48 R. S. SYMMONDS. 



Since writing the above, a paper 1 dealing with the electro- 

 thermic combustion of atmospheric nitrogen, has come 

 under my notice. The author of that paper refers to a 

 process, recently investigated in Germany, as offering 

 some novel features which render the process particularly 

 applicable to oar unique conditions, the high pressure 

 artesian bores providing the power to produce from the 

 atmosphere an antidote for their own toxicity, and thereby 

 enormously increasing the fertility of the soil and rendering 

 us independent of a precarious rainfall. 



The workers of the process referred to, state that they 

 obtained a maximum output of 440 kilos HN0 3 per kilowatt 

 year, when using a current of 0*05 ampere of 6,000 to 10,000 

 periods per second, at 50,000 volts, each arc absorbing 2*5 

 kilowatts. So that 2*5 kilowatts (about 3*4 hp.) produced 

 1*1 ton of nitric acid per year. 



A plant such as that mentioned could be duplicated 

 according to the power available. There would not be any 

 expensive transport or packing of the acid, and it would be 

 quite unnecessary to concentrate it for our purpose — this 

 would mean a considerable reduction in the cost of the 

 plant and working expenses. The advantage of such a 

 process is apparent, when working on an area of about 

 80,000 square miles, which is the extent of the Artesian 

 basin of New South Wales. 



Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, 15/4/07. 



