FIXATION OF NITROGEN FROM THE AIR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3298, 30 May 1917, Page 8

FIXATION OF NITROGEN FROM THE AIR.

Addressing the Association of Science Teachers on "Nitrates from tlio Air," at a recent conference' of Educational Associations of London, Professor E. Kilburn Scott said "There was considerable national risk in being' dependent on an overseas supply of raw material, because before the battle of the Falkland Isles the presence of a few enemy cruisers off South America was sufficient to hold up supplies absolutely for seven weeks and partly so for a much longer period." Hitherto Great Britain, in common with most countries, has boon almost wholly dependent on Chili nitrates for the raw material for explosives. Had Germany sufficiently bought over Chili before the war to induce her to break off relations with Great Britain and France, the war might have been over long ago and, needless to say, not to our advantage Prior to the outbreak of war Germany had established extensive works for the fixation of nitrogen from the air, as she no doubt realised that the prospect of obtaining further supplies of Chili nitrates while hostilities lasted might be hazardous. In this respect she made no mistake. Although she obtained over six fold tho British imports before the war she has received none since. But for her forethought m building up immense works for obtaining nitrogen from the air the war would in all Erobability have been a thing of the past efore this. Germany's production of nitrogen from the air has been a progressive one, ranging from 20,000 tons in 1913 to 340,000 tons in 1916. So far tho British Empire docs not produce any nitrogen from the air, and in this icspect is practically helpless. With a view partly to remedy this defect and to produoe nitrate manures for farmers a syndicate with considerable financial backing was recently formed in Duncdin, and has made application to tho Government for a water power in one of tho Sounds on the West Coast of Otago.