GAS FROM MAIZE.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 320, 24 December 1929, Page 8

GAS FROM MAIZE.

UNITED STATES CHEMIST’S INVENTION.

Means of deriving gas from cornstalks and refuse in sufficient quantities to illuminate and heat eities is the latest discovery reported to the American Chemical Society (states an English journal). Ordinary refuse and the stalks of maize ar cqjnbin-. ed by a cheap, simple method, markable results. - J ■ From these two wnst*. AMMMPtS chemists of the tf Aallnit are recovering large ..MMpQNM' of methane gas which can bq f <r heating, operating mjgHSlMn. fe* .pkic e of petrol, and tors. The invcnrtfc'i- |M||pffco have devised an ijiiijO|p|]W(| nB 'jrtliill that it can be in-'-ariaf Trtriiliit'f nin i to make his turn his cornstalks . Into - iVfcpdp qo ok in g gas. It requires no maqfeHMry, bacteria from the re fuse pfrork. The author of the'' J Dr A. M. Bush- : i 11. tirqfpSSqir nf sanitary chemistry at,;ttp|W assisted by Mr 0« I Sc material used is dried corn•taflti tftn husking,” says Dr Bush- “ The stalks are shredded with . mu esdmary shredding machine, boil•d,:'>tsen soaked in water or lime. The ptfseratus is simply a small tank pro- [ 4j<Sed with a corner to collect the gashes. A farmer could produce enough gas to supply the needs of a family of four or five from the material, which could be fermented from a gas tank eight feet in diameter and eight feet deep.” It is estimated that a circle of land eight miles in diameter under maize would produce enough stalks to supply the normal gas consumption of a town of 80,000 inhabitants. The discoverers claim that the residue left in the tanks after the gas is used is perfect for the manufacture of. cornstalk paper.