16 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



Molasses as a fuel. — Many experiments have been made, using this substance as a sugar- 

 house fuel and while ordinarily it may be better employed in some other manner, at the same 

 time where no other provision is made for the use of this material, and where there is a scarcity 

 of fuel as well, satisfactory results may be secured in its combustion if it is properly handled. 



Waste molasses consists mainly of giuns, sucrose, glucose, albuminoids, other organic 

 compounds, water, and a smah amount of ash. 



Sucrose has the chemical formula of carbon 12 (atoms), hydrogen 22 (atoms), and o.xygen 

 11 (atoms). The burning of carbon consists in uniting oxygen to that element, forming carbon 

 dioxide. When hydrogen burns, the oxygen coml)ines with it, forming water. During this 

 oxidation, two atoms of hydrogen combine with one of oxygen, Init in the molecule of sugar, 

 these two elements are already present in this proportion, consequently only the carbon may 

 be oxidized and thus give off heat. This is found to be true also of sucrose, reducing sugars, 

 and many organic compounds. 



An instrument called a calorimeter is used to determine the amount of heat a substance 

 will give off upon oxidation. Tests may be made on molasses in order to determine its value as 

 a fuel, and thus a comparison may be obtained of a pound of this material and one of coal having 

 a standard value. 



The ash from the molasses contains a great deal of potassium and some magnesium, con- 

 sequently care must be exercised in the burning of the molasses so that this material does not 

 come in direct contact with the tubes of the boiler, since a heavy coating will be formed that 

 will greatly lower the coefficient of heat transmission. 



On account of the high potash content, these ashes make a valuable fertilizer, which should 

 be mixed with the bagasses ashes and mud cake, and applied to the cane lands. 



Molasses as afenilizer. — While molasses is not used to anygreat extent asafertilizer, there 

 is no good reason why exhaustive experiments should not be carried out with this by-product 

 on Philippine soils, when it is now being thrown into drains or wasted, until a better use is 

 provided for the molasses. 



Experiments have been made in Hawaii, Mauritius, and other places with this form of 

 fertilizer, and very encouraging results were reported. The plant-food elements themselves 

 contained in molasses are small in amount, since they are contained in the low percentage of 

 ash after burning, except of course, nitrogen, which will be entirely saved. Its main value, how- 

 ever, lies in the power to induce bacterial growth, which is so necessary in worn-out soils. 



Among the organisms induced by these organic matters may be included certain azoto- 

 bacter species, which contrary to other forms of plant life, have the power of using nitrogen 



