1920.] 



417 



It is now generally felt that the refinirenients of 'jgricalture 

 for artificial fertilisers are likely to be much larger in the future 

 than in former years. This may be antici- 

 Nitrog-en from p^ted especially\vith regard to nitrogen, of 

 which increasing supplies will be needed in 

 the deyelopment of a more intensiye cultiyation of the 'yheat- 

 growing areas of the world. The imperative need for maintaining 

 and extending the world's production of food, and the vital 

 importance of combined nitrogen for this purpose, has been 

 emphasised by the lessons of the War. Attention was drawn to 

 the importance of increasing the nitrogen supplies of this country 

 by the Nitrogen Products Committee, which was appointed by 

 the Government in 1916 to consider the whole question of the 

 development of this source of wealth. The Report of the Com- 

 mittee.* issued some months ago. contains a number of recom- 

 mendations by which it is considered the output of nitrogen 

 available for explosive and agricultural purposes might be 

 increased. Details are also given in the Eepoii: of the various 

 methods of the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, in order that 

 supplies may be utilised to the fullest possible extent. As is 

 generally known, the methods have for their object the separa- 

 tion of the gaseous nitrogen from the air by a chemical process, 

 and its conversion into a solid substance in a form readily avail- 

 able for use as a fertiliser or other purpose. 



Definite measures seem now to be in progress for the fixation 

 of atmospheric nitrogen on a scale commensurate with its 

 importance to the security and economic stability of this country. 

 A syndicate has been formed by Messrs. Brunner Mond & Co., 

 and has acquired a factory and commenced the preliminary 

 arrangements for the production of nitrogen by one of the several 

 known processes of fixation. A short account of the objects of 

 the syndicate and the work w^hich has so far been accomplished 

 was published in the issue of the Journal of the Society of 

 Chemical Industrjf for 30th April last. It appears that the 

 syndicate has selected the process which consists essentially in 

 the manufacture of ammonia by the combination of nitrogen and 

 hydrogen at a high temperature under pressure. The ammonia 

 thus formed will be converted into nitric acid and nitrates. 



It is pointed out in the article that the normal output of 

 ammonia in tbis country is quite insufficient to supply the 

 enormous demands for explosives in modern warfare, while 

 ammonia in the form of ammonium sulphate is by far the most 



* Sec this Jouma/, February, 11)20. ji. 1112. 



