New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-04
ARTIFICIAL SALTPETRE.

Few ventures In industrial chemistry within
the last ten or twelve years have promised
more important results than the attempt TO
make nitric acid out of its constituent elements
Nitrogen oxygen and hydrogen. Several of the
combinations of this substance with other ele
ments are immensely useful. Saltpetre nj
trate of potash, is one of the ingredients OF
gunpowder, and 1t has medicinal also. Nj
trate of soda, of which natural deposits exist in
South America, IS extensively employed as a
fertilizer Nitrate of calcium, or lime would
prove almost equally serviceabIe TO the farmer
if a cheap and abundant supply could be OBJ
tanned. Since there is no end of lime to be had,
the great essential is nitric acid costing less
than that now derived from mineral compounds.
One of the most conspicuous undertakings hav
ing that object in view is described in the latest
issue of Engineering" to reach this country.
Works have been established at NOtOdden Nor
way, where from 1000 to 1920 pounds OF nitric
acid year are being produced part, if not
ali, of the output is devoted TO the making of
nitrate of calcium of whose quality there seems
to be no doubt
The vital feature Of this and of several SINH
lar enterprises is that atmospheric nitrogen and
oxygen are utilized and that their union is
effected in a way suggested by discovery of
Priestley that dates back more than a century.
The heat Of a magnfed electric spark does the
work. Hence almost the only thing which is
needed in addition to the proper plant, is power
In the form of electricity; and NOtodden can
command much more of that than it is likely to
want for several years. One stream alone on
which it can draw has estimated capacity
of 10000 horsepower, and another would yield
10000; and If occasion demands, 100000 more
could be obtained by going little further.
pioneer in the practical experiments which
have been based on PrieStley's observation was
Mr. Charles S. Bradley. of this city. His in
vestigations were conducted at Niagara, where
cheap and almost unlimited power could be had,
and they created a profound sensation when
their nature was first fully understood. The
enterprise was not, believe, a commercial
| success; but 1t was apparently not less fortu-
nate than several other attempts of the same
kind in the United States and Europe. OF
course, no one else was at liberty to adopt the
form of apparatus which Mr. Bradley devised
for it was undoubtedly protected by patents.
His endeavors, however, seem TO have stimu-
lated other men to try, by notifications OF his
methods to attain the result at which he aimed.
1t is not unlikely that his example has been
more or less influential in the founding of the
Notodden 'saltpetre' works. Moreover. it Is not
yet certain that the Norwegian venture will prove
more remunerative than Mr.. Bradley's. Much
skepticism has been expressed from time to time
about the economy of the Notodden process.
Engineering throws no light on the point but
it says that the system is yet crude and that
improvements are contemplated. 1t will evil
IDENTIFY be necessary to wait awhile before the
cost of making nitric acid and nitrates in Nor
way can be determined with precision At
present it is impossible TO say whether competi-
ton with the CHILEAN deposits and chemicals
derived from them is feasible or not.
The idea of drawing on the atmosphere for
the raw material in this industry is fascinat-
ing. Making use of such an inexpensive and
enormous supply would be a proceeding like
turning all the clay In the soil into aluminium
or tapping the electric reservoir In the upper
air. There is unlimited aluminium underfoot.
and unlimited electricity overhead but man has
not yet been able to turn them to account The
hope Of utilizing atmospheric nitrogen has now
q more rational basis than that OF beneftinp