Jan., 1911 5 2 T H E JOURNAL OF IiVD USTRIAL A N D E-YGIA'EERISG CHEJIISTR Y .

Standard ;Ifethod A\-o. 2.-The filtrate from the suspended im- purities determination is evaporated, burned and ignited to constant reight. ( a ) The weight of the ash from metallic soaps thus obtained is to be reported as such. ( b ) Considering the ash to consist entirely of calcium oxide, it is to be calculated to normal soap, using 281 as molecular weight of fatty acid and reported as lime soap.

PROPOSED DISCESIOX OF ~IETHODS.

addressed to 1%'. D. Richardson, 4215 Prairie Ave., Chicago, Ill. Correspondence in regard to the above methods should be

PERSONAL NOTES.

On Sovcmber 9, 1910, the City of Philadelphia, on the recom- mendation of the Franklin Institute, aivarded the John Scott Legacy Premium and Medal to Dr. I,. H. Backeland, of Yonkers, Ken- York, for his invention of Bakelite, in accord- ance with the report of the Institution's Committee on Science and Arts, adopted May 4, 1910.

Seven eminent scientists and technologists have been honored by the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia in being awarded Elliott Cresson medals for I ' distinguished, leading and directive work" in their respective fields of endeavor. The medals are the highest alyards in the gift of the institution. The recipients are :

Dr. Harvey 1%'. XViley, chief chemist to the department of agriculture, Washington, for his ivork in agricultural and physi- ological chemistry.

John Fritz, Bethlehem, Pa. , for his work in the development of the iron and steel industries.

John A. Brashear, Pittsburg, Pa., for his work in the pro- duction and perfection of instruments for astronomical research.

EdTvard Weston, Newark, N. J., for his work in electrical discovery and in the advancement of e'cctrical application.

Ernest Rutherford, professor of physics, Owens College, Victoria University, Manchester, England, for his n-ork in the advancement of the knowledge of electrical theory.

Sir Joseph John Thomson, Carendish professor of experi- mental physics, Cambridge University, England, for his work in the advancement of knowledge of the physical sciences.

Sir Robert is. Hadfield, Sheffield, England, for his xork in the advancement of knowledge of metallurgical science.

Elliott Cresson medals have been awarded by the Franklin Institute a t infrequent iiitcrvals during the last sixty or scventy years.

RECENT INVENTIONS. The following patents relating t o Industrial and Engineering Chem-

istry are reported by C. L. Parker, Solicitor of Chemical Patents, McGill Building, 908 G St., N. W., Washington, D. C.

Only a few patents which are deemed of greatest importance are ab- stracted in this department.

Abstracts of all patents appear regularly in Chemical Abstracts, to which publication the reader is referred.

974,608. Process of Smelting Ore. FREDERICK T. SNYDER, Oak Park, Illinois. Patented November I , 1910.

This invention relates to a process of smelting ore, with especial reference to the treatment of iron ore, for the direct production of steel therefrom.

Previous attempts to produce steel directly from iron ore by electric smelting have met with practical difficulties, one of which has been the rapid destruction of thc furnace walls by corrosire slags. Attempts to overcome this by making the crucible of carbon result in impairing thc product because the carbon combines with the molten metal and produces pig iron instead of steel.

In accordance TT ith this invention, on14 sufficient carbonris mixed nith the furnace charge to secure reduction of the mctal from the ore and to produce steel and the molten metal when produced is collected in a crucible of refractory, and preferably basic, material, such as dolomite, nhdc the slag 1s confined by a fluid, cooled wall in contact thercnith, hich freezes the out- lying portions of the slag bath to form a lining or container com- posed of solid slag The necessary heat is produced by passing

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an electric current between carbon electrodes which dip into the molten slag from the top, but do not extend downward deep enough to reach and contaminatc the steel in the cruciblc. Two or more electrodes are provided, for taking the current both into and out of the furnace through the top, in order to avoid having any carbon in the crucible or as a part thereof.

The water-jackets protect the masonry crucible on which they rest to a depth of several inches, and the metal level in the crucible is kept high enough so that the slag cannot reach a low enough level to cut through the crucible under the watcr- jackets. The metal, however, is not allowed to accumulate in the crucible to such an extent that it Tyould comc into contact Trith the water-jackets, as this would frecze the metal solidly upon the jackets, and result in a very great hcat-loss. This loss is prevented, and the steel kept from contamination by keeping it in the refractory- crucible, the material of which also serves to actually purify the steel by taking up small amounts of phosphorus and sulfur therefrom.

975,076. Process of Carbonizing. ALBERT F. ROCKWELL, Bristol, Conn. Patented November 8, 1910.

In carrying out this invention a carbon-bearing gas is first brought to a heat as great as that of the material being treated and is at such temperature then introduced into contact with the said material. In this Tvay' the incoming gas does not interfere with the carbonizing operation by chilling the ma- tcrial. Indeed, a t the beginning of the operation, the gas is generally a t a temperature greater than that of the said material, in which event said incoming gas not only does not chill the material but assists in heating the same.

The patentee employs a' heating chamber separate from the