Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-17
CORN COBS TO RUN
TRACTORS
(By Science Service)

(By Science Service)
WASHINGTON. June 15.-The tractor
that blows the corn can be run by chemi-
cal obtained from corn cobs at low cost
This colorless aromatic liquid, called fur-
fural, also runs automobiles, and is SUBJ
stitute at cheaper price for formaldehyde
in making the hard rubber and synthetic
resins from which monograph records, var
nishes, pipe stems, cigarette holders, but
tons and many other articles are made.
Success in perfecting the process Of cheap
ly obtaining this promising chemical from
waste corn cobs has been announced by DR..
w. w. Skinner, assistant director of the
bureau of chemistry, department of agricul-
ture in report. to the American Chemical
Society. For six years DR.. Frederick B.
La Forge and Gerald Fl. Mains, of the
bureau Of chemistry, have been developing
the commercial process Of making furfural
and they now declare that this product SELL
ing at present for about SO cents pound,
can be made for six cents.
Through the development OF by-products
obtained during manufacture of furfural
| from corn cobs, it is believed that furfural
can be made even more cheaply. Among
| the available by-products are acetic acid
and gummy material which has field Of
usefulness in the manufacture of coal
| briquettes. Tests show the undisputed SUI
| periority of the, briquettes made with this
| gum over those made with other binders.
| The briquettes are characterized by total
absence of smoke and superior water-resist-
| ing qualities.
Although furfuraf is successful motor
fuel, the type of carburetor suited to gaso-
line cannot be used. It Is not now as cheap
| as gasoline, but in the future 1t may be i'm.
portant as four-cent per pound furfural
would mean furfural motor fuel at about
thirty-two cents gallon.
i AS a substitute for formaydehyde, fur
hardwood forests ~
America as well as utilize waste product
of the farm. Formaldehyde, which when
| combined with phenol otherwise known as
carbolic acid, makes synthetic resins, comes
| from wood alcohol or methanol. Methanol
| is chiefly produced by the destructive dis.
| tillation of hard woods such as birch,
beech, oak, maple and elm.
| Furfural production is simple, Dr. La
Forge declares in explaining the process used
at the large scale experimental plant near
Washington that was erected for this work.
| The corn cobs, with some water, are placed
| in large steel cylinder or pressure cooker.
Steam at about 1875 pounds pressure is turn
| ed in. After cooking for about two hours
| the furfuraI is blown off with steam, passed
| through condenser and collected as solu-
| ton in water. This solution is then distilled
| in special apparatus for the separation OF
| the furfural from the water. The old meth
| cd of production consists in heating vegeta-
| BILE materials with strong mineral acids. Then
the acid is neutralized and furfural sepa-
| rated.
Insect Powder Is Violent Explosive
(By Science Service)
| Kansas City, June 1--we must regard
| dust, even the kind used to kill insects, as
an explosive material quite as dangerous as
dynamite, powder, or gasoline. We must
take the necessary steps for protection OF
life, food stuffs and property" This is the
| opinion of David J. Price, engineer in charge
| of the dust explosion Investigations in the
United States Department of Agriculture,
| speaking before the Millers' National Fed
| Grafton. During recent years 242 dust exc
! plosions in industrial plants have been re-
ported and fifty-two of these caused the loss
| Of 379 lives and more than $30,0O0,OO0.
1t is possible to get an explosion with any
| sort of combustible material when it is fine
Iy divided, forming dust or powder sus-
| pended in the air. In factory making
lime-sulphur insect POWDER the fine sulphur,
which burns readily when mixed with air,
was the cause of at least seven explosions
Explosions have also occurred with alum1'
mum dust, hard rubber dust, wood and sim1s
lar Industrial material, for anything which
will burn may also explode when in finely
powdered form.
| The proper mechanical removal OF the dust
and prevention of its accumulation on lodges.
| beams and Orders throughout plants will
prevent catastrophes, Mr., Price explains.