MULTIWAX M I C R O CR Y S T A L L I Ν Ε W A X

The microcrystalline wax preferred in many manu­

facturing operations — paper, electrical, cosmetic,

pharmaceut ica l , ink , c h e w i n g g u m , c o l l a p s i b l e

tubes . . .

Write for samples and consult with our Technical

Service Department.

P E T R O L E U M S P E C I A L T I E S , I N C . 2 0 5 E A S T 4 2 n d STREET, N E W Y O R K 1 7 , Ν . Υ.

•ΜΗρΙ l̂liftfâ PERFECT pRoncrio® for ^R%^4^^¥!1ΗΑΪ^^Γ^ ;-? *Λ^ΟΛΤΛΤ^^Λ^ ^vneff PRODUCTION USE!

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No. 311—Utility Apron: extra long, e \ t r a wide Ex­pansion p lea t s , adjust­able neckband , pull-proof saddle pocket Black or clear

SI 50 each

Bootees—Amply s i z e d to cover shoes a n d trou­sers easily. A b o u t 15' h igh . S3.75 pair

No. 800—Chemist 's Apion: The ideal g a r m e n t when complote protection of neckline and front a re required N e a t l y tai­lored a d j u s t a b l e nick-band S2 OOiuih

»orr SA¥ * u m ç , $ « K8ESTEX.

No. 90D—Fait length Laboratory Apron. Geneiouslv full c u t for full orotection. I n black q r clear

«1 75 each

No.410—Formfit Jacket: Completely pro tec t ive g a r m e n t — r e v e r s i b l e , ties front or back. Re­inforced seams , ad jus t ­a b l e n e c k b a n d , half sleeves. 53.25 each

Ins t rument covers—

7\7"xl3" (microscope M/e)

15MOMO* 16j/2"x 17^^x6' 12ffxl4"xl8" Special sizes— priced according to size, from $1.25 up

Also: Zip closure kits, vanous sizes

Sleevelets Krestex materuil, in vanous widths and weights

Nu. 2C9—Double Weight Lab­oratory Apron: 4 6 * l o n g . G r o m r n e t r e i n f o r c e ­ment a t neckband and waist. S2.75 each N0.2C8—Same as above, 40" long. S2.50 each

' MANUFACTURING CO. DEP'T. C 1335 Ho. Wells St. Chicago 10 , I I I . , U.S.A.

THE CHEMICAL WORLD THIS WEEK

Mass., plant for producing high styrene copolymer latices in volume and a paint latex of superior water and scrub resist­ance is i n the final development stage.

In addition to the styrene copolymers, the company now distributes polyvinyl acetate emulsions to the paint industry through R. T. Vanderbilt & Co., New York.

Dow Chemical C o . is now producing morpholine, a ring compound containing both an amine and an ether group. It can b e used i n the formulation of water-resistant waxes and polishes. Morpholine may b e added to boilers and steam lines to maintain constant alkalinity, thereby minimizing corrosion. It is also used in the formulation of wax emulsions that cover vegetables during shipment and storage for moisture retention, and in the preparation of water-resistant ad-hesives. I t is "being made at Dow's Mid­land plant.

Schwara Laboratories recently added eight more products to their line of fine chemicals.

T h e newly added chemicals are: acetyl phosphate, lithium (high purity); allan­t o i c alloxan; alloxantin; 2,6-dichloro-pyrinaidine; ribose-5-phosphate, barium; 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine; and uric acid.

SCIENCE

7-Carbon Sugar Blasts Concept O f Phof-osynthetic Specificity

Certain plants have long been prized among sugar chemists for the special saccharides they yield. Thus, Jerusalem artichoke has been looked upon as a prime source of fructose, the nut of the ivory palm is famous for mannose. Mesquite yields arahinose while corn cobs and other grain refuse are fertile sources of xylose. It has been taken for granted that each of these plants has a peculiar set of en­zymes that enables it to synthesize its special sugars to the exclusion of others.

This concept was exploded last week when Melvin Calvin of the University of California announced that every plant cell is alike in so far as photosynthesis is con­cerned. Spealcing at Howard University in Washington, Dr. Calvin reported that his studies with all types of plants have revealed that all can make the same sugars —from the same intermediates. But what the plant does with the primary products of photosynthesis may be peculiar to each. Many of these differences may lie in the plant's dark reactions, or those that proceed in the absence of light, such as, for in­stance, tbe formation of citric acid. Dr. Calvin has demonstrated that dark reac­tions are completely different from those induced by chlorophyll in the light. Ul­timately, tlie differences between plants is exhibited more in what they store than in what they make.

1870 C H E M I C A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G NEWS

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About a year ago, Dr. Calvin postulated a vital role in photosynthesis for sedo-heptulose (/. Am. Chem. Soc. 7 3 , 2970) . Sedoheptulose, a 7-carbon sugar with the altrose configuration, has been known for 35 years since its discovery by LaForge in the succulent plants of the sedum family, a type of cactus. But in his report of a year ago, Dr. Calvin indicated that this sugar had been found as a monophosphate in a number of plants, including Chlorella, Scenedesmus, the leaves of barley seed­lings, soy beans, geranium, and others. "It now appears," said Dr. Calvin last week, "that sedoheptulose can be made to form extremely rapidly under very spe­cial circumstances in any plant from the blue-green algae on up."

Tracing with Radioactivity Working with C"-labeled carbon di­

oxide, Dr. Calvin and coworkers are follow­ing the path of carbon in photosynthesis. One of their methods is to work in what they call the "steady state" of constant illumination (to avoid complicating the system with transient changes ) and to con­trol photosynthesis by time of contact with labeled carbon dioxide. Shortest useful time is about four seconds, following which the reactions are terminated by dumping the substrate into boiling alcohol. The reaction products are separated and identi­fied by paper chromatography.

By means of these studies, the California group has been getting closer and closer to the mechanisms by which carbohydrates are formed, and their evidence indicates that hexoses are the result of direct combi­nation of two 3-carbon units from phos-pboglyceric aldehyde, which, to date, is the smallest identified moiety which seems directly involved in the photosynthetic cycle. This, it is postulated, is fonned by carboxylation of a 2-carbon unit with CO«. These PGA units then join head-to-head to form hexoses as indicated by the fact that labeled atoms show up first in hexoses in the two center carbons.

The sedoheptulose evidence, however, substantiates previous indications that there is another type of carboxylation pe­culiar to photosynthesis which leads to a four-carbon compound, according to Dr. Calvin, who points out that sedoheptulose appears to be formed from 3 - and 4-carbon units. Furthermore, this new type of car­boxylation is even more rapid than the one that results in phosphoglyceric aldehyde (and the hexoses) because sedoheptulose can be made to appear before much PGA is formed. Conditions favorable to the formation of sedoheptulose are those in which carbon dioxide starvation is rigor­ously avoided; otherwise PGA is obtained predominantly.

The ultimate function of sedoheptulose in those plants which do not store this sugar seems to be connected with the step­wise regeneration of the 2-carbon acceptor in a cycle involving the 5-cafbon sugar ribulose (C&EN, 29, 3967) and a triose.

Photomicrograph Nalcite SAR spheres Actual size 20 to 40 mesh.

W I T H S T R O N G L Y B A S I C A N I O N Ε X C Η Α Ν G E RES I N

KEMOVAL of all acids, including carbonic and silicEc, from water and process l iquids is accomplished, w i t h o u t elabo­rate techniques or addit ional equipment, us ing Malcite SAR strongly basic anion exchange resin.

Combining efficient anion removal and long resin life, Nalc i te SAR offers n e w opportunities for short- cutting process techniques and assures purity o f the effluent liquid.

Technical information o n Nalcite SAR is contained in the bulletin described be low. Bulletins on other high capacity N a l c o ion exchange materials are available without obliga­tion u p o n request.

T E C H N I C A L D A T A ON/^^SAR *$<&*s*

Complete data on Nalcite SAR properties, perform -ance, and typical results. Includes charts, graphs, and sample calculations. 16 pages. Sent free upon requesc.

NATIONAL ALUMINATE CORPORATION 6199 West 66th Place · Chicago 38, Illinois

In Canada: Alchem Limited, Burlington, Ontario

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When you use Nalcite resins, you take advan­tage of Nalco*s long and bro^zd experience in water and process technology.

V O L U M E 3 0, N O . 1 8 . . » » M A Y 5, 1 9 5 2 1871

kdctt* 0βΒ

R E M O V E A LL

ACIDS

THE CHEMICAL WORLD THIS WEEK

Structure o f Anti-TB Drug

Photomicrograph of crystals of Isonizide, Panray Corp.'s brand of isonicotinic acid hydrazide, the publicized anti-TB drug

Radioact ive Glycerol Made On Commercial Scale

Scientists of the United States Testing Co. have completed the first commercial scale synthesis of radioactive glycerol, cul­minating a research and development proj­ect started in 1950 under Atomic Energy Commission sponsorship. Radioactive glycerol has previously been available in trace quantities only.

In the synthesis glycerol-l-Cu was pre­pared from NaC14N via a cyanohydrin re­action on benzyloxyacetaldehyde followed by acetylation to give 2-acetoxy-3-benzyl-oxypropionitrile-l-C14. This, on hydrolysis of the corresponding imino ester hydro­chloride, yielded ethyl 2-acetoxy-3-ben-4|yloxypropionate-l-C14. Lithium alumi­num hydride reduction of this intermediate to l-benzyloxy-2,3-propanediol-3-C14, fol­lowed by hydrogenolytic cleavage of the benzyl group, gave the desired compound in approximately 60c/o yield based on radioactive barium carbonate.

Although U. S. Testing says that the cost of the radioactive glycerol runs around $5 million per pound, its sensitivity is so great that S50 will buy enough to carry out a significant research project. Half-life of radioactive glycerol is 5700 years.

UCLA Scientist Succeeds in Isolation of nucleic Acid

Isolation of nucleic acid in pure form for what is thought to he the first time has been accomplished by Norman S. Simmons, research scientist in the UCLA medical school's atomic energy project. Nucleic acid is the most important mole­cule in the body inasmuch as it is found in the nuclei of all living cells, and in its natural state forms the chromosomes.

Simmons explained that previous methods of isolation of the acid gave a partially degraded product. By modifying

conditions, keeping temperature at 0° C , pl l close to neutrality, and maintaining the operation under the most innocuous con­ditions, Simmons and his co-workers have isolated the nucleic acid molecule intact and free of all contaminants. They use calf thymus gland as the source and are able to produce pure acid from fresh gland in a day's time.

Their studies with the pure acid have shown that the nucleic acid molecule is about two to eight times larger than previ­ously thought. Dr. Simmons described it as a long, thin molecule—much like a string of several hundred pearls, coiled and twisted into a mass, with protein mole­cules stuck to many of the beads.

Oak Ridge Announces Low Intensity Reactor

A nuclear reactor of advanced design has been put into operation by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The new reactor, known as the low intensity test reactor (LITR) is being used to make high-prior­ity tests of radiation effects on certain construction materials of possible use in future nuclear reactors. It will also pro­duce limited quantities of rare radioiso­topes such as chromium 51.

Primary use of the LITR will be to assist engineers and scientists in learning more about how materials proposed for use in atomic furnaces of the future will stand up under the bombardment of neutrons.

The reactor itself is about two and a half stories high. It uses ordinary water as a coolant and uranium enriched in uranium 235 as fuel. Because of its ad­vanced design, structure of its core and fuel arrangement remain classified. LITR's total cost was estimated at $1 million.

SCI2 Vapor Hardens Coatings By Chemical Reaction

An unusual method for drying protec­tive or decorative coatings of inlc, paint, or varnish has been developed by the Armoui Research Foundation for tne Meyercord Co. of Chicago. Called the Chem-Dry Process, it involves passing tHe printed material through a chamber wliere sulfur dichloride vapors contact tHe coating and react to harden it in only a fe-vv seconds.

Although the chemical reaction mech­anism is not known in detail, it is pre­sumed that when the coating contains oils of the drying or semidrying type, which are unsaturated, they undergo a n addition reaction with the sulfur dichloride. If the oils are nondrying, or saturated, the reac­tion is postulated to be a substitution mechanism. In addition, it lias been sug­gested that a copolymerization effect takes place between the sulfur dichloride and resins added to impart body to the oil when oils of low viscosity arc used. The process has also been likened to the vul­canization of rubber.

Acts in Seconds Whatever the nature of tlicredaction may

he, it is said to produce a hard film or de­posit in 10 seconds or less in the case of unsaturated oils, and in 30 seconds with saturated oils. Since sulfur dichloride can have a deleterious effect on the material being coated, a eleauing step follows the contact with the vapor. This consists of directing a stream of air over the material to dissipate the gas. All air exhausted from the system is scrubbed to remove any remaining vapors.

Since the process takes only a short time, it may be made a part of the printing or coating operation by installing the vapor treatment, and subsequent cleaning, as the final step in the coating process. The

Equipment is shown connected to an experiment being conducted in one of -the horizon­tal beam holes of LITR, recently put into operation at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

1872 C H E M I C A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G N E W S

TECHNOLOGY