26 



FRANCE. 



The general denaturing process followed in France consists in 

 adding to 90 per cent alcohol 10 per cent of wood spirit (methyl 

 alcohol), which contains 25 per cent of acetone and 2.5 per cent of 

 various impurities. If the product is to be used for lighting or heat- 

 ing 0.5 per cent of heavy benzine is added in addition to the general 

 denaturing agent, and when used for "finish" 4 per cent of gum resin 

 is added. There are also special denaturing processes authorized for 

 products or classes of products which can not make use of alcohol 

 containing wood spirit. Examples of such cases are chloroform, for 

 making which the alcohol is denatured by mixing with chlorid of lime 

 in solution, and chloral, for which purpose a current of chlorin gas 

 is past thru the alcohol. Not less than 440 gallons of spirit may 

 be denatured by the general formula and not less than 220 gallons 

 by any special formula. 



The average price of denatured alcohol is difficult to establish, 

 inasmuch as the 90 per cent alcohol which serves as a basis varies 

 greatly in price. The denatured product does not sell for less than 

 11 cents a liter (1.05 quarts) at this time. b It must also be remem- 

 bered that the French Government has done much to encourage the 

 growth of this industry. In June, 1906, a commission of analytical 

 methods in regard to alcohol was named and prizes are offered for 

 the improvement of the denaturing processes and for improved 

 methods of utilizing alcohol for lighting. Since 1901 a bounty on 

 alcohol manufactured in France and submitted to complete denat- 

 uration has been paid, which amounts to about 5 cents a gallon. The 

 following table shows the growth in this industry during the past 

 three years and the various purposes for which the denatured alcohol 

 is employed: 



TABLE VII. Consumption of denatured alcohol in France, 1903-1905, indusive.c 



a Report of the English Industrial Alcohol Committee, 1905. 



& Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of Manufactures, Daily Consular and Trade Reports, 

 August 6, 1906. 



cSidersky, Bull, de 1'Association des chimistes de sucrerie et de distilierie, November, 1905, p. 545; 

 1905 figures from Zts. Spiritusind., 1.906, 29, No. 35, 323. 



269 



