452 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION B. 
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15. 
Discussion on the Proper Utilisation of Coal and Fuels derived 
therefrom, 
The discussion was organised with the object of drawing public attention 
firstly to the many ways in which coal is at present being wasted, and secondly 
to illustrate what economies have been effected by the co-operation of the 
chemist. 
The discussion was opened by Professor H. EH. Armstrona, F.R.S.* 
Fuel Economy and Low Temperature Carbonisalion. 
By Dr. G. T. Betsy, F.R.S. 
The industrial applications of destructive distillation are most naturally 
classed under three principal divisions according to the primary product which 
it is desired to obtain. In the first of these divisions hard coke is the primary 
product; in the second, illuminating gas; and in the third, paraffin wax 
and oils. In each case secondary products result from the distillation. 
In the gas industry, coke, tar, and ammonia have assumed an importance not 
much inferior to that of the primary product. Jn coke-making, tar, ammonia, 
and gas have also assumed an important place, while in the paraffin industry 
ammonia is of almost equal importance with the primary oil products. But in 
spite of the increasing importance of the secondary products, the fact remains 
that in each division of the industry the primary product must continue to be of 
the first importance. It follows from this that not only in the selection of the 
raw material to be distilled, but also in the choice of suitable conditions of 
distillation, the primary product must still receive the chief consideration. In 
his selection of raw materials the gas-maker has probably the greatest freedom 
of choice, for illuminating gas can be made from almost any variety of coal or 
shale. The choice of the coke-maker is more restricted, for he can only use 
coking coals which will yield a hard and compact form of coke. The choice of 
the oil-maker is even more restricted; for him the oil shales of Mid and West 
Lothian supply the only suitable material. In each of these divisions of industry 
the primary product is being produced to supply the demands of markets which 
already exist. 
This is a truism which is apt to be overlooked by enthusiasts who make 
revolutionary proposals for the handling of the fuel supplies of the nation. 
These markets at present absorb the illuminating gas from about seventeen 
million tons of coal per annum, the hard coke from about sixteen million tons, 
and the paraflin products from three million tons of shale. In addition, the 
secondary products from all three divisions find their way into perfectly definite 
markets. It is clear that if an important revolution in any division of the 
industry is contemplated, its effect on these existing markets must be carefully 
considered. If the products are likely to be so altered that new markets will 
have to be developed for their absorption, this necessity alone may he sufficient 
to delay the revolutionary change to a very serious extent; at any rate, this 
possibility must receive serious consideration. The three divisions of the 
distillation industry are highly organised, self-contained systems, properly 
adjusted for the supply of certain definite markets, each being sufficiently elastic 
to respond to any normal development in the demand for its products. 
It is now open to us to consider whether the last word has thus been said on 
the application of the methods of distillation to the raw coal which is used in 
the United Kingdom. Out of a total home consumption which is in the neighbour- 
hood of 180 million tons, probably not more than about 35 million tons is sub- 
jected to distillation in retorts, ovens, and gas producers. Is there any further 
‘ See Journal of Gas Lighting and the Gas World, September 23, 1913; the 
Chemical World, November 1913, 
