PETROL IN BLOCKS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 294, 6 May 1911, Page 9

PETROL IN BLOCKS.

The announcement made last rear that solid petrol had been made commercially possible turns out to have been correctthat is, if the reports of a recent demonstration in London are trustworthy. 'Petrol in blocks, petrol that burns as steadily and can be blown out as easily as a, candle, petrol that can be used i# perfect safety with an incandescent "as burner in a table lamp, petrol enough of which can be carried to enable 'a motor car to run 1200 miles without, stopping such is the wonderful invention of a Herman chemist," says a London paper. The substance consists of 80 per cent petrol, a percentage of soapy matter, and a j small quantity of some material that gives solidity. There is no chemical combination, but the petrol spirit is, as it were, held in suspension. The experiments made in London recently before a number of pressmen were very interesting. A table lamp was filled with lumps of the jelly, and the gas from the jelly ignited in an incandescent burner. The result, was a brilliant- light, and a safe one. for if such a lamp were overturned there would be no liquid lo ignite. Though the gas is given off very rapidly when (he jelly is exposed to the air, there is not so much danger as attaches to ordinary petrol. The jelly does not, melt, and if it is ignited it burns like a candle, and the flame can easily be blown out. Solid petrol lias at- least two merits in the mot-oristls eves. Xo carburetter will be required, and there is said to be a saving'of 2# per cent, in bulk. As to its cost, it "is stated that half-a-erown's worth kept five motor lamps going five hours a day f°r a fortnight. But is it thought, that its most useful application will be to domestic lighting, and it- may bring the general use of the internal-combustion emrine lor large vessels much nearer. The jelly is described as looking like ice from a dirty pond, and when it burns away leaves a small white ash that gives no trouble.