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OCR
THE FATI-IERLAND 11
the formation of nitride of aluminum and of pure oxide of alu-
minum. The former furnishes ammonia.
The inventor of this ingenious process originally thought that
the oxide of aluminum obtained as a by-product in his main re-
action could be used over again instead of the bauxite in the
first step of his operation. However it was found that this oxide
of aluminum was unsuitable for the Scrpek process because-
curious to say-it was too pure and thus offered great resist-
ance to its conversion into nitride of aluminum. On the other
hand, it was determined that it lent itself excellently to the man-
ufacture of aluminum by the usual method. But such enormous
quantities of this pure oxide of aluminum are obtained in the
Serpek process that the correspondingly large quantities of alu-
minum which could be produced from it, would surpass all the
demands hitherto known for this metal. If, however, aluminum
could be employed extensively as a substitute for copper, the
Sefpek process might become economical. EsD6Cl3llY Would this
be the case if this process, which furnishes ammonia as the prin-
cipal product, could be combined with the Birkeland-Eyde process
or its modifications of utilizing nitrogen from the air, with the
formation of nitric acid. Wle would then have the following in-
teresting operation:
Processes That May Found a New lndustry
VVe would first prepare pure nitrogcn and Pllfe Oxygen from
liquid air according to the well known processes of Linde, Hilde-
brandt or Claudet, etc. The nitrogen thus generated would Pro‘
duce ammonia, in which would be collected the nitric acid formed
according to the Birkeland-Eyde process, furnishing as the end
result, nitrate of ammonia,-the ideal nitrogen fertilizer. In the
Birkeland-Eyde process, oxygen is necessary for the conversion
of the nitrogen from the air into nitrous gases which is accom-
plished by combustion of the air. If this combination is carried
out by utilizing the pure oxygen which has been originally sepa-
rated from the liquid air as described above, the reaction is very
favorably influenced and large yields are obtained. The Pure
oxide of aluminum, as stated before, will serve for the manufac-
ture of the metal aluminum. The finished products of this read-
justment of manufacture necessitated by the substitution of alu-
minum for copper would, therefore, be nitrate of ammonium or
nitric acid and ammonia and aluminum metal.
But this new dc‘-clopment might be impossible, while the war
lasts, if the Serpek process would depend 0“ bauxlle 35 3 crude
material. Fortunately, however, this process in its first step,
the Production of nitride of aluminum, is a refining DFOCGS fol’
oxide of aluminum, and it has been found that the Pure Ffellcll
and American hauxites are not absolutely neCC553l'Y for ‘he "5'
action, but that less valuable deD05ll5 found. l0’ examlllev i“ Dal‘
matia, in Austrian territory, may be CmDl0)’ed- It l5 31f‘? expect"
ed that kaolin or ordinary clay, which chemically are silicates of
aluminum, might be available as starting materials for the Ser-
Pek Process, and if these hopes are realized and a larger Gmlft '5
lolmd for metallic aluminum, the prospects for this process
would become most excellent. ‘
Uncle Sam Exports Ten Million Dollars’ Worth of
Nickel Every Year to German)’
NICKEL. Of the total export of about $l0v000vO00 0f metallic
nickel obtained by refining Canadian ore in domestic Plamsg Gel.“
many takes the largest part. To satisfy the demands of their
Industries, Germany and Austria-Hungary will now be obliged
10 turn to the development of their native resources and to opefl
“P Some mines in Hungary, where a rather D00’ “lckfl 0” ‘5
lound. Deposits of such ore have also been discovered In UPIJCY
ltaly and Norway.
In the case of nickel and many other minerals and manufac-
tured articles it has up to now been easier and l>el’ll3D5 Cl'le3DC1'
for Germany to import them than to E0 '50 the "0“l’le fmd ex’
Dense of developing domestic resources. But when necessity once
enforces readjustments of this kind, there is great danger that
the newly worked mines may develop into something better than
originally anticipated and may thus lastingly injure our trade.
United States Oil Makes German Machine: Co
PETROLEUM. Germany imports from us about $10,000,000 worth
of illuminating oil, lubricants and parafiin. Her supply of ben-
zine apparently comes from the Roumanian, Galician and Rus-
sian oil fields.
Large quantities of kerosene are used as motorspirit, either in
admixture with benzine or coaltar benzol. To replace petroleum
for illuminating purposes Germany has at her disposal grain al-
cohol, which in the form of denatured alcohol, and used in espe-
cially constructed burners, offers a cheap illuminant of domestic
production. Carbide of calcium and acetylene gas obtained there-
from may be largely utilized in addition to electric light, which,
although the most expensive method, is always available and will
,ever be so on account of the vast wealth of coal which Germany
possesses.
To replace petroleum as motorspirit, Germany employs coaltar
benzol, which is recovered in large quantities in the coking of
coal, that is, suitable heating of coal. Denatured alcohol also
serves this purpose in carburetters adapted for this substance.
To replace petroleum as lubricant there are available the paraf-
fin oils, cylinder oils, etc., obtained by the distillation of lignite
coal, an industry already established but hitherto kept down by
the competition of the American petroleum products.
Deposits of lignite are very common all over Germany and this
.industry may be very largely expanded. It also furnishes beii-
zol and illuminating oil which together with the supplies from
Roumania and Galicia, may make Germany herself entirely in-
dependent of our resources.
In this connection, it must also be considered that the latest
improvements in Diesel motors permit the use of even heavy
coaltar oil as fuel for these wonderful gas engines. This means
a further reduction of the German consumption of our petroleum
products.
As stated before, the available substitutes, coaltar benzol, and
distillation products of lignite can always be produced in large
quantities in Germany.
Concerning the manufacture of denatured alcohol, there are
many waste materials which might be profitably utilized for the
preparation of grain alcohol. The fermentation of beet sugar
molasses or of the refuse of fruits, vegetables, etc., in the pre-
serving industries might furnish additional quantities of alcohol.
The new method of making alcohol from sawdust and wood-
waste has already been mentioned as a further source.
Even the sugar beet itself might be largely submitted to fer-
mentation processes instead of serving for the production of
sugar, because it will be impossible for Germany to export much
of this article while the war lasts.
Perhaps, the inland sugar consumption may also decrease be-
cause the authorities have raised the restrictions against the use
of saccharin in order to provide a cheap sweetener for the home
preserving industry, which the government has been so strongly
urging for the conservation of the immense fruit crop with which
Germany has been blessed this year.
Saccharin is also to be made a part of the iron fund of neces-
sities carried by the soldier in his knapsack. Experience in the
field has shown that soldiers cannot always procure sugar for
their tea and coffee, and as these beverages are not enjoyed un-
sweetened, a small box containing saccharin tablets is to be pro-
vided. -
All this proves again what has always been claimed that the
prohibition against saccharin was not a sanitary measure dictated
by the necessity for guarding the health of the people, but had
for its object the protection of beet sugar against the much
cheaper chemical. The government realized that from an eco-
nomical point of view the beet sugar industry with its diversified