New Britain herald., 1925-12-26
MAKES BIG CUT
 IN STEEL COSTS
Silica Gel Application Also Aids
 Oil Industry

Baltimore, Dec, 26 R>-A con- siderable decrease soon in the cost of producing steel, refining petroleum and in refrigeration was predicted today by Dr. w. A. Patrick, pro- lessor of chemistry at Johns Hop- kins university Dr. Patrick based his prediction upon the practical ap- plication now being made of a sub- stance he invented during the war, known as silica gel, collodal silica which possesses great absorbent qualities
 Dr. Patrick said that a steel mill in England was using the process successfully and the lTuited States Steel corporation had plans under way to install the new system in one Of It's plants. that New England company was manufacturing refrig- orator cars based upon the use of silica gel and that the Paulsboro (N. J0, plant of the Standard oil company was using the new mater ial in the refinement of petroleum.
 Acts As Absorbent
 Silica gel. he explained, Is made with water glass and acids. It forms substance which resembles course sand but contains innumerable pores SO fine that they cannot be seen even under the highest-powered micro scope. From the absorbent qualities of the substance, he estimates that the surface of these pores In one gram of silica gel would cover half an acre. Its action is not chemical. The width of the pores, he estimates, Is even less than a wave length of light, Its action depends upon the capillary attraction of the fine tubes which ramify 1t.
 Dr. Patrick said the new product would also make 1t possible to obtain gasoline from natural gas at slight expense and henzine from coke-oven gas. These uses by no means exhaust its possibilities, he said.
 In the manufacture of steel, he said, silica gel had increased output 10 per cent and decreased the cost of cake 15 per cent By far the great est volume of substance passing through blast furnace he explain ed,- is air, about 50,000 cubic feet Of which passes through a good sized furnace every minute of operation. Water vapor in this air hitherto has caused considerable difficulty in op- eration, particularly as it varies with weather conditions. By putting the air through slicia gel. it is dchydra - ted. practically all of the moisture being removed.
 Efficient in Refining Petroleum
 In refining petroleum, he said, ii had been found tEat the use of silica gel in removing the sulphus- bearing constituents and gum forming com pounds was q cheaper and more ef- ficient method than any yet divised. These are either distilled out of the silicia gel and recaptured, or burned out, the gel remaining uninjured.
 The principle involved in refriger. ation. Dr. Patrick said, is equally simple. Physicists for many years >"e produced ice in laboratories by pumping off with a vacuum pump the vapor arising from water. The orctically, If 100 pounds of water were insulated so it woud receive no heat from outside sources. the heat absorbed in the vaporization of 20 pounds of water would reduce the remaining so pounds 10 ice, Dr. Pat rick explained. The invisible pores of silica gel have such a strong at- traction for water vapor that they act like e vacuum pump. In these pores, tho Napor is condensed to li- quid again, giving the substance an enormous power 10 absorb the vapor.
 By placing q small flame under the gel, the condensed vapor is driv- on off, so that the absorbent quail ties of the gel operate unimpaircd until the remaining water is frozen. thus ice actually is produced by the application of heat