THE PRODUCE FROM IRISH PEAT. [From the "Times," November I.]

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 514, 19 March 1851, Page 3

THE PRODUCE FROM IRISH PEAT. [From the "Times," November I.]

The important results involved in the luccess of the new process of deriving commeicial pioducts fiora Irich. peat appear to be very generally appreciated. Its ducovery is due to Mr. Rees Recce, who hai been enabled by the persevering aid of Mr. Owen t> bring it to the position in which it now stands. We subjoin a detailed account which has been furnished to us of the nature of the various articles obtained by it, and of which we yesterday stuted the estimated value :— " Mr. Recce, by the uid of his newly discovered powers, for which he has obtained leUers patent, t-ffects the sepaiationof the elementary con-tuuents of the peat by a piocess of combustion, the peculiarity of which consists in Us being supported by the oxygen of the air acting on the carbon ol the peat, without the assistance ol extraneous fuel. During this procen a Urge portion of the hydrogen and other infUtmnabie gd(>ei, wtuch aie cvulvtd, is saved from dissipation, and pieseived as sources for the production of beat, to be appt<ed in completing the altei 6luges of cliymioal manipulation, by which the manufacture of the conomeicial products is perfected. But beyond the quantities of inflammable matter consumed in these application-, a large amount of gas remains at dispoial for the generation of heat in other industrial opera* tions. In these arrangements is found the extreme economy of the process of manufacture, which is thereby endued to a great extent with a self-sustaining power. The cbyiuicttl elements which arc thus derived from

neat or • bog earth', are pioduced bv Mr. fleeces process m d pure, marketable, and hiphly remunerative form. The chief products which have been obtai Qed i aie :— "1. Sulphate of Ammonia. This salt is principally u«ed in ihe preparation of muriate of ammonia, or sal ammoniac; in the manufacture of alum, and in producing the. other salts of ammonia, such ai the sublimed carbonate used by bakers and the solution of ammonia for the purposes of the archill ni»ker, dyer, &c, and it is moat extensively emp oyed as a manure ; for which purposes it commands a high pi ice and an unlimited murket. It has been hitherto, comparatively <!iffieuU of attainment. Vegetable matter, when azote is one of the elementi, as the gluten of wheat, yields ammonia, coal soot also contains it; but the decomposition of coa 1 , eff\.ctrd during the production of carburetted hydrogen f<>r the purpose of gas illumination, forms at present the chief source of ammonia, which by combination with sulphuric acid is converted into sulphate. •' 2. Acetate of Lime, composed of acetic acid and lime, may be formed by dissolving carbonate of lime in the acid ; but by Mr Recce's process it is destilled from the peat. It is a salt extensively used for producing ihe ferruginous and aluminous liquors used by calico printers, mid it is also the source of acetic acid for various other purposes. tl 3 Naptha, or 'Wood Spirit.' — This important chymieal agent is produced from the peat in great quantities. It ts yielded in a pure, colourless, limpid mate r«embling in its properties pints of svine, and differing <>n\y in us odour; and fiom its piopertiei of combining in all proportions with alcohol, ether, petro« leum, &c, it is largely used by hatters and varnish makers, in place of spiuts of wine for dissolving the gums and resins used in their reipective trades. "3. Paraffine. — Little was known of this valuable vegetable product till a few years since it was determined by several foreign chymisis of celebrity to be a solid carburet of hydrogen. Dr. Chriettson obtained it from the petroleum of Rangoon, and called it petrolin, and Dr. Keichrnnacb discovered its presence in the products ot distilled beech tar. In appearence it is a iatty but rather 6rm solid; it i< wholly inodorous; at 110 degrees of Fahrenheit it melts into aii oily liquid! and evaporates without change; it burnt with a pure white flame. It is soluble in alcohol, oil of turpentine, naptha, and the fat oils when heatei! ; and it unites with spermaceti, w^x, and most fatty bodies by fusion. It consists o( six of carbon and one of hydrogen. These singular piuperiies fit it in a remarkable mauner for the manufacture ot candles of a high degree of purity, which are found in use to emit no smell, and to give an intense colourless Hi^ht, "5. Hjdro-Carbon Solvent. — This oil, which of a thin transparent quality, is well adapted for dissolving gum elastic, gutta percha, and tarious rebins, and will in all probability command extensive use in the preparation of a cheap vainish for tendering sailcloths and other textile fabrics impermeable to moisture. "C. Fixed Oil.— This body, iv combination with tallow, will find general use in lubricating machinery, or mixed with common oils it will greatly assist in tile manufacture of a cheap l<>mp oil."