The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-04-23

will also have for his own use the
foreign patents of his process for the
manufacture of both dyestuffs and
benzol and toluol 1t is stated by
DR.. Rittman that, as result of his
discovery, that different sized mole
cules represent different products of
| petroleum, many new commodities
will be made from petroleum.
Plants Operating.
| In this connection it will be of inter
est to the oil fraternity to know that
the Island Petroleum company at
Pittsbug, Pa, is operating its Rittman
! plant successfully in the manufacture
of benzol and toluol. This plant was
running within q hours after its
completion. This plant is so con
structed that when the war ceases
and there is no longer demand for
benzol and toluol at high prices, it
can be turned over without difficulty
to the manufacture of gasoline. The
plant cost about $25,0O0, and within
few weeks had made enough benzol
and toluol to pay for itself. Prob
ably the only reason others have
not embarked in this enterprise is
the possibility of a sudden termina-
ton of the war. The Island Petroleum
company is using distillate from its
refinery. 1t can very readily make
a 54.2 gravity motor fuel of high
power propensity from dstillates and
heavy residuum. The Pittsburg Oil
Refining company, at Coraopolis, Pa,
is installing a Rittman process for
the manufacture of gasoline and ought
to be running within the next two or
three weeks. The Germania Refining
company at Oil City, Pa has a Ritt-
man process nearing completion. This
company, before building Rittman
plant, put up Rittman experimental
still and proved out the theory, after
which a license was secured from the
government. The Midwest Refining
company at Casper, Wyo., is putting
in Rittman process of an entirely
different design than any other here
tofore conceived. 1t is under the di-
rection of Dr.. David T. Day, for many
years with the statistical bureau of
the department of the interior. 1t
will have an 1G-inch tube and instead |
of having carbon cage at the bot
tom will have an automatic trap, the |
carbon being blown out by force Gre
ated in the operation of the process. |
Other Rittman plants are being in
stalled under secrecy. The Constan-
tin Refining company at Tulsa, Okla,
will Immediately begin the construc-
ton of Rittman plant as will also
the Indiahoma Refining company. The
Island Petroleum company's plant at
Pittsburg is considered the ideal Ritt-
man plant up to this date. 1t uses,
it is said, 800 oil of 40 Baume. A
fixed or non-condensible gas thrown
off by the process furnishes more
than sufficient fuel to operate the
plant. A temperature of 1850 degrees
Fahrenheit is maintained in the fur
mace and 1850 degrees Fahrenheit in
side of the 10-inch tube. Air is
forced in with Sturdevant air blow
er, and the oil, before entering the
tubes, is heated to 100 degrees Fab
renheit by passing through an ordi-
nary Rudd water heater. Fourteen
gallons of crude day pass
es through the tubes. From so to
80 per cent of synthetic crude is re-
covered from which nine per cent of
benzol and IL per cent of toluol are
distilled. BY this same process with
lower temperature and less pressure
a synthetic crude can be made which
will produce 20 to 80 per cent gasO-
line, the first run, and by re-running
what is left will produce a total of
from 60 to 80 per cent gasoline, or
what might more properly be termed
a greaseless motor fuel of low end
point and more heat properties than
in straight-run gasoline. \
ready market is being found for all
Of the refuse, such as tar, coke, cav
bon, etc, and at very satisfactory !
prices. 1t has been computed that !
10 cubic feet of gas is all that is
necessary for each gallon of oil to /
run through the tubes.
1t has been intimated that in spite {
If the fact that the department at
made a strenuous effort
o safeguard the Rittman process for I
he use of the general public, the gen |
,ral public failed to appreciate its Y
opportunity and the process is likely ;
o be corraled by a few companies /
The government provides in its licen-
les that any important or fundamen- 7
,l ratant Yrocured by the licenses .