The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-03
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC ,. HAsKN. Director.
Washington, ID. @.


the pipes known as the barnyard
meerschaums, so dear to the hearts of
smokers who pride themselves on be-
connoisseurs Scientists in the bureau
of chemistry in the department of
agriculture who have been expert
menting, announce that they have pro-
duced several valuable by-productS
from the humble cob. and it is expect
ed that their discoveries will De COM
mercialiZed in the near future one
of the possibilities of the new industry
is motor fuel suppIy-one of the
things that the world needs almost
as much as 1t needs the machines
which the motors run.
Among the products which are now
to be extracted FROM corn cobs are
furfural, cob adhesive, acetate OF lime
and celluIose. The first named seems
to have more uses than any OF the
others. Up to the present time, fur
fural has been a comparatively rare
product and has been sold principally
in small quantities for scientific pur-
poses. The price is now about SIT per
pound. Specialists of the bureau OF
chemistry say it can be manufactured
from corn cobs at a cost of possibly
is to 20 cents a pound. To produce
at one eighty-fifth of its former cost
may be set down as a real scientific
achievement.
Scarcity and high costs have here
c;al use of furfural to any great ex-
tent, and the uses to which it can be
put as yet are imperfectly known.
However, it is a, substance from which
can be made a great many kinds OF
dyes, several paints and lacquers and
a substitute for hard rubber, and the
experimental work has progressed
sufficiently far to indicate the posi-
bility of developing a fuel for motors
Perhaps it's most important use is,
-
mediate for dyes. A whole series of
dyes may be prepared by interaction
with various coal-tar products. Shades
covering a very wide range have al
ready been made and tested by the
government experts
As a Substitute for Hard Rubber.
OF its uses as a substitute for hard
rubber DR.. w. w. Skinner, assistant
chief of the bureau of chemistry, says:
The importance of furfural produce
ton on a large scale is apparent when
it is realized that such widely used
articles as printing plates-light, dur
able substitutes for electrotypeS-
photograph records. varnishes, pipe
stems, cigarette holders, electrical in
strument parts formerly made of hard
rubber, buttons, binders for brushes,
glue, and hundred other kindred ar
ticles are now being manufactured
from synthetic resin compounds.
These compounds are made with fur
fural."
Since scientists discovered the Sc
cret of making synthetic resins about
fifteen years ago this industry has
had a remarkable growth. The raw
materials used are chiefly formalde-
hyde and phenol, or carbolic acid.
These two compounds, chemically
combined, condense as a solid which
is highly valuable as the basis for
making such articles as those enum-
Grated by Doctor Skinner. Thoro tests
have demonstrated furfural to be an
excellent substitute for formaldehyde
in this work
Formaldehyde has its source in
methanol, or wood alcohol, which Is
produced largely from the destructive
distillation of hard woods such as
birch, beech, oak, maple and elm.
Hence 1t is seen that the use of fur
fural becomes a measure of conserva-
ton.
DR.. Frederick R. La Forge, who,
with Gerald H. Main, has been con-
Quoting the experiments in the bureau
of chemistry, reports that he was able
to run an automobile engine with fur
fural However, because of its high
boiling point it cannot be used with
the type of carburetor suited to ga So
line and there are some difficulties in
the way of its development as a motor
fuel that will be commercially valu-
able.
Two grades of adhesive are recov-
reau's announcement. The first and
more valuable one amounts to about
As per cent of the weight of the cobs.
One of the chief uses now contem-
silicate of soda in the manufacture
OF fiber container and wall board, as
it is both a cheaper and better ma
terial than silicate of soda. The cob
adhesive has been tested under mill
conditions and found suitable in every
way. Other uses to which the adhe-
sive may be put are labelling of con-
tanners and the manufacturing of
coarse envelopes and paper bags It
has also been tested with successful
results as a sizing for walls and for
the manufacture of paper-coated
pasteboard. The second adhesive is
of a lower grade and can be used
only for such purposes as foundry
cores and as a binder for the coal
dust fuel known as briquette.
Other By-Products.
In the process of extracting the adj
heslve considerable quantity of acid
IS liberated. 1t passes off with the
vapor' is condensed and recovered as
acetate of lime from which by far the
greater part of commercial acetic acid
Is made, is obtained by distilling wood
ana Is very impure The acetate of
most chemically pure.
Inc residue after these substances
nave been recovered from the cobs is
an almost pure cellulose which pos
sesses very little fiber. 1t can be used
IN the manufacture Of dynamite. and
linoleum, and in every line of work
where wood flour is now used. 1t will
be used also as a filler for many kinds
Of paper.
That the new corn cob industry may
prove to be an important one is ap-
parent as it is pointed out by the de-
partment of agriculture that the
United States produces from $780,
corn every year, which means from
100000 to 20,O00.O0O tons of cobs
Not all the cobs are available for
manufacturing purposes, of course, for
large percentage is scattered over
the farms of the country or fed with