BORAX IN COAL ASH

Grey River Argus, 2 June 1943, Page 6

BORAX IN COAL ASH

WORK OF N.Z. CHEMIST. WELLINGTON. June .1

A discovery of great scientific interest and possible future commercial value was reported by Mr. Sullivan to-day. The Minister said the Dominion Laboratory had discovered that the ash of Waikato coal contained 4 per cent of combined boron trioxide which would be equivalent to about 10 per cent, of crystallised borax. , „ . .... “While it may be only of scientific interest,” said the Minister, “it is possible that we have here material from which boric acid and borax maybe prepared. This aspect is being explored. Further chemical work is being carried out, also investigations in the field, as the occurrence is of great interest to geologists.” The discovery was due to the careful work of Mr. F. T. Seelye, Chief Chemist. The investigations were being made because char from the coal was giving trouble in the furnace of the railway workshops owing to the easily fusible nature of the ash When the ash was subjected to chemical analysis the sum of the constituents was 4 per cent, short, and it was the careful work of Mr. Seelye which proved this was boron.