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The utilization of waste products
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and Novelties.
301
bustion ; and on returning it to the free access of the air, it burst into flames. In another similar experiment, the temperature rose more slowly, but reached 280” Fahr. in 105 minutes, when, from the appearance of smoke, it was plain that the cotton was burning ; and the whole mass was soon in a ,0ame on being placed in a current of air. Raw linseed oil was found not to cause ignition of cotton so readily as the boiled oil, but under conditions similar to those of the above described experiments, active combustion was going on in one case in four, and in another in 6ve hours. With rape oil under the conditions of the first experiment, the result was that the box and contents were found in ashes in ten hours-(the box being put up at night, the result was only observed in the morning.) Olive oil caused active combustion within 6ve or six hours. With castor oil, the contents only charred on the second day of the experiment. Lard oil, Seal Oil, (sp. grav. *916), produced rapid combustion in four hours. Sperm oil gave neg(sp. grav. *928), the same result in 100 minutes. ative results. The author, as the result of his work, advances the opinion, from a comparison of raw linseed with lard and seal oils, Ohat the statement is not altogether correct that “ drying oils are more liable to spontaneous combustion than non-drying oils ; and that the rate at which oxidation takes place does not depend chiefly on the presence of small quantities of putrifiable matters ; but rather upon the particular oleineor liquid fat they contain. The results of the experimental trials are stated to have been reThe author states that the ignition of cotton can markably uniform. be calculated on for any oil with about the same certainty as the point at which sulphur or other combustible matter inflames in air. The heavy oils from coal and shale were found to effectually check the phenomenon above described ; for when mixed with the oils above named, they gave no indications of heating whatever at 1’70’ Fahr. In view of the vagueness of definite information concerning this subject, which is a matter of importance to all who are engaged in manufactures employing these materials for any purpose, any systematic contribution to our knowledge of the conditions under which these oils and others may cause ignition, is of very direct interest.
The Utilization of Waste Products.-In an eloquent address delivered at the opening of Pardee Hall, Prof. R. W. Raymond discourses in the following terms upon the subject of our heading :
302
_Editorial.
’
“ Some one has well said that the utilization of refuse is the measure of civilization. That which the alchemists sought in vain Stone,’ their descendants are finding step by step, the ‘Philosopher’8 ,which will turn the most despised substances into gold. The illuetrations of this are innumerable. I must be content with one or two. Pew form8 of refuse were more troublesome to dispose of, a few year8 ago, than the coal tar which accumulates in the manufacture of burning gas. At first it was used only as a rude kind of paint for iron, etc. Afterwards it was distilled, and yielded a volatile oil, with swhich Bethel impregnated wood to preserve it from decay. Then it was found that one of the distillates was a good material for removing apote and stains from cloth. But all these application8 were found inadequate to dispose of the great quantity of tar that accumulated. Then came the grand discovery aniline, enriching the world with new .and brilliant color8 ; and now even the refuse of the aniline manufacture yield8 anthracine and alizarine (artificial madder), the discovery of which is one of the most important events of the day, revolutionizing a great industry, and completely annihilating a branch .culture, to supply it8 place with a manufacture less expensive and hence in the end more beneficial to man.”
The Pardee
School of Mines.*-The
of agriof labor,
new building, at Lafay-
‘ette College, erected for the Scientific Department, now occupied by the classes, was dedicated by appropriate exercises, on Tuesday, OcThis magnificent structure cost over two hundred and tober 21st. fifty thousand dollars, and ia the princely gift of Mr. Ario Pardee, the founder of the Scientific Department of the College. It consists of one centre building five stories in height, fifty-three feet eighty-six deep, and two lateral wings one on each side of building, measuring sixty-one feet in length and thirty-one four stor& in height, including a mansard roof, the whole ing in two cross wing8 forty-feet
front and the centre in width ; terminat-
front and eighty-four feet deep, and The entire length of front, in a straight line, four stories in height. is two hundred and fifty-six feet. The material is the Trenton brown stone, with trimmings of light Ohio sandstone. It is .heated throughout by steam and lighted by gas. The first floor is mainly devoted to the study of mining and metallurgy ; the second contain8 the geological and mineralogical cabinets, a spacious auditorium, and smaller lecture rooms, reading rooms and professors’ studies. The third floor * U. S. Railroad and Mining Register.
and Novelties.
301
bustion ; and on returning it to the free access of the air, it burst into flames. In another similar experiment, the temperature rose more slowly, but reached 280” Fahr. in 105 minutes, when, from the appearance of smoke, it was plain that the cotton was burning ; and the whole mass was soon in a ,0ame on being placed in a current of air. Raw linseed oil was found not to cause ignition of cotton so readily as the boiled oil, but under conditions similar to those of the above described experiments, active combustion was going on in one case in four, and in another in 6ve hours. With rape oil under the conditions of the first experiment, the result was that the box and contents were found in ashes in ten hours-(the box being put up at night, the result was only observed in the morning.) Olive oil caused active combustion within 6ve or six hours. With castor oil, the contents only charred on the second day of the experiment. Lard oil, Seal Oil, (sp. grav. *916), produced rapid combustion in four hours. Sperm oil gave neg(sp. grav. *928), the same result in 100 minutes. ative results. The author, as the result of his work, advances the opinion, from a comparison of raw linseed with lard and seal oils, Ohat the statement is not altogether correct that “ drying oils are more liable to spontaneous combustion than non-drying oils ; and that the rate at which oxidation takes place does not depend chiefly on the presence of small quantities of putrifiable matters ; but rather upon the particular oleineor liquid fat they contain. The results of the experimental trials are stated to have been reThe author states that the ignition of cotton can markably uniform. be calculated on for any oil with about the same certainty as the point at which sulphur or other combustible matter inflames in air. The heavy oils from coal and shale were found to effectually check the phenomenon above described ; for when mixed with the oils above named, they gave no indications of heating whatever at 1’70’ Fahr. In view of the vagueness of definite information concerning this subject, which is a matter of importance to all who are engaged in manufactures employing these materials for any purpose, any systematic contribution to our knowledge of the conditions under which these oils and others may cause ignition, is of very direct interest.
The Utilization of Waste Products.-In an eloquent address delivered at the opening of Pardee Hall, Prof. R. W. Raymond discourses in the following terms upon the subject of our heading :
302
_Editorial.
’
“ Some one has well said that the utilization of refuse is the measure of civilization. That which the alchemists sought in vain Stone,’ their descendants are finding step by step, the ‘Philosopher’8 ,which will turn the most despised substances into gold. The illuetrations of this are innumerable. I must be content with one or two. Pew form8 of refuse were more troublesome to dispose of, a few year8 ago, than the coal tar which accumulates in the manufacture of burning gas. At first it was used only as a rude kind of paint for iron, etc. Afterwards it was distilled, and yielded a volatile oil, with swhich Bethel impregnated wood to preserve it from decay. Then it was found that one of the distillates was a good material for removing apote and stains from cloth. But all these application8 were found inadequate to dispose of the great quantity of tar that accumulated. Then came the grand discovery aniline, enriching the world with new .and brilliant color8 ; and now even the refuse of the aniline manufacture yield8 anthracine and alizarine (artificial madder), the discovery of which is one of the most important events of the day, revolutionizing a great industry, and completely annihilating a branch .culture, to supply it8 place with a manufacture less expensive and hence in the end more beneficial to man.”
The Pardee
School of Mines.*-The
of agriof labor,
new building, at Lafay-
‘ette College, erected for the Scientific Department, now occupied by the classes, was dedicated by appropriate exercises, on Tuesday, OcThis magnificent structure cost over two hundred and tober 21st. fifty thousand dollars, and ia the princely gift of Mr. Ario Pardee, the founder of the Scientific Department of the College. It consists of one centre building five stories in height, fifty-three feet eighty-six deep, and two lateral wings one on each side of building, measuring sixty-one feet in length and thirty-one four stor& in height, including a mansard roof, the whole ing in two cross wing8 forty-feet
front and the centre in width ; terminat-
front and eighty-four feet deep, and The entire length of front, in a straight line, four stories in height. is two hundred and fifty-six feet. The material is the Trenton brown stone, with trimmings of light Ohio sandstone. It is .heated throughout by steam and lighted by gas. The first floor is mainly devoted to the study of mining and metallurgy ; the second contain8 the geological and mineralogical cabinets, a spacious auditorium, and smaller lecture rooms, reading rooms and professors’ studies. The third floor * U. S. Railroad and Mining Register.