THE REPORT ON POWER-ALCOHOL.
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Committee's Recommendations on the Vexed Questions of Production, Denaturing
and Utilization.
THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL Committee on Alcohol Motor Fuel has now rendered its first report to Mr. Walter H. Long, Minister in Charge of the Petroleum Executive. The Committee was appointed in October last to consider and report upon (1) the various available sources of supply of alcohol, the methods of manufacture, and the cost of the product ; (2) the suitability of alcohol, either alone or in admixture with other substances, for use in internal-combustion engines, and the modification of existing types of such engines-which may be necessary to the attainment of efficiency ; and (3) the question of denaturing the alcohol, and the alterations to be made in the present Excise arrangements. The Committee divided its work between two sections, one of which dealt with production, and the other of which dealt with utilization.
One of the first recommendations of the Committee-is that the words "industrial alcohol" shall give place to the words "power alcohol," as industrial alcohol has become to be considered (of course, inaccurately) as an inferior spirit for drinking purposes. The need for considering the development of the production of power alcohol is emphasized in the report, where it is shown that the price of petrol to the public in America rose 200 per cent. between 1914 and 1918, whilst the total consumption in the United States has nearly doubled between the years 1915 and 1918. The pressure of demand will cause a very high level of prices, and, in the opinion of the Committee, close investigation should now proceed with the object of providing alternative supplies of motor fuels derived from new and supplementary raw materials. Professor Dixon haa undertaken the direction a a scheme of experimental research in order to provide accurate data concerning the behaviour of alcohol and alcohol mixtures, whilst a commercial-scale trial is now proceeding, and will last for a period of about 26 weeks, with one eomplete fleet of London motor omnibuses, alcohol-benzole and alcohol-benzole-petrol mixtures being used in the experiments.
Alcohol from Coal and Coke Oven Gases.
Evidence has been obtained concerningOnvestigations which have been made during the warkin respect of the extraction of ethylene from coal and coke oven gases, and it is considered that there is thus available in Great Britain a large potential source of power alcohol, but further investigations are necessary in this direction.
With regard to vegetable sources of alcohol, potatoes, sugar beet and mangold crops are regarded unfavourably by the Committee, Seeing that one ton of potatoes yields only 20 gallons of 96 per cent. alcohol, this source is not considered of any value. Potatoes, it will be remembered, cost about £4 per ton, so that the cost for raw material alone would run to 4s. per gallon, whieh is prohibitive without State subvention. Various vegetable sources of alcohol are referred to in the report and, of these, the most promising would seem to be the flowers of the inabua tree (Bassia latifolia) which flourishes io the Central Provinces of India. and in Hyderabad. The sun-dried flowers of this tree contain on an average 60 per cent. by weight of fermentable sugar. They can be collected and delivered at the factory in the zone of growth at 30s. per ton, whilst the yield, with proper c30. treatment, is found to be about 90 galloos of alcohol per ton. These flowers can be press-packed, exported and stored for long periods without deterioration. No satisfactory method for the utilization of peat as an economical source of power alcohol has been brought to the notice of the Committee, but it is recommended that this source of alcohol should not ba.overlooked.
The large-scale cultivation of maize and other cereals as raw material for the manufacture of power alcohol is referred to as having admitted possibilities, but it has not been possible for the Committee to complete its inquiries into this subject, but, in its opinion, it would appear that prospective production of alcohol from these sources in the Overseas Dominions and other parts of the Empire is encouraging both as regards quantities and cost.
The Committee has been furnished with statistics concerning the total quantities of molasses shipped from various countries, and there is evidence that large quantities in numerous sugar-growing areas are allowed to run to waste.
The Committee, however, is of opinion that, so' far as vegetable sources of raw material for the manufacture of alcohol are concerned, we must rely mainly, if indeed not entirely, on increased production in tropical and sub-tropical countries.
Reducing the Cost of Denaturing.
The question of denaturants and denaturing waa fully considered, and various recommendations -are made in order to cheapen this process, at the same time protecting the Revenue against fraudulent practices, whilst it is urged that every effort should be made by research and practical trial to provide a denaturant which will be effective in the smallest possible quantities • tobacco oil is one of the new 'denaturants suggested.
Recommendations are also made for the provision of facilities for the importation and distribution of power alcohol.
The advantages of the transportation of the fuel by rail or road in tank wagons instead of in drums, barrels or other surall containers are referred to.
A recommendation is also made for the exemption of home-produced power alcohol from the motor spirit tax (Excise) just as home-produced benzoic, and shale motor spirit are exempt, whilst, having regard to the scope for earlier large productionin the Empire Overseas, importation of power alcohol should, it is urged, be permitted free of duty.
Arguments are put forward to justify State action 'in fostering the production and utilization of alcohol for power purposes, the work of the sections so far as it has been carried having been sufficient to show the complex and far-reaching character of the problem, and having convinced the Committee that it can only be handled adequately by concerted Government action.
The development of the alcohol industrY should not be left to the chances of private enterprise, individual 'research, or the ordinary play of economical forces. It is recommended that an organization Ahould be established by the Government to initiate and supervise experimental and practical development work on the production and utilization of power alcohol, and to report from time to time for public information on all scientific, technical and economical problems connected therewith.