Jan. 1908.] 



9 



OILS AND FATS, 



SYNTHETIC CAMPHOR. 

 Future of the Natural Product. 

 Synthetic camphor is at last an accomplished fact, and a product which is 

 said to respond to all chemical tests of natural camphor, and to answer all its 

 industrial requirements can now be obtained in England in commercial quantities 

 at prices materially below the present cost of the natural article. Until a few 

 months ago artificial camphor was a little more than scientific curiosity, but within the 

 last two or three weeks it has been placed on the market in serious competition 

 with the product of the camphor tree of Formosa. This event marks a new era 

 in certain industries in which the use of camphor is essential, and will possibly be 

 the starting-point of new commercial enterprises. 



In 1899, four years after the forests of Formosa became the property of 

 Japan, the camphor industry was placed under Government monopoly, and the 

 world became practically dependent on Japan for.its supplies. In due course, the 

 price of camphor began to advance, and eventually reached such a figure that not 

 only were industries dependent upon camphor crippled, but great encouragement 

 was given to scientific research in the direction of finding a chemical substitute 

 for the natural product which was so difficult and so costly to obtain. This price, 

 which was at one time 50s. per cwt- for the raw product, advanced to 400s., and 

 remained there long enough to do considerable damage to industry. In fairness to 

 Japan it must be said that certain difficulties rose in Formosa, which rendered the 

 cost of camphor collection much higher ; but as these difficulties were gradually 

 overcome the monopoly showed no disposition to make equivalent concessions to 

 purchasers. It is believed that the Japanese contemplated the manufacture of 

 celluloid, and, in fact, it is stated that this industry is already carried on to some 

 extent in Japan. Had it not been for the recent triumph of science there is a 

 possibility that in course of time not only would Japan have held the monopoly of 

 camphor production, but would have secured a predominant share in all those 

 industries in which the use of camphor is required, including such important 

 branches of commerce such as the manufacture of celluloid, smokeless gunpowder, 

 a certain class of disinfectants, and a number of popular medicines. 



FREE FROM CHLORINE. 



The synthesis of camphor has been promised for some time, and in fact an 

 impure product has been obtainable on a small scale for more than a year. The 

 difficulty hitherto has been to produce synthetic camphor free from chlorine at a 

 reasonable cost, and these difficulties have just been overcome. Apparently until a 

 few months ago the Japanese Government felt assured that both these obstacles 

 were insurmountable, for it was not until the end of March this year that it 

 introduced an important change in camphor distribution, and within the last four 

 months the price of the refined natural product has dropped to the extent of 45 per 

 cent., the last induction, equivalent to £28 per ton, having taken place a few days 

 ago. The price of natural camphor, however, is still substantially higher than 

 that at which the synthetic product can be produced, and there seems to be little 

 doubt that in course of time the competition of the synthetic article will bring the 

 price of the Japanese product very considerably below its present reduced value. 

 It is estimated that at least two-thirds of the world's supply of camphor is 

 absorbed in the manufacture of celluloid, and the new source of supply will there 

 fore prove an enormous stimulus to this industry. The demand for celluloid goods 



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