220 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



Preparation of nitrogen and hydrogen mixture by decomposition of am- 

 monia, R. O. E. Davis aiul L. B. Olmstead {Jour. Indus, and Engin. Vlwm., 12 

 (1920), No. Jf. pp. 316, 311, fiys. 2).— Experiments conducted by the Bureau of 

 Soils of the U. S. Depai'tnient of Agriculture in cooperation with the Nitrate 

 Division of the U. S. War Department, on the preparation of a mixture of 

 hydrogen and nitrogen in the ratio of 3H2 to Nj in amounts of several hun- 

 dred cubic feet per day, are reported. 



Anhydrous ammonia being easily obtained, it was decided to build an elec- 

 tric furnace to decompose it and use the decomposed gases as the required 

 mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen. The furnace used is described. 



Results using iron shavings as a catalyst and copper chips and turnings 

 show that copper retpiires a temperature about 200° C. higher than iron and 

 a longer contact. Because of the lower operating temperature and cheapness, 

 iron was chosen in preference to copper as a catalyst. 



Tlie production of ammonia and formates from cyanids, ferrocyanids, 

 and cyanized briquets, G. W. Heise and H. E. Foote (Jour. Indus, and Engin. 

 Cheni., 12 {1920), No. 4, pp. 331-336, figs. 2).— Studies on the formation of am- 

 monia from sodium cyanid, sodium ferrocyanid, and cyanized briquets are re- 

 ported. 



Good yields of ammonia were obtained from sodium cyanid by steaming at 

 50 lbs. pressure. A quantitative yield was obtained at 200 lbs. The hydroly- 

 sis of ferrocyanids proceeded very slowly. A maximum yield of 46 per cent 

 was obtained by steaming 4f hours at a pressure of 300 to 330 lbs. With 

 cyanized briquets, yields averaging over 90 per cent were obtained in 30 to 4.5 

 minutes by steaming at 300 to 330 lbs. 



To obtain satisfactory results with steam at atmospheric pressure, a tem- 

 perature of 600° C. was necessary. High temperatures were necessary to ob- 

 tain good results with steam at low pressure, while 400° with 100 lbs. pressure 

 gave satisfactory results. At the temperatures involved in the experiments with 

 saturated steam there were no indications of side reactions, only formates and 

 ammonia being produced. , 



Tlie winning of ammonia nitrogen out of liquid manure, urine, and 

 otlier liquids containing ammonia, O. Lemmermann and H. Wiessmann 

 (Mitt. Deut. Landw. Gesell, 33 {1918), No. 2, pp. 16-21; abs. in Zentbl. Agr. 

 Chem., 48 {1919), No. 1, pp. 8-10; Chcm. Zentbl, 1919, IV, No. 3, p. 77).— Ex- 

 periments on a process for the separation of ammonia nitrogen from fermented 

 liquid manure by use of a current of air are reported, in which the ammonia 

 is intercepted by sulphuric, hydrochloric, phosphoric, and humic acids, and 

 acid salts. 



According to the absorbing material used, a liquid or solid product is ob- 

 tained. The latter is obtained by use of sand, kieselguhr, or other absorbents. 

 The liquid manure residue is said to be valuable for meadow fertilization. The 

 rate of separation of the ammonia from the liquid manure by air blast depends 

 upon the temperature and strength of the air blast and the ratio of quantity 

 of air to quantity of liquid. The concenti'ation of the liquid manure in its 

 normal variations and the depth of the liquid appear to have little influence. 

 An increase of the temperature to 50° C. (122° F.) markedly increased the 

 separation. 



The relative availability of nitrate nitrogen and commercial organic 

 nitrogen. — Field and cylinder experiments, A. W. Blaie {Jour. Indus, and 

 Engin. Chem., 12 {1920), No. 3. pp. 262-264). — Field and cylinder experiments on 

 the relative availability of nitrates and organic materials conducted for 20 



