The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1922-03-08
MANY PRODUCTS
NAY BE DERIVED
FROM CORNCOBS.
Syrup, Dyes, Picture Films and Nitro
glycerin Are MentiOnal by
Chemistry Professor.

Decatur, Ill. - That the 100000, 900
tons of corncobs and stalks now going
to waste annually in the United States
can be made into syrup, cattle feed,
dyes, motion picture films, or tie base
for nitroglycerin was the statement OF
Elton Darlington, Phi. D., professor OF
chemistry at Millikin University OF
Decatur, before the Kiwanis Club here
Prot. Darling only recently caused
nationwide comment by his an
| nouncement that he had been able TO
obtain alcohol from illuminating gas.
The alcohol was obtained in labora-
tory test. Today In his address he de-
clared that alcohol is the fuel Of the
future, that the supply is inexhaust-
able, while petroleum will grow
scarce, gasoline high in price and the
coal situation and supply doubtful.
81 am intensely interested in the
products to be derived from corn
cobs." said Prof Darling THE pro-
ductlon of syrup of Xyglose from cobs
is not an experiment. 1t is a prac-
teal thing. Xyclose is the sugar in
the corn. II is what the cattle and
stock want when they eat corn. BY
eating the cob they get but 5 per cent.
of the xyclose. The syrup. which Is
for animals and made by treating the
cob, gives 25 per cent. more. 1t seems
practicable 10 me that this added
syrup should be used when the cobs at
present are going to waste.
81 expect to simplify the process OF
extracting this syrup so that the farm
err can make it on his farm. l have
carried by experiments far enough I"
know that the cattle like it and want
It."
Referring to the production Of dyes
from corncobs. Mr.. Darling exhibited
a black dye that he had obtained from
fur furol, n chemical obtained from
cobs. It is a sulphur dye, deep and
fast. and he said that it can be made
profitably. He has obtained other
colors. but has not yet developed them
to the degree Of STABILITY which he
has reached with the black dive.
That cobs have MANY other uses
was shown in his statement that the
cellulose from them can be mnde 'rfo
a material that will serve ne filler
for phonosranh records. can he treat
ed and used in the making of motion
picture films or used between wood
as round proofing, as we'll as its use
as a base for the manufacture Of nitro
glycerin.
Turning from the discussion Of cobs
he predicted that alcohol would be the
world fuel of the future. He said he
believed that in five years the petrol
cum situation in this country would be
such that gasoline would he FORTY p"
fifty cents a gallon because of tho in
CrcdSlng use Vi tne lnteiHui 'oiiiph'
ton engine. Railroads and steamships.
lie said. are turning more and more to
the use of gasoline because Of the con-
stantly increasing Indebtedness in
the mining of coal by reason Of strikes
The use of collodial fuel, a product
of crude oil and powdered coal. and
also the development of the shale oil
industry might help the fuel situation
fer another twenty-five years. he said,
but in the end alcohol will become the
world fuel
Alcohol, he said, is inexhaustible be-
cause it can be manufactured out of
anything of woody nature, and SO
long as theer are corncobs. stalks,
sugar cane stalks. there will be a
supply of material to make alcohol