Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - VII. Manufacturing Industries. Introd. by [G. Sundbärg] K. Åmark - 11. Other Industries - Electro-chemical Industry. By V. Palmær
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electro-chejiical industry.
477*
method of lighting has been used at only a few places in Sweden (e. g.,
Strömstad, Enköping), one reason being that the waterfalls supply a ready source of
electric light. The carbide intended for lighting purposes is, therefore, to a great
extent, exported, principally to tropical countries. On the other hand, acetylene
lighting has come into vogue to an increased extent for special objects, such as
motorcars and cycles, and not least for railway-signals, light-buoys, and lighthouses,
in accordance with Dalén’s inventions, which have been exploited by the
Aktiebolaget Gasaccumulator (see p. 452). Acetylene-oxygen blasts are also considerably
employed for welding and cutting metals. On account of the production of
cyan-amide, the prospects of an increased production of carbide have, however, been
considerably increased. This is a result of the large demand for combined
nitrogen for fertilizing purposes. The present consumption (1013) of Chile saltpetre
with 15’5 % nitrogen is about 2 700 000 tons per year, corresponding to 420 000
tons of combined nitrogen, and for ammonium sulphate with 20 % of combined
nitrogen, about 1 400 000 tons per year, corresponding to 280 000 tons of
combined nitrogen, thus making a total of 700 000 tons of combined nitrogen.
Nitric Acid. The methods of producing nitric acid and nitrate by oxidizing
the nitrogen of the air, at a high temperature in electric furnaces, require
particularly cheap power and therefore cannot as a rule compete, for instance, with
the production of cyanamide, so long as no cheap method is discovered of
concentrating the diluted nitric acid which is directly obtained in the process
of manufacture. Attempts in this direction seem, however, to have been
successful in recent years. As already mentioned, it is also possible from cyanamide
to obtain ammonia, and therefrom nitric acid. A small plant for the manufacture
of nitric acid for special purposes on the Birkelancl-Eyde method is to be found
at the Ljunga Works, mentioned above as belonging to the Stockholms
Su-perfosfatfabriks Aktiebolag.
Alkali and Chloride of Lime. The Elektrokemiska Aktiebolaget employs
at its factory at Bengtsfors, in Dalsland, 400 electric horse-power for the
electrolysis of alkaline chloride solutions, using a cathode of quicksilver. By this
process are obtained a solution of potassium hydrate (caustic potash) or sodium
hydrate (caustic soda), which is converted into solid potassium hydrate or sodium
hydrate by evaporation, and chlorine, which is converted into chloride of lime
by action upon slaked lime. Of these products, the following quantities can be
obtained per year, with the above-mentioned power: 900 tons of 35 % chloride of
lime (which at 95 kronor per ton is worth 85 500 kronor), 250 tons of potassium
hydrate (which at 400 kronor per ton is worth 100 000 kronor), and 250 tons
of sodium hydrate (worth about 50 000 kronor). The total value of the
products is accordingly 235 500 kronor per year. This figure is, however, too low,
as the alkaline hydrates are sold as pure products.
The electrolytic production of caustic alkalis (potash or soda) and of chloride
of lime, which, in other countries, such as Germany and France, has, in spite
of unfavourable circumstances, such as dearer power, almost superseded the older
purely chemical methods, appears to have prospects of development in Sweden
to a much greater extent than has hitherto been the case, especially since the
advantage has been seen of combining this industry with the manufacture of
wood-pulp. At the same time as alkali is obtained for boiling the wood (by the
soda method), the chloride of lime necessary for bleaching the wood-pulp is also
obtained; for this purpose, the method of electrolysing a solution of common
salt is to a great extent used in America. The building of a new factory for
the electrolysis of alkaline chloride solutions has now (1914) been begun by the
Stjerns Aktiebolag, at Uddeholm, in Värmland.
Bleaching Liquor (Sodium Hypochlorite). Another form of the electrolysis of
common salt takes place in Sweden in connection with the wood-pulp in-
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