FIXATION OF NITROGEN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 6, 2 October 1917, Page 10

FIXATION OF NITROGEN

Y SOUTH AFRICA ON THE ALERT

"Last year (says "The Electrician" of August 3) a report was' prepared ,by Ihe South African Institute of Electrical Engineers upon electro chemical industries, more particularly in regard to the possibility of producing calcium carbide and other nitrogen products in South' Africa so as, to avoid the importation of such materials. This report has now been issued as a' separate document. Tho conclusion is reached that such ' products can be profitably manufactur?d in South Africa, and that an. early investigation of the jnattoi* is of the groatest. possible importance. An estimate of the cast of manufacturing calcium carbide, is given. This ranges from 4>13 I6s. per ton for an output of 2600 tons per annum, down to ,£lO 10s. per ton for an output of 10,000 tons per annum. The cost of manufacturing chlcium r.yanamide is estimated, at ,£9 per ton, with an output, of 4000" tons per annum. Tho cost of electric power is taken at 0.35 d' per k.vr. hour." Referring to the above, 0.35 d. per k.w. iiour equals .812 lis. 6d. per k.w. year, or ,£9 10s. 6d. per h.p. year. It represents a charge of «£5 16s. per ton of cyanamide produced for power alone-at t-t cwt. per k.w. year. This leaves only X'S its. for labour and raw material. No doubt negro labour at one-oighth of New Zealand rates is reckoned on. Coke and lime must also be much cheaper than in New Zealand.

For Calcium enrbide, power represents approximately £i 10s. per ton, an a.mg.uat in excess of the whole estimated cost for the production of tho same article at the Bowen Falls, apart from packing,and ouOward freight. 'The i South Africans have apparently not allowed for packing costs. ,