336 TRANSACTIONS OE THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



the tank and are conducted tlirough the fire, where the sulphuretcd hydro- 

 gen is coiisuraed, into the chimney. The muriatic acid is saturated to neu- 

 trah'ty, and requires very little furtlier treatment for the formation of beau- 

 tiful wliite cr^'stals of sal ammoniac. This sal ammoniac is the starting 

 point in the manufacture of the salts of ammonia, and can now be obtained 

 in great abundance by the above method. 



Oil AisiD Fat from Refuse Cotton, Glue, &c. 



Edward Toynbee digests the refuse material in about half its weight of 

 concentrated sulphuric acid contained in leaden vessels and warmed by 

 steam. They are thus dissolved and the fat separated. After standing, 

 the fatty acids collect on the tc^, and can be removed and further purified 

 by distillation. To the residual solution sufficient finely-divided phosphate 

 of lime is added to neutralize the sulphuric acid, and a valuable compost 

 containing phosphates and nitrogenous matter obtained. 



Oil of AYool Wasted. 



There is a great waste in our woolen manufactories of a valuable sub- 

 stance; that is, the oil of the wool. When wool has been thoroughly 

 cleansed, it is found to have lost thirty, forty, or in some cases as high as 

 sixty per cent, of its weight, and the most of this is oil — an excellent oil 

 for some purposes, and especially for soap. There is an establishment in 

 England that takes wool to cleanse for the oil, making no other charge for 

 the work. 



The oil can be extracted bj- means of the bisulphide of carbon, which is 

 a cheap article. It is also used for extracting oil from the rape seed 

 instead of pressing the seed. It is also used for extracting the alkaloids 

 and the essential oils of plants. It has been stated that it leaves no odor. 



Hydrochloric Acid. 



This acid, commonly known as muriatic acid, was formerly wasted in 

 immense quantities in the manufacture of soda compounds. At one time 

 it was a nuisance to the neighborhood of such factories. 



Muspratt, the father of the chemist of that name, built at his soda works 

 near Liverpool a chimney of great hight, at a cost of $200,000, to carry off 

 the hydrochloric acid fumes, but this had the eifect of distributing it over 

 a greater extent of country, and it was soon abandoned. The acid,. being 

 valuable, is now condensed by means of towers filled with pebbles and 

 rounded flints, but usually coke is preferred. A stream of water is made 

 to flow in at the top and percolate the mass. The acid fumes pass up 

 through the towers and meeting with the water it is condensed and flows 

 out of an aperture at the bottom. 



Prof. Joy made some further remarks on glycerine, straw, and shavings, 

 for paper, and petroleum. After pertinent remarks from Messrs. Nash, 

 Bartlett, and E. Stevens, it was decided to continue the discussion of the 

 utilization of waste products at the next meeting. 



Adjourned. 



