Evening star., 1942-07-13
Inventor Says Process
Cuts Several Steps
In Rubber Making
High Yields, UtiIizotion
j 0f heot Make Msthody
Simplest. Houdy Says
=, the. Associated Press.

~ the. AsAoeiAAAd Press.
Eugene ]. ,Houdry, president of
the Houdry Process Corp, told =
Senate agriculture subcommittee to-
day that his flrm had developed 4
process Of converting butane, q gas
eous hydrocarbon, into butadiene.
the base for synthetic rubber, en-
ploying two steps in = single unit.
He explained that the process
consisted of one conversion and one
purification step "as compared to
four or ave steps Of other competi-
tive processes using petroleum hy-
drocarbons."
THE outstanding feature Of the
Houdry process-high yields and
methods OF heat utilization" Mr..
Houdry testified before the sub
committee investigating the avail
ability OF farm products for synthe-
tic rubber. results in the lowest
requirements of new plant produc-
ton"
This meant, he added, that new
plants could be built quicker with
less use Of critical materials, lower
costs and with real simplicity Of
operation"
Nelson Raised Objection.
One Of. the. objections to a. pro-
gram Of making synthetic rubber
from grain alcohol raised by Donald
M. Nelson, chairman Of the War
Production Board, in recent testi-
mony before the committee was
that plants for this purpose would
require critical materials which were
better devoted to other war pur-
poses. -.....-......-.- ....
Mr.. Houdry refrained from de-
scribing his process In detail but
termed it simply an adaptation of
the system used many years ans
already proved in ths production
Of high quality gasoline" He added
that there was plenty OF butane be-
cause 1t was not needed for aviation
gasoline like some of Its counter
parts.
The well-known principles of the
Houdry process are readily adapt
able to the treating OF all hydro
carbons.' Mr.. Houdry said. There
is no doubt that within 4 very
short time we can readily adapt
these principles to the production
of butadiene from alcohol with
large savings of materials over any
other alcohol process"
Suggests Russian Collaboration.
Declaring that he understood "oul
great Russian friends are making
synthetic rubber starting from al.
cohol," he suggested that "our Gov
ernment get from the Russian,
technical collaboration for building
plants using alcohol for butadiene
Elliot E. Simpson, an independent
rubber dealer who is counsel for tn.
subcommittee. asserted yesterday
that the Governments Rubbe,
Reserve Corp. had entered intt
agreements allowing "enormou.
profits" to four Arms from the scrar
rubber drive.
The companies have been desig.
mated agents, he said in 4 state.
ment, and are being granted com.
missions of $3.50 on every ton ol
scrap rubber which is collected fol
the rubber reserve, whether or ne
they were instrumental in collect.
| ing the scrap. On top Of that, they
are being paid a considerable sun
.or sorting the scrap once it's II
their warehouses; But the Creates
bonanza OF all will come after til.
scrap is sorted. after which such
items as crepe soles-worth $462 ,
ton-are separated from the run-of
mill grades"
He said the concerns were H
Meuhlstein h Co, Inc; A. Schulman
Inc: Nat Z. Beyaen, Inc, and thu
Loewenthal 60.