124 The Philippine Journal of Science 1917 



various other chemical industries. Acetic acid is used in the 

 manufacture of compounds used in the dye and paint industries. 

 Acetone is also made from the acetates formed in the process. 

 Acetone is used commercially as a solvent for resins and other 

 compounds; it is also used in the nitro cellulose industry and in 

 the preparation of many pharmaceutical compounds. The tars 

 obtained by destructive distillation can be treated and certain 

 fractions used in turpentine substitutes, cheap varnishes, lubri- 

 cating oils and greases, inks, leather, soap and cement industries, 

 and for impregnating timbers and ropes. 



The crude tars from the Philippine dipterocarps, being high 

 in percentages of resins and oils, should prove very satisfactory 

 as an impregnating or coating substance for ropes and calking 

 used in ship building. Also, as many are high in creosote frac- 

 tion, their use as a disinfectant or spray for sanitary purposes 

 would furnish a reasonably cheap and efficient substitute for the 

 more expensive mixtures now employed throughout the Islands. 

 The pitch can be used for coating purposes. 



Certain conditions are essential for the successful operation 

 of a distillation plant. The first essential is a supply of the raw 

 material of the proper quality and in large quantities that are 

 easily accessible. This not being obtainable, the plant should 

 be one accommodated only to the needs of the mill for clearing 

 away the accumulation of waste wood and sawdust, which may 

 hinder proper operation of the mill. However, in this case it 

 must be observed that the use of small retorts of a capacity of 

 0.25 to 1 cord would require a disproportionately greater ex- 

 penditure for wages, for fuel, and for repairs than would the 

 larger retort systems. Likewise the percentage yields are 

 greatly reduced, due to the overheating in the small retort. 



A plant erected for supplying products to the Philippine 

 market would probably manufacture charcoal, gray acetate, 

 refined wood spirit, tar oils, and creosote. All of these prod- 

 ucts have a market and could be used in Philippine arts and 

 trades with the possible exception of the gray acetate, for which 

 use might be made by its conversion into acetic acid or acetone. 



CONCLUSIONS 



Specimens from twelve kinds of wood have been submitted to 

 destructive distillation. 



A furnace, heated electrically, has been devised to furnish 

 controlled as well as noncontrolled distillations. 



