Evening star., 1953-10-30
Science Seeks Method
Of DesoIting Water
Interior Department Aids
Research Into Problem
By Thomas R. Henry


The practical possibility of changing
salt water to fresh water, which might
have revolutionary economic conse-
quences all over the world, now is
subject of major Government interest.
The Interior Department is partially
supporting IL research projects
throughout the country in this field.
Several processes now are in operation,
but their costs are so high that their
use is limited in most cases. The pri-
mary object Of the present emphasis
is to find some process that will be
economically feasible. Shortages of
drinkable water in many areas are
reaching critical stages and use of con-
verted sea water may offer solution.
Among the contracts is one with
George o. G. Lof of Denver for finding
methods of Standardization of salt
water through large-Scale evaporation,
using the heat energy Of the sun. The
University of Florida has contracted
for laboratory research on the develop
ment of synthetic membranes for sep
arating salt from water.
Yale will investigate means of i'm
proving distillation methods. The ac-
as compared with the theoretical will
be studied by chemists of the State Uni
versity of New York.
Others Seek Method.
Battelle Memorial Institute of Phila-
delphia is studying methods for the
evaporation of saline waters by steam,
produced by solar radiation. Texas A.
& M. Research Foundation is exploring
the possibility of separating salt from
water by a solvent extraction process
similar to that which is used for sep
aration of certain industrial fluids. The
University of Minnesota is to prepare
a survey of the waste heat which might
be harnessed and put to use in any Of
the possible separation processes. 1t is
we'll known that vast quantities of heat
are wasted. but whether this waste can
be used economically must be deter
mined before large sums are spent to
develop processes.
The University of California is in
vestigating possibilities of waste heat
diesel plant, solar still and low tenn
perature difference plant. A Cam
bridge, Mass. firm is investigating the
possibilities of economic demineraliza-
ton of water by an electronic process.
Some of the paradoXes of cosmic rays
are to be explored this winter from the
top of 18,000-foot Mount Chacaltaya in
Bolivia in cooperative research
project of Syracuse University and the
University of Sac Paulo, Brazil.
Particles from the outer cosmos,
1E,,;lr @f@ To- w ~ 1inyIa
mosphere with energies exceeding SO
billion volts, produce the mysterious.
short-lived particles known as mesons.
These mesons break up almost instantly
and at least one kind splits into two
electrons, smallest of the known basic
units of matter.
Studies conducted by DR.. Kurt Site
of Syracuse on the summit of Mount
Evans, Colo, this summer, indicated
that the number of electrons produced
in the high atmosphere was far too
great to be accounted for by this
process. There must be, Prof. Site says,
still unknown particles or unknown
processes involved.
Will Study Air Showers.
From the summit of the Bolivian
mountain he will seek especially for tie
unknown particles, for the existence
of which no clue has been obtained
from high-altitude balloon or rocket
ascensions. He will study especially the
high-energy reactions known as air
showers. This will require extended pc
riods of observation as near the top
of the earth's atmosphere as man can
remain for any considerable length of
time. Records obtained from balloon
flights can be only for a few hours
and the high atmosphere remains
largely an unknown region.
DR.. Sites work during the past sum-
mer was sponsored by the Atomic En-
ergy Commission. This winter he will
work as visiting professor at the Bra
lillian university.