Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-07
Orange Is Versatile
Producer for Industry
Citrus Fruit Moy Somedoy
Yield Lumber for Homes
By Thomas R. Henry

The golden orange is a chemical
treasure chest.
From it can be made materials rang
ing from vitamins and sugar to syn.
thetic lumber"
Molasses, vitamins, alcohol, oils and
candy now are being made from peel,
seeds and pulp which a few years ago
went to waste. due to the researches
OF Federal and State chemists who are
tearing the molecules to bits and re-
making them closer to the hearts de-
sire.
Some Of the most revolutionary de-
velopments have come from the Florida
State Agricultural Experiment Station
during the past few years. There the
scientists have been faced with par
ticularly pressing problem in making
use Of the residue of a rapidly increas-
ing crop. by far the largest market for
which is that for juices and concen-
trateS.
Over half the fruit, the State chem
lists report, is peel, pulp and seed Dur
ing a recent year when 48 million boxes
Of oranges and grapefruit were proc
1t was problem of disposal. The
solution of that problem has poten-
tialities which still are only partly ex-
plored.
Perfume From Oranges.
A notable development has been the
extraction of oils largely from the
peels OF oranges. grapefruit and tan
gerineS. These oils have found a wide
application in the manufacture of per-
fumes and toilet goods, beverages, con-
tectlonery, ice cream, soap and drugs.
Another product now being obtained
in considerable quantities is grain al
cohol, since it has been found that the
particular types Of sugars present are
especially adapted to the fermentation
process. The resulting alcohol Is iden-
tical with that produced from grain
or cane molasSes but, under Federal
regulations, it can be used only for
fortifying brandy. Being a fruit prod
uct. its use is prohibited for fortifying
grain product, whisky.
Production of oil from citrus seeds
has grown from As to 500 tons in about
Is years. There is potential yield
of nearly 1000 tons. The flavor OF
highly refined seed oil is quite similar
to that of olive oil, for which it some
times has been substituted. It is used
in manufacture of butter substitutes
and. in some cases, Of high grade
cooking fat.
Liquid Sugar.
Highly complicated chemical proc
esses have been developed for the pro-
duction of orange sugar, chief value
of which probably will be in the juice
industry. Due to various reasons this
sugar cannot be produced in solid
form. like cane sugar, but only as
liquid. In this form. however. it Is
easier to handle by industry.
An important advance has been the
isolation of pectins from the orange
peel. These find their chief use in
Jams, jellies and marmalade, but short
age of critical supplies in the candy
industry has stimulated research to
find new types which can be used to
develop new kinds of CONNECTIONS.
Both peels and pulp are proving
fertile sources for dyes and stains.
especially for wood, and orange-dyed
woods now are coming on the market.
BY processes which have not reached
the profitable production stage, ma
terialS for all sorts of plastics can be
extracted from the cannery waste, and
wall boards have been produced ex-
perimentally. The house made from
oranges, however, still is considered
some distance away.