The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1920-10-02
CHEMISTRY

Of immense Importance to the public will be the fruits of
the chemical laboratories within the next few months or years,
if even one-half the predictions come true which were made at
the recent session in Chicago of the American Chemical Society.
A special committee appointed for the purpose has prepared a
summary in which are outlined papers of popular interest read
at the convention.
Perhaps of first Importance is a paragraph devoted to the
prospects of cheaper fuel, both for the householder and manu-
facturer. This, tt is indicated, is coming as a result of a recent
development of the colloidal fuel industry. A mixture of coal
dust and the waste from petroleum stills is said to be of great
value. Another item on fuel is that by means of a carboniza-
ton process the halfformed coal called Ignite may become
available for the same purposes as COAL There are extensive
deposits of Ignite in the middle west, and the fuel situation
naturally would be much relieved by the utilization OF this SUBJ
stance. Delegates also reported success experiments with a
novel fuel, which is halfcooked coal.
Of especial interest to bakers were several papers devoted
to the new sweet potato syrup, the process of the manufacture
of which has just been developed by the bureau OF hemlstry OF
the United States Department OF Agriculture. This syrup, it is
said, can be produced at small cost from sweet potatoes, the ap-
pearance of which does not make them readily marketable.
Sweet potatoes of this inferior grade are often planted in the
southern States for the purpose of crop rotation with cotton in
order to combat the boil weevil. Consequently the raw ma
terial should be obtainable at low cost. 1t was stated that
sweet potato syrup is almost as sweet as cane molasses, and also
contains a large percentage of maltese, or malt sugar. It's de-
scribed as being especially suitable for bakers, since, on account
of the presence of malt sugar, it causes a rich brown crust to
form on loaves and cakes in which It's used.
The chemists gave no little time and attention to the new
sawdust feed for cattle, recently described in The Salt Lake
Tribune. A representative of the forest products laboratory at
Madison, Wis, reported that by the use of dilute %sulphuric acid,
which was afterwards neutralized by lime, he was able to make
from the waste of the sawmill a very satisfactory p%rovender for
cattle. After the lime and acid have been eliminated there re-
mains a soft branlike food, containing Is per cent of water and
rich in sugar. Three cows at the laboratory took this ligneous
diet on trust. believing it to be of grain, and not only did they
fatten on it for three months, but gave increased quantities of
milk. The United States Department of Agriculture was so
pleased with the experiments at Madison laboratory, which is
under its jurisdiction, that it has given directions for the repe-
tition of the experiment on hundreds of cattle at various stations
under it's control throughout the United States.
A symposium on the subject of cellulose, in which this use
of hydrolized sawdust was considered, also developed new light
ON the manufacture of paper from wood pulp, which, next to
cotton. is the best known form of cellulose, Several new meth
DDS were also suggested for the removal of ink from news and
print stock, so that the resultant paper could again be put
through the printing presses.
In the division Of dye chemistry new colors for giving pris-
matte hues to women's wear were presented. The leather
chemists also proposed more efficient methods OF tanning
which, from economic reasoning at least, should reduce the
nrice of shoes. Glycerine as a substitute for alcohol in the
preparation of vanilla and other extracts was reported to have
heen nroved successful.