382 NO yes: nitrogen problem in relation to war 



Europe. This development of the use of ammonium nitrate has 

 brought about a heavy demand for ammonia. In the early 

 stages of the war it was anticipated that what we must look out 

 for was an adequate supply of nitric acid, but at the present time 

 we are no less interested in a sufficient supply of ammonia. 



Let me briefly recall to you what are our sources of these two 

 nitrogen compounds. 



Our first source is Chile saltpeter, or sodium nitrate, which is 

 found in a natural state in the dry regions of Chile, and which, 

 until recently, furnished the total supply of nitric acid of the 

 world. We depend for our own nitric acid supply upon the im- 

 ports of Chile saltpeter into this country, which is a rather 

 precarious source. In the first place, we are dependent on ade- 

 quate shipping, and ships are scarce. In the second place, there 

 has always been danger that enemy machinations, through 

 interfering with production, destroying the plants, or blowing up 

 the oil supply used for fuel, would reduce the production, or that 

 our supply might be cut off entirely, by the establishment of a 

 submarine base on the Pacific Coast. All of these possibilities 

 make it unsafe to rely for our nitric acid supply on Chile salt- 

 peter alone. But, even if none of these results actually came 

 about, it would still be impracticable to get the huge amount 

 of nitric acid that is going to be needed for the American Army 

 through imports of Chile saltpeter. 



Our second source is the ammonia from the by-product gas 

 and coke ovens — the ovens, that is to say, in which coal is heated 

 to produce gas or coke. We have, as I shall describe later, a well- 

 developed process for the conversion of ammonia into nitric acid, 

 so that if we get,irom any source, an adequate supply of ammonia, 

 we can convert in into nitric acid. I shall not enter at any 

 length into the production of ammonia from gas and coke ovens. 

 I will only recall to you briefly that for a long time, until within 

 say ten years, this country was producing most of its coke in the 

 so-called "beehive" oven, which is simply a hemispherical kiln. 

 The coal is charged into the oven and set on fire, and the products 

 of the combustion are allowed to pass into the air, so that the 

 ammonia and valuable hydrocarbons that might have been 



