826 
NATURE 
[June 16, 1923 
Technical Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh. 
‘THE experience gained by Sir James Walker in 
the manufacture of high explosives during the 
War strengthened his convictions as to the vital need 
for strong schools of chemistry in British universities, 
and led to the view that it might be possible to cater 
rather more directly for chemistry students aiming | 
distinctly for industrial careers than was possible in 
Edinburgh at that time. As a result the University 
instituted a department in technical chemistry to 
meet the needs of those students who desire definitely 
to prepare for the practice of chemistry in industry, 
and now proposes, under a recently instituted ordi- 
nance, to grant degrees of B.Sc. in technical chemistry 
leading to the Ph.D. and D.Sc. degrees. 
In order to accommodate its ever - expanding 
scientific departments, the University recently ac- 
quired a site of 115 acres of agricultural land at 
Liberton, on the southern outskirts of the city. The 
chemistry department was the first to be given 
accommodation on the new site, and in 1919 work 
was begun on a new chemistry building, the first of 
the King’s Buildings of the University, which is now 
nearing completion. In 1921 a portion of this new 
chemistry building was set aside for the technical 
chemistry department, and laboratories were designed 
to meet its special needs. 
To get a clear idea of the technical chemistry 
department it is advisable briefly to survey the 
general building of which it forms a part. The 
chemistry building consists of a two-storey frontage 
looking towards the city, backed by ranges of single- 
storey rooms with some cellar accommodation. The 
two-storey portion contains physical chemistry labora- 
tories, staff rooms, library, and administrative offices. 
Situated centrally behind this portion is a series of 
laboratories, having the factory shed type of saw- 
tooth roof with north window lights, stores, and a 
number of lecture rooms with necessary service and 
museum rooms. The lecture rooms are lighted by 
lanterns supported centrally over the ceilings, and 
an interesting and convenient feature of this lighting 
system is the provision of movable ceilings to the 
lanterns so that by the touch of a button at the 
lecture bench the ceiling can be lowered to cut off 
all light from the room for lantern projection pur- | 
poses. Ventilation is effected by the passage of a 
gentle current of warmed fresh air across the rooms 
from front to back. The laboratories are very 
brightly lighted from above and there is no trouble | 
anywhere with dark corners. Even in winter there 
is little demand for artificial light during the normal 
working day. A ventilating fan in one wall of each 
laboratory near the roof is designed to keep the 
atmosphere fresh, though the provision of an open 
fume duct at each student’s working place and at 
each evaporating and drying outfit ensures a reason- 
ably clean atmosphere under heavy working condi- 
tions. 
Flanking the centrally situated laboratories and 
lecture rooms are corridors running the whole length 
of the building and giving access to series of smaller 
rooms, which run along the east and west fronts of 
the building. These rooms are research laboratories, 
balance rooms, etc. 
The technical chemistry department is situated at 
the south-east corner of the building, and apart from 
its laboratories has the advantages of lecture room, 
dark room, stores, balance room, etc., accommodation 
provided in the general scheme. There are three 
larger and two smaller laboratories, with an adjoining 
workshop. The larger rooms have north roof lights, 
and normal ventilation is secured by having some of 
NO. 2798, VOL. IIT] 

the windows capable of being opened. Additional 
ventilation is available when necessary in a uralite 
fume duct, provided with openings closed by sliding 
doors, running along the back wall of the laboratories, 
and discharging to the atmosphere through a large- 
capacity Keith fan. A bye-pass connexion in the fan 
house enables this fume duct to be put in connexion 
with a Campbell fume ejector when required. 
The floors are of concrete, and slope to centrally 
situated grid-covered drains. Further drainage 
accommodation is provided at intervals round the 
walls of the rooms. 
A system of pipes traverses the walls of the labora- 
tories at a mean height of 4 ft. 6 in., and tap and 
plug connexions are provided at frequent intervals 
so that each potential working space has at hand the 
following services—electric power and light, cold 
and hot water, steam, gas, compressed air, and 
vacuum. 
Apart from cupboard and shelving accommodation 
provided as wall fixtures, there is no fixed furniture, 
but movable tables of various heights are available 
for use as occasions require. 
Plant power units will be driven by their own 
motors in order to retain maximum flexibility, both ~ 
as regards equipment and its grouping. 
One laboratory is provided with a chimney into 
which are collected four sheet-iron dampered draught 
pipes serving as furnace flues. Another room hee 
a range of three superimposed platforms for use 
where a succession of reactions may require gravity 
feeds. 
Of the smaller rooms one is fitted up on the lines 
of the larger ones, while the other is designed more as 
an orthodox chemical research room. Here, however, 
instead of providing fixed bench accommodation, 
light movable tables are supplied so that they may 
be arranged to suit the work in hand. 
The technical chemistry courses aim at provid- 
ing :— 
= A sound instruction in the principles of chemistry. 
2. A study of the methods of translating chemical 
processes from the laboratory to the works, with 
special attention to the combustion of fuels. 
3. Practice in such analyses as those of water, oils, 
and fuels. 
4. Laboratory practice in fundamental operations 
such as filtration, evaporation, crystallisation, drying, 
electrolysis, furnace work, nitration, sulphonation, 
fusion, distillation, etc., with small-scale works plant. 
5. A sufficient acquaintance with the elements of 
engineering practice for the following purposes : 
(a) To enable men to co-operate intelligently and 
satisfactorily with an engineering staff 
concerned with the provision and working 
of large-scale plant. 
(b) To make men more competent in handling 
large-scale operations, the success of which 
is largely dependent on the best use of 
mechanical and electrical appliances. 
(c) To give facility in the interpretation of plans 
and drawings and sufficient skill in drawing 
to be able to make working drawings of 
simple plant parts and structures. : 
6. An insight into the methods of factory organisa- 
tion. 
7. An acquaintance with methods of factory 
accounting with the view of a proper understanding 
of costing processes. . 
8. When desired—and by special arrangement— 
detailed study of a particular chemical industry or 
group of industries. 
ee 
