Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-02
The HQSkin Letter By r = 2ssss
A NEW CORN COB INDUSTRY.

it is a substitute for silicate of soda
in the manufacture of fiber %container
and wall board, as it is both a cheaper
and a better material than silicate Of
soda. The cob adhesive has been tested
under mill conditions and found suita-
bic in every way. Other uses to which
the adhesive may be put are labelling
of containers and the manufacturing
of coarse envelopes and paper bags.
Ii has also been tested with successful
results as a sizing for walls and for
the manufacture of paper-coated paste
board. 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 ad-
hesive a considerable quantity of acid
is liberated. 1t passes off with the
yapor, is condensed and recovered as
acetate of lime. At present the ace
tate of lime from which by far the
greater part of commercial acetic acid
and is very impure. The acetate OF
lime obtained from corn cobs is almost
chemically pure.
The residue after these substances
have 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
lnoleum. and in every line Of work
where wood flour is now used. IT.
will be used also as a filler for nan
kinds of paper.
That the new corn cob industry
may prove TO be an important one is
apparent as it is pointed out by the
department of agriculture that the
100000 To 3.00O.O0 900 bushels Of corn
every year. which means from $4,000
coo TO 90 900 tons of cobs Not all
the cobs are available for manufac-
turing purposes. of course. for a large
percentage is scattered over the farms
Of the country or fed with the corn.
Large quantities. however, are concen-
trated at central points and are easily
available.
The plant which is now being pro-
iected will operate on a basis of loo
tons a day. Three shelters will supply
$4,000 tons of cobs q year. Such a
plant. it is estimated. would recover
about & ton and a half Of furfural q
day as a by-product. and a considerable
quantity can be obtained from the cob
adhesive by q comparatively simple pro-
cess. This adhesive. as has been stat
ed. is produced in the first grade in
quantities equal to As per cent Of the
weight of the cobs.
The method of producing the furfural
is anything but complicated. The corn
with some water. are placed in
a cylinder or pressure cooker and
steam at about 1S5 pounds pressure is
turned in. After cooking about two
the f%urfural comes out of the
cobs and is blown off with steam.
passed through a condenser and col
as a solution of furfural In water.
This solution is then distilled in a
apparatus for the separation
of the furfural from the water.
Coincident with this new discovery
the department of agriculture states
that the yield of corn per acre in this
could be doubled within q few
years. and this could be accomplished
without additional work or expense,
II is not 70 be understood that it Is
desirable 10 double the present corn
crop. but that it is desirable to produce
TO meet all requirements on a
number of acres and With less
labor. ii so bushels are raised on one
acre instead Of on two, the labor Of
narrowing. planting. cultivat-
ing and harvesting Is greatly reduced.
Corn suggests hogs and the develop
of BY -~products recalls the saying
that in modern packing establishments
the only thing about the pig that is
not saved and utilized Is his squeal.
One of these days government special
may tackle that problem and solve
It.