96 Journal of Agriciiliiire, Victoria. [10 Feb., 1911. 



Uses of Alcohol. 



The purpost^s for which denatured alcohol is already in use are numer- 

 ous and varied, providing, as they do, a ready market for all that is at 

 present produced. Its growing use in household cooking utensils, where 

 gas and electricity are not readily available, is owing largely to its clean- 

 liness combined with its heating power and simplicity of use. Alcohol has 

 already been applied as fuel to stoves, kettles, water heaters, irons, lamps, 

 and numerous everyday household appliances. Although its flame is non- 

 luminous, it may, by the aid of the \"\"elsbach mantle, be used as a power- 

 ful illuminant. The heat produced by the burning of the alcohol vapour 

 in combination with air is sufficient to raise the mantle to incandescence' 

 and in this way intense white light is produced. The demand for alcohol 

 as a solvent in manufacturing substances, such as varnish, lacquer, 

 enamel, &c., is too well known to need more than a passing reference. 



The main use, however, of alcohol in the future will, without doubt, 

 depend largely on its successful employment as a liquid fuel for industrial^ 

 motors. Its wide utilization, in this re'^pect. ina\ be confidently expected,, 

 if we take into consideration the facts already stated that gasolene is rising: 

 in price and that it is limited in quantity ; at the same time, the tendency 

 of alcohol is to fall in price and its production is practically unlimited. 



That alcohol can be used as an efficient motive power has been demons- 

 trated, but the type of motor that wall use the alcohol to the best advantage 

 has still to be evolved. When this is done and alcohol falls somewhat in. 

 cost, as a consequence of its manufacture in large quantities by improved 

 methods, it will no doubt be the leading liquid fuel of the future. Al- 

 ready, in Cuba, where alcohol is cheaply produced, manv of the water 

 pumping plants are run on alcohol. At Matanzas, a 45 horse-powei 

 pumping engine is running at a cost of about i6s. pei day for alcohol. 

 At Ventc, in connection with the Habana water scheme, a 180 horse-power 

 engine using alcohol has been installed, and is capable of pumping 

 1,000,000 gallons of water at a cost of 6s. 8d. From these examples it 

 will be seen that alcohol fuel is not necessarily confined to use in small 

 motors ; in Germany, many hundreds of engines are running with alcohol,. 

 while in the United States this fuel is being widely used as a motive 

 power. 



With reference to the possibilities of production, it may be stated that, 

 according to statistics given in Brachvogel's Industrial Alcohol, the United 

 States produced in 1905 a quantitv equal to 150,000,000 gallons of 50 per 

 cent, alcohol while in Germany the output equalled 200.000,000 gallons- 

 of 50 per cent, strength. It must be remembered that the American 

 standard taxable gallon is of 50 per cent, strength ; although the alcohol 

 as it comes from the stills is of various strengths, up to 93 per cent., it is 

 all calculated on a common basis of 50 .per cent, strength and production is 

 recorded in taxable gallons. We cannot consider these figures without being 

 struck with the fact that in alcohol a large market can be opened up for 

 the surplus and waste products of the Australian farm. 



Agricultural countries older than \'ict<)ria are finding it profitable to 

 utilize various farm products for alcohol production. It is time we made 

 a step in the same direction and it is to he hoped that, in the near future, 

 Australia will po.sse.ss large and suitable distilleries for turning diseased 

 potatoes, the refuse of sugar works, and other waste material, into a valu- 

 able commercial product. 



