The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-08-03
French Chemists Experimenting
to Find Cheap Substitute
for Gasoline.

Paris.-French chemists are carry
Ing out number of interesting ex-
periments with view of substituting
the use Of alcohol made from sugar
beets, grapes and other by-products
of French Industries for imported gas.
oline.
Various interests in France have
long attempted to render their coun-
try Independent Of the United States,
Great Britain and Holland In the sup
plying Of fuel for motors. This inde-
pendence Is considered so pressing
that suggestions are made that state
produced gasoline substitute may be
made and its use in automobiles be
made compulsory. 1t Is proposed to
call the accepted fuel the "carburant
national The propaganda in favor Of
this national fuel has compelled the
government and numerous scientific
bodies to carry out many extensive and
expensive experiments. The results
Of these tests were recently summa-
rized in a valuable technical mono
graph prepared for the Association des
Chemistes de Sucrerie ct de Distillerie
de France by NJ. Masfaraud, who
showed that these results were OBJ
tained: t--s
Efficiency Is Increased.
Alcohol motors are about 20 per cent
more efficient than petrol motors.
The combustion of alcohol gas is
perfect and the escaping gases are
quite inodorous.
The general use of alcohol for fuel
In motors is perfectly feasible and is
to be strongly recommended.
No difficulties would be experienced
In placing on the market motors built
to operate with alcohol.
The necessity for the adoption of
alcohol as source of power was clear
ly demonstrated in France during the
war. But there was such a demand
for alcohol for the manufacture of mu-
nltions that means had to be devised
to conserve the supplies Of alcohol in
France and ration them.
An official commission was appoint
ed In February, 1922, by the ministry
Of finance to fix the price of alcohol
derived from the current beet crop.
It recommended the enforced use of
alcohol as fuel, or as an adulterant of
gasoline, as an expedient for pro-
viding a regular market for the by
products of the agricultural industries.
Beziers, in the department of HE
rault, was the scene last summer of
Extensive tests of automobile fuels
made from mixtures Of alcohol, gaso-
line and other substances. The re-
suits of these tests attracted consid-
erable attention, not only in France.
but throughout the world. Many mix
lures proved valuable. The most eff
tective results were obtained from
mixture suggested by M. Godchot,
dean of the department Of science Of
the University of Montpelier, which
consisted Of about 80 per cent gaso-
line, o per cent alcohol and small
quantities of cyclohexanol and phenol.
The committee in charge of the Be
ziers fuel tests was so impressed with
TIE results obtained that 1t advocated
legislation to compel the substitution
VI the Godchot mixture In place of
r.sollne for all purposes in France.
Notwithstanding the strong advocacy
of national fuel for France. the gov
ernment has not yet taken q pro-
nounced stand on this question be-
cause OF the numerous economic prob
lems involved. II would like to make
France independent of imported fuels,
cheaper the cost of automobile fuel
and develop steady markets for the by
products of factories producing sugar,
fruit, grape pulp. elders and sherry,
starch, wine. beer, brandy and sim
ilar articles. But difficulties arise
from the fact that the price Of al
hohol Is usually higher than that Of
gasoline and therefore the manufac-
ture of the Codchot fuel would be ex-
pensive.
Nstiorsi Project Urged.
To overcome these economic prob