58 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



Dr. Mond obtained his results at a slightly lower temperature, stated by 

 him as a dull red heat, and corresponding to about 800° C. The average 

 composition of the gases obtained by him he stated to be : — 



Per Cent. 



CO, ... . 10 I 



H, . . . . 23 ^ 36 per cent, combustible gases. 



Hydrocarbons, . . 3 j 



Owing to the low temperature employed in my process, no combustible 

 gases can be produced, since the reaction between carbon and steam only 

 begins at and above 550° C.^ 



On examining the gases leaving the apparatus in my laboratory experi- 

 ments, the entire absence of hydrogen and carbon monoxide could be shown ; 

 and on experimenting on the largest scale only maximum quantities under 

 4 per cent, of hydrogen and carbon monoxide could be detected. These 

 were entirely due to local superheating, since the temperature of reaction 

 was always kept below that at which steam may be decomposed by carbon 

 (550° C.) or carbon dioxide reduced to carbon monoxide (600° C). The 

 gases produced contained generally about 18 per cent, of carbon dioxide. 



The time required in the coke experiments already mentioned appeared 

 very long ; but by substituting peat for coke it was found that the pro- 

 duction of considerable quantities of ammonia was possible in a very much 

 shorter time. 



40 grams of peat containing 26*2 per cent, of moisture and 1"54 per 

 cent, nitrogen, calculated on absolutely dry peat, were treated with air 

 and steam, and left 11 grams of ash. The quantity of ammonia pro- 

 duced was 370 mg., equal to 8 per cent, of sulphate of ammonia on the 

 peat substance consumed. 



A great many experiments were then made with a horizontal iron 

 retort, such as is employed in coal-testing; audit was found that average 

 yields of 10 per cent, of sulphate of ammonia were obtained on the 

 quantity of peat consumed. As it was found that in most cases the 

 ammonia produced greatly exceeded the quantity that could be accounted 

 for by the nitrogen in the peat, the conclusion was of necessity arrived 

 at that part at least of the ammonia must have been produced synthe- 

 tically, induced by the oxidation of the carbon obtained from the peat. 

 To determine with absolute certainty the question whether the oxidation 

 of carbon under these conditions, as was the case with iron, would induce 

 the formation of ammonia, pure sugar carbon was used, thus excluding 

 the possibility of any nitrogen being present in its combined state. 

 1 Dammer, " Handbuch der Anorganischen Chemie," 1892, vol. 1, p. 365, line 19. 



