NITRIC ACID FROM THE AIR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12711, 25 January 1907, Page 7

NITRIC ACID FROM THE AIR.

THE VALUE OF THE LATEST DISCOVERY. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, January 23. Th* leading British and German scientists agree as to the enormous importance to agriculture of the discovery of a means of extracting nitric ucid from the atmospliere. Professor J. J. Thomson says extraction is only possible with cheap water power. Tlie Birkeland process is altttivery of a new means of extracting nitric acid from the atmosphere. Tho question of obtaining nitric acid from the air was referred to in our leading columns in October last. We pointed out then that numerous attempts were being made to solve the problem electrically, and we described the method by which the Atmospheric Products Company of Niagara Fills utilised the nitrogen of the air. In the Birkeland method now being tried in Norway some 2000 horse-power is in use, and 250.000 horse-power has been set aside for the production of nitrates. The burning of the nitrogen resting on half-n-doxen acres of ground would more than meet the world's snnual demand for nitrates. It is estimated that at the rate at which the exportation of Chilian nitrates is increasing the fields will be exhausted by 1925, and such another natural mine probsbly does not exist. The question of the production of nitrate from the air is therefore one of the greatest importance.