184 THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956

Raw Materials for Electric Cables B.v A. KING & V. H. WENTWORTH OF PRACTICAL importance to engineers Ra~r, Materiirls ,/'or EIec~ric Cah1~7s is a comprehensive account of the materials used in the constructio~i of cablcs. There are i chapters devoted to sourccs of materials, special forms and requiremcnts for cables. operative conditions, and tests for mainten- ance of quality standards--3ritisli Standard.; being given wherever possible. The authors have the advantage of wide experience in one of the leading cable-making companies in the country. Illustrated with I photographs and diagrams and two colour plates. 44s. [postc~gcpcricl] Ernest Benn Limited Bouverie House ' Fleet Street ' London ' EC4

COAL TAR BASES

TO MEET AZL SPECIFICATIONS 27 October 1956 THE CHEMICAL AGE 185 CANADIAN EXPANSION Petrochemical Industry's Output I Chemical Engineers CANADA'S petrochemical industry, a result of western oil development, is advancing with a programme of full scale expansion. The industry estimates its current investment in capital equipment at almost $500 million. Since 1945 the industry's output has quadrupled to 700 million Ib. and is rising rapidly. Estimates for expansion total $200 million. Dow Chemical of Canada Ltd., a relative newcomer to the Canadian petrochemical field, illustrates the pace of expansion. Since breaking ground for its first plant about 10 years ago, Dow of Canada has increased its investment at a rate of about $500,000 per month. The company's current $10 million programme for its Sarnia, Ontario, plant will.raise the total inv$stment to more than $50 million. Developments in western Canada's oil and gas fields have an important bearing on the petrochemical in- dustry. Dow of Canada, for instance, has recently ordered stepped-up construction for its new $1 million ethanolamines plant at Sarnia. The company expects that demand for ethanolamines, used in the purification of natural gas as well as for detergents and other uses, will soar as the Trans- Canada pipe line natural gas line moves eastward. Other projects high on the list of Dow expansion pro- jects are: Ethylene, a basic material for anti-freeze, 1 praise Stellar- Filters synthetic fibres, resins, plastics, production of which is being expanded 100 per cent. Dow, already the biggest I for producer, is increasing production of ethylene glycol by 30 to 35 per cent. very reasons New plant now being built for the manufacture of 8 good pentachiorophenol ~ill-~oon stream early in 1957. I Star-bright$ltrate This is claimed to be Canada's first plant for manufac- turing this chemical which is an ingredient of wood 2 Simple in operation preservatives. 3 Compact and reliable Engineering work on a new plant to manufacture 4 Autopact cleaning Styrofoam is under way. Styrofoam is a combined in- 5 Liquid loss almost entirely eliminated sulator and plaster base. Expansion in the manufacture 6 Unchokeable filter bed of Styron is under way, and planning of additional plant 7 Available for practically all applications facilities for producing latex is reported. - 8 Steam-jacketed models where required " Furthermore Stellar Filters are Paterson India's Dyestuffs Industry I Products based on more than fifty years experience of filtration problems. THE GOVERNMENT of India has received project More and more companies are employing reports from three leading dyestuffs manufacturers, Stellar Filters in their production lines. Montecatini (Italy), Imperial Chemical Industries The Filter illustrated is a steam-iacketed model used in the paint industry (Great Britain) and Bayer (Germany). There is funda- for resin and varnish filtration. mental agreement among the three companies over the practicability of establishing a dyestuffs industry in India. - Italian Nuclear Research I A. NEW company, the Societa Richerche Impianti Nucleari (Sorin), with a capital of 100 million lire, which is to be raised later to 1,000 million lire has been set up in Milan by Fiat and Montecatini. It will con- THE PATERSON ENGINEERING CO. LTD. centrate on experimental work with nuclear power plant. 97, Windsor House, Klngsway, London, W.C.Z. A draft law providing 3,300 million lire for research in Telephone : Holborn 8787 the field of nuclear energy has been approved. R.P.A. 9410 186 THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956

SITUATIONS VACANT .OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS: continued

ASSISTANT METALLURGICAL CHEMIST required for CHEMIST important work on new metal finishing processes. Minimum A vacancy exists in the Technical Policy Branch of the Industrial qualifications Inter.-B.Sc. standard and preferably experience of Group of the UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHO- development work on cleaning and phosphating.-Apply, in RITY, at its Headquarters at Risley, Warrington, Lancs. confidence, to the Managing Director, Roto-Finish Ltd., Mark DUTIES:- To work in a team engaged in the preparation of Road, Hemel Hempstead. long-term programmes dealing with the overall demands likely to be made on the various Establishments of the Industrial Group- such as reactor operations, chemical processing, metal fabrication LATEX OR RUBBER CHEMIST and gaseous diffusion plants and on all other activities connected Are you a prospective PLFMANAGER? Does your present with the production organisation. Active participation in this work oosition allow for increasing- respons~bilities- to satlsfy your will orovide a very. -aood introduction to the whole field of Atomlc ambitions? ~nefgy. DEPARTMENT MANAGER required for Compounding Section QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:-Appljcants should of American Latex dipping plant. Can you qualify? have an Honours Degree in Chem~stryor have equ~valentquail- Write or call: Mr. H. F. Bader, International Latex Corporation, fications. Some experience in the analysis and presentation of Port Glasgow, Scotland. Telephone, Port Glasgow 41631. plans and programmes is desirable. - - The successful candidate will be given a period of training in the OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS specialised processes of Atomic Energy. SALARY:-will be assessed within the scale £1,235 to £1,655 per annum. COUNTY BOROUGH OF ROCHDALE A contributory Pension Scheme is in operation. SENIOR SEWAGE WORKS CHEMIST An Authority house for renting by the successful candidate, if married, mav be available in due course, or alternatively, sub- Applications are invited for the above appointment at a salary stantial assisiance may be given towards legal expenses incurred within Grade A.P.T. IV, £710-£885. in private purchase. Associate Membership of the Institute of Sewage Purification Suitably qualified persons are invited to send a POSTCARD will be an advantageous though not necessary qualification. If quoting ref. 1658 for application form to the Recruitment Officer. qualified, the person appointed will act as Assistant to the Sewage U.K.A.E.A., I.G.H.Q., Risley, Warrington, Lancs. Works Manager. Closing Date-9th November, 1956. Housine accommodation will be orovided bv the Council in appropriGe circumstances. Further particulars may be obtained from the Borough Surveyor, COUNTY BOROUGH OF BRIGHTON WATERWORKS Town Hall, Rochdale, to whom applications should be sent by DEPARTMENT 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 7th November, 1956. ASSISTANT CHEMIST AND BACTERIOLOGIST Canvassing will disqualify and candidates must disclose whether (MALE OR FEMALE) they are related to any member or senior official of the Council. Applicant should possess either Dcgrce in Chemistry or A.R.I.C. K. B. MOORE, Waterworks experience desirable but not essential. Town Clerk. Salary Grade A.P.T. Ill (£640-£767). ADDointment su~erannuablesubject to medical examination terminable by one month's notice on either side. GOVERNMENT OF NORTHERN RHODESIA Application forms from Waterworks Engineer, 12 Bond Street, PHYSICIST/CHEMIST (MALE OR FEMALE), MINES DE- Brighton. PARTMENT W. 0. DODD. Town Clerk, BRIGHTON QUALIFICATIONS: M.Sc. or B.Sc. (Hons.) with majors in I9lh Octoter, 1956. chemlstw and ahvsrs. Knowledee' of microscoov. - essential. AGE ~IMIT:up to 44 years. DUTIES: To undertake research into the problems of Silicosis GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG particularly in connection with analysis of mine dust samples by Chemist, Medical Department. X-ray diffraction and by chemical methods. To set up and equip a QUALIFICATIONS: Honours degree in chemistry or A.R.I.C. laboratory at the Headquarters of the M~nesDepartment in or F.R.I.C. Minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience. Northern Rhodesia. Preferably under 35. TERMS OF APPOINTMENT: On probation to the pensionable DUTIES: General analytical and supervisory work. establishment with salary in the scale £905-£1,850 p.a. (for a TERMS OF APPOINTMENT: Permanent and pensionable woman the scale is lower). Free passages. Furnished quarters at terms with emoluments in the scale £1245-£2179 p.a. temporary rental. Free medical attention Generous leave. Income tax at cost of living allowance, free passages for officer and family, fur- local rates. nished quarters if available at rental, free medical attention and Apply to Director of Recruitment, Colonial Office, London, generous leave. Income tax at local rates. S.W.I. State age, qualifications and experience. Quote BCD Apply to Director of Recruitment, Colonial Office, London, S.W.1 99/3/04. State age, qualifications and experience. Q~oteBCD.117151/018

BOX NUMBERS: Reply c/o The Chemical Age " ' Bouverle House . Fleet Street EC4 27 October 1956 THE CHEn dICAL AGE 187

FOR SALE FOR SALE: continued Brand New COCHRAN Vertical and ECONOMIC Self-contained STEAM BOILERS iq stock, also all sizes reconditioned and guaranteed. List on request. STAINLESS STEEL TANKS, PANS, CONDENSERS, PLATES, CHEMICAL PLANT VALVES AND COCKS. Very wide selection. PORCELAIN LINED BALL MILL by Torrance, 7ft. 6 in. by 6 ft. 4 new ALUMINIUM CONDENSERS, 14 ft. long, 2 ft. 3 in. diam. ext. mild steel caslnc. 16 In. so. manhole with two strainers. dia., 386 tubes $ in. 0.d. Motorized 400/440/3/50, ?barge of'flint pebbles included. FRED WATKINS (BOILERS). LTD., SILEX LINED BALL MILL by Glabour, 64 in. diam. by 58 in. ext. COLEFORD, GLOS. mild steel casine. fitted 96 in. diam.. inlet and 17 in. bv 12 In. Phone: Coleford 227112. manway. ~ulley'driveth;ough internal girth gear. STEEL SILEX LINED BALL MILL, approx. 54 in. by 54 in. diam. inside linings, lining approx. 3 in, thick. Pulley drive through BROADBENT 36in. HYDRO EXTRACTOR for sale. Vulcanised girth gear and pinion. Two rectangular feed openings with fibre basket, open type lid with electrical interlock. 10 h.p. covers and arindinrz media retaining- grids.- Pedestal mounted. B.T.H. motor and starter for 40013150. Excellent condition. ~rindingcKarge. - F. J. EDWARDS LIMITED, 359, EUSTON ROAD, LONDON PORCELAIN LINED BALL MILL by Steele & Cowlishaw, 24 in. N.W.I. by 28 in. id., with two inlets, covers and sieve plates. Pulley drive. Speed of Mill 30 r.p.m. Charge of procelain balls. CHARCOAL, ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE, Horticultural, HORIZONTAL CYLINDRICAL STEAM JACKETED VACUUM burning, filtering, disinfecting, medicinal. Also lumps, ground DRIER, approx. 15 ft. 9 in. by 3 ft. diam., in. steel plate and granulated. THOMAS HILL-JONES, INVICTA WORKS, construction glanded steam tube and paddle agitator gear BOW COMMON LANE, LONDON, E.3. (TELEPHONE: driven by F. & L. pulleys. Drier mounted on cradles and with EAST 3285). two outlets. HORIZONTAL MlXER by D. Burr, 5 ft. long by 2 ft. wide by FLAMEPROOF SCREW DISPLACEMENT PUMPS 30 in. deep, Fitted spiral type agitator driven by 5 h.p. 4001440131 50. Motor. Mixer fitted 5 in. so... , bottom centre discharge.-, Stothert & Pitt Type 95 Screw Displacement Pumps slide operated. NEW STAINLESS STEEL STORAGE VESSELS AND TANKS, with Flameproof E.E.C. 34 h.p. Motor mounted on with capacities ranging from 8 gallons to 1,000 gallons. NEW PORCELAIN AND SILEX LINED BALL MILLS, with cast iron bedplate complete with Flameproof Automatic capacities ranging from 9 gallons to 260 gallons. Star Delta Starter. Capacity 100 G.P.M. of spirit. GEORGE COHEN SONS & CO., LTD. WOOD LANE, LONDON, W.12. 20 sets available. Tel.: Shepherds Bush 2070 and Further details from:- STANNINGLEY, NR. LEEDS. Tel.: Pudsey 2241 Leighton Warehouse Company, 6, Church Road, PHONE 98 STAINES Linslade, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, BEDS., ALL STEEL CONDENSER I I ft. bv 2 ft.-68-I$ in. diam. Telephone: L.R. 3400.

MIXERS--I Baker Hand-tilted Trough, 16 in. by 24 in. by 20 in Fast and loose pulleys and clutch. "Zblades. -...... -. 1 Ditto Power-tilted Trough, 30 in. by 20 in. by 24 in. Pulley drive "Banborv" Tvoe Twin Blade Jac: PUG MIXERS 18 in. bv 12 in. bv and clutch. Four "L" blades. 20 in.Ll0.h.p. 40013150. THOMPSON & SON (MILLWALL), LTD., S.S. GARDNER MIXER 40 in. by 17 in. by 17 in. LONDON, E.14. S.S. 100 gall. JAC: PAN and MIXER 60 and 25 w.p. TEL.: EAST 1844 S.S. AUTOCLAVE 6 ft. by 3 ft.-100 w.p. ? ft. 6 in. MONEL CASED WORM CONVEYOR I I in. diam. MORTON, SON AND WARD, LIMITED, STAINLESS STEEL Z' and FIN BLADE MIXERS. PUMPS. PANS. HYDROS. VESSELS CONDENSERS, etc. VESSELS of all shapes and sizes, jacketed or unjacketed-with HARRY H. GARDAM & CO. LTD. stainless steel mixing gear to requirements; also stainless steel storage tanks and vauum vessels. " MORWOOD" "U"-shaped TROUGH MIXERS-up to 2 tons, in stainless steel, with agitators, scroll or paddle type, jacketed or unjacketed. TWO ROTARY KILNS by Ncwell, 70 ft. by 5 ft. diam.,'welded Stainless Steel TROUGHS, TANKS and CYLINDERS made to steel construction on two roller paths. Gas heated, each with requirements. Rotary Cooler, 24 ft. by 4 ft. diam. These items can also be fabricated in mild steel. GEORGE COHEN SONS & CO., LTD. JACKETED PANS WOOD LANE, LONDON, W.12. 100g.. ISOg., and 200g.. new, In m~ldsteel, for 100 Ib. p.s.i. w.p.-- Tel.: Shepherds Bush 2070 and with or without mixing gear. STANNINGLEY, Nr. LEEDS. 3 cwt. TROUGH MIXERS by CHALMERS and GARDNEK Tel.: Pudsey 2241 -stainless steel-lined troughs. 50g.. 75g. and 100g. heavy duty MIXERS by FALLOWS and BATES. Agitators driven through bevel pears from fast and /- loose pully. 200g. cast-iron JACKETED MIXING VESSEL with nickel- chrome impellor type agitator driven through bevel gears from fast and loose pulley. PAPER BAGS BROADBENT HYDRO EXTRACTORS, 21 in. EQUAL ,TO NEW, galvanwed baskets, electr~callydriven through centr~fuealclutch or belt driven. Safetv inter-locks. POCKETS AIR COMPRESSORS THREE 30 c.f.m. at 100 Ib. oressure. water cooled. automatic overloads, with or without motors. COUNTER ROLLS AIR RECEIVERS MADE TO REQUIREMENTS PUMPS Selection of new MONO and second-hand Pumps in stock- - 2 in. to 5 in. Inquiries Invited. STONEHOUSE

MORTON.. SON~ AND WARD. LIMITED. WALK MILL, PAPER & BAG MILLS DOBCROSS. NEAR OLDHAM. Lancs. STONEHOUSE, GLOS. Phone Saddleworth 437 188 THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956

FOR SALE: continued WORK WANTED & OFFERED

STURTEVANT FINE GRINDING AND SELECTION PLANT, CRUSHING, GRINDING, MIXING and DRYING for the trade. cap. 1-2 cwt. per hour 100 mesh med. hardness material com- prising Fine Crusher No. 0, Ring Roll Mill 00. Fan, Air Separ- THE CRACK PULVERISING MILLS LTD. ation, Conveyors, etc., Drawings available. W. Urquhart, 1023 Plantation House Garratt Lane, S.W.17. Mincing Lane, - - London, E.C.Z. VACUUM SHELF DRIER, 4 ft. 7 in. by 3 ft. 3 in. by 3 ft. internal with 3 Steam Heated Shelves. Quick Clamping Balanced Door. STAINLESS STEEL '2' MIXER, 40 gall. Jacketed. Bottom GRINDING. CRUSHING AND GRADING outlets. FINE GRINDING LTD., STAINLESS STEEL 'Z' MIXER, 20 gall. Tilting Trough. BLACKHOLE MINE, EYAM STAINLESS STEEL VESSELS, 200 and 100 galls. with Electric TELEPHONE: EYAM 227 Propellor Agitators. GARDNER SIFTER-MIXERS 560 100 and 30 Ibs. MIXING PANS, MIS 100 and'90 gall. MIRACLE MILL with 35 h.p. motor. PULVERISING of everv descriotion of chemical and otner KEK MILLS (two), No. 4, self motorised. materials. Collections. storage, deliveries. THOMAS HILL DOUBLE CONE BLENDER, 60 cu. ft. .IONES, LIMITED, INVICTA WORKS, BOW COMMON REVOLVING DRUM, 6 ft. by 2 ft. 10 in. LANE, LONDON E.3. (TELEPHONE: EAST 3285). JACKETED 'U' DRIER, 8 cu. ft. capacity. HOBART MIXER, 4 speeds, 80 qt. removable Bowl. - --- STAINLESS STEEL TANK, 4 compartments totalling gall. COPPER JACKETED PANS, 40 galls., 80 Ibs. p.s.i. n Low PATENTS & TRADE MARKS & Duff. Tiltine. WINKWORTH MACHINERY LTD., 65 High Street, Staines. KING'S PATENT AGENCY, LTD., (B. T. King, A.M.I.Mech.E., Teleuhone 1010. Patent Agent), 146a. Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.4. ADVICE Handbook, and Consultation free. Phone: City 6161, We offer 35 tons Marine Rope U.S.A. origin. 3 million sheets Abrasive Papers and Cloths. ' Chevrolet Fire Trucks. 3 Inter- national Mobile Cranes, excellent condition, 5-ton fixed Jib, U.S.A. origin. Ethylene Oxide Derivates, powerful detergent The Proprietors of Patent No. 644299 for "improvements in or Neutronix. 22 tons Wateroroofine Tar. 230 tons "Passivatine" relating to Method of Cracking Hydrocartons" desire to secure medium, with a acid base. 20 tons Product 6r commercial exploitation by Licence in the United Kingdom. developing colour photographs. 2 tons. SOCOMO 10 RUE Replies to Haseltke Lake & Co., 28 Southampton Buildings, D'HAUTEVILLE. PARIS 10. FRANCE. TEL.: PRO. 40-23. Chancery Lane, London, W.C.2. SIMPLITE PUMPS are the World's Simplest, Lightest, Safest and Cheapest diaphragm type. 2 in. Suction completely self The Proprietors of Patent No. 656556 forUPROCESS OF PRO- priming. Water, mud or chemicals. Petrol Electric or Hand DUCING VINYL ETHERS," desire to secure commercial models from £20. Illustrated leaflet from thd makers: WM. R. exploitation by Licence or otherwise in the United Kingdom. SELWOOD LTD., 3 CHANDLER'S FORD,HANTS. Phone Replies to Haseltine Lake & Co., 28, Southampton Ruildings, 2275. Chancery Lane, London, W.C.2. Classified Advertisement Order Form

To The Manager SITUATIONS VACANT EDUCATIONAL THE CHEMICAL AGE OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS . WANTED Bouverie House FOR SALE INVITATION TO TENDER Fleet Strect, London E.C.4 AUCTIONEERS, VALUERS, etc. . PATENTS Please insert the following in your next issrre and for...... - WORK WANTED AND OFFERED weeks thereafter Date......

I CLASSIFIED RATES All sections 5d. per word. Minimum 81-. Three or more insertions 4d. per word. Box Number 21- extra. Up to 10 a.m. Tuesday for insertion same week. SEMI-DISPLAY 301- per inch. Three or more insertions 251- per inch.

Name ...... Address 27 October 1956 THE CHEMICAL AGE iii

Complete Laboratory Furnishers

Chemicals and Acids for Laboratory and Industrial Purposes SCIENTIFIC GLASSWARE AND APPARATUS THERMOMETERS HIGH-CLASS FURNISHING PHOTOGRAPHIC CHEMICALS & EQUIPMENT

SOUTH WALES STOCKIST and DISTRIBUTOR OF PYREX. MONAX and FlRMASlL GLASSWARE. WHATMAN, POSTLIP and GREENS' FILTER PAPERS. BAlR & TATLOCK'S APPARATUS. ROYAL WORCESTER PORCELAIN. A. GALLENKAMP'S SPECIALITIES. FIRECLAY and VlTREOSlL WARE. OERTLING & STANTON BALANCES. "ANALAR" ACIDS and CHEMICALS. BRITISH ROTOTHERM TEMPERATURE GAUGES. E-MIL VOLUMETRIC GLASSWARE and THERMOMETERS.

Phone : SWANSEA 5584415 LANDORE OWANSEA

MULTITUBULAR DRIERS ROLLER FILM DRIERS FLAKERS & COOLERS

We offer accumulated experience of 50 years' specialization. OUR WORKS, the largest in the United Kingdom devoted especially to DRYING MACHINERY, are laid out and equipped with the latest plant for this particular purpose. MANY STANDARD SIZES including LABORATORY MODELS. We have test plants always available RICHARD SIMON & SONS LIMITED PHCENIX WORKS . BASFORD . NOTTINGHAM . Tel: NOTTINGHAM 75136/7/8 & 71453 THE CHEMICAL AGE 27 October 1956 H EAT

The cost of heating is a common topic in the board room of every company. Factory-operated gas-making plant reduces fuel costs. The P.G.C. fuel-gas plant produces a gas of uniform quality delivered at a regular pressure, with a high standard of cleanliness suitable for many industrial heating and process purposcs. The output of the plant may be varied appreciably and a gasholder is not required. As the plant works at pressure lower than that of the atmosphere, gas leakage is eliminated. The space occupied is comparatively small, and it can be erected indoors or outdoors. The capacities of this plant range from 7,000 cubic feet of fuel gas per hour.

t GAS CORPORATION LTD (PARENT COMPANY OF THE POWER-GAS GROUP)

STOCKTON-ON-TEES AND- -LONDON ------I AUSTRALIA . CANADA INDIA . FRANCE . SOUTH AFmaCA 3.2 I