Evening star., 1941-07-24
Of Stors, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Laboratory, Field
And Study
Bg Thomas r. Henry.

~ InOmGS n. henry.
Wood and grain alcohols are vital war
materials in which a serious shortage is
developing.
Here is spot where the world con-
f1ict may work a common hardship on
debutantes, motorists, corpses and-a
remote possibility at present-whisky
drinkers.
The most acute shortage Is of wood
or methyl, alcohol-evidenced by the
fact that the spot market price has risen
substantially in the past few months.
This is the material from which is
derived formaldehyde the basis for sew
eral plastics which are used in airplane
manufacture and in production of other
war materials. Methyl itself is the most
commonly used anti-freeze for automo-
biles Formaldehyde is the chief chemi-
cal used in embalming and undertakers
are beginning to worry about the future,
although their actual requirements are
quite small.
Not quite so acute, at present, is the
shortage of ethyl, or grain, alcohol-the
intoxicant in all alcoholic beverages 1t
also can be the basis of acetic acid which
is used in the production of rayon. Many
ballroom gown is an aborted gallon
of whisky. 1t also is one of the chief
ingredients used in the manufacture of
smckeless powder, of which millions of
pounds month now are being produced.
Very little wood alcohol now actually
Is obtained from wood. Some is pro-
duced from the gas methene, con-
stituent of natural gas and the chief
element in the atmosphere of the Planet
Jupiter, and carbon dioXide obtained
from the fermentation of vegetable ma
terial. Most is produced by synthetic
treatment Of carbon monoxide, obtained
from coal, and hydrogen. This is a by
product of the manufacture of ammonia.
The difficulty comes with the increas-
ing demand for formaldehyde for plas-
tics, its chief use. Practically none is
on the open market Now plants require
heavy and complicated machinery,
manufacture of which would interfere
with other war necessities.
The ethyl alcohol picture is strikingly
different. BY far the greatest part of
the American production at present is
from the fermentation of Cuban
molasses. About 21z gallons of molasses
give l gallon of ethyl. From this can
be obtained acetic acid. necessity for
a considerable part of the rayon indus
try.
Actually not much acetic acid is de-
rived in this way at present. Most Of
it is made directly from lime stone and
coke-the calcium carbide process. Alco-
hol can be made in the same way-parts
of the best blended whiskies and gins
may be made out of limestone although
this is trade secret with the manufac-
turers. Usually the alcohol phase is
short-circuited and the acetic acid made
without going through it.
The difficulty developing here. it is
pointed out. is that calcium carbide is
getting scarce. 1t is also the source
of acetylene, employed in the torches
used in steel welding. Some is being
sent to England for use in the repair of
ships and the manufacture of big guns.
Also there has been an enormously in
creased demand from American defense
industries.
Calcium carbide also is the chief ma
terial used in one of the synthetic rub
Der processes and if the country en-
tiers on an artificial rubber program a
great deal will be diverted to it.
When Germany took over Norway she
shut off the chief calcium carbide sup
ply of the British Empire. The material
has since been brought from Quebec,
diverting the normal U. S. imports from
that source.
Both acetic acid and ethyl itself are
among the most widely used solvents,
which are vital war materials.
Thus for its supply the country may
be thrown back more and more on acetic
acid obtained from ethyl alcohol.
Eventually it may be necessary to re-
strict the manufacture of whisky and
turn over part of the equipment of the
distlleries to industrial work. This al
ready has been under considerable dis
cussion. There are believed to be
plentiful whisky stocks on hand for a
year or more.
The process of obtaining pure alcohol
from grains in the past has been some
what more expensive than that of pro-
ducing it from calcium carbide or
molasses, but recent claims have been
made of new processes for making it
from corn which greatly reduce this
cost.