I move:
That a sum, not exceeding £12,600, be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending the 31st day of March 1943, for the Emergency Scientific Research Bureau, including a Grant-in-Aid.
A sum of £6,400 has already been granted to meet the expenses of the bureau by means of the Vote on Account. The total provision this year is £19,000, as compared with £12,000 last year. The increase in the total estimate is due to the additional amount, £7,250, of the Grant-in-Aid provided under sub-head B, off-set by a reduction of £250 in the provision for incidental expenses, sub-head A. The increase under sub-head B is due, of course, to the extended scope and variety of the bureau's activities.
In dealing with problems arising from shortages of supplies, the bureau, working under the general supervision of my Department, has devoted most attention to difficulties which seemed likely to be overcome by short-term researches or investigations. Experimental work has been carried out as required, in some cases in university laboratories either directly under the supervision of a member of the bureau or of an outside investigator, and in other cases in collaboration with an industrial firm. Special staff has been appointed where necessary. Detailed reports have been prepared in regard to each completed investigation and these reports are available to the firms or industries likely to be concerned.
The main part of the bureau's experimental work has dealt with fuel problems, including the manufacture of turf charcoal as a fuel for mobile producers and other purposes, the use of peat for town gas manufacture, and the efficiency of mobile producers.
It was decided, following some preliminary experiments and a number of consultations with those who had previously studied the problem, that the best method of producing turf charcoal was by carbonisation in vertical retorts. The urgency of the problem prevented full examination of the carbonisation conditions on a small scale, and the bureau accordingly decided to proceed at once with the design and erection of a full scale experimental plant. Two full-sized retorts, one of fire bricks and the other of cast iron, are now being erected at the Turf Development Board's bog at Turraun. It is hoped that the experiments on this plant will be sufficiently advanced before the end of the coming season to enable decisions to be reached in regard to the production of turf charcoal on the large scale. The bureau has also undertaken an investigation of the production of turf charcoal in portable kilns, a method which might prove more adaptable to a rapid increase in production under emergency conditions.
Experimental work on the use of wood and peat for gas making was undertaken by several gas works throughout the country to meet difficulties in the supply of gas coal. The problems involved were discussed between representatives of the bureau and of the industry, and full-scale experiments were carried out by the bureau at the Kilkenny Gas Works to decide on the proportion of peat that could be mixed with coal in the horizontal retorts used at most of the smaller gas works without serious alterations to the installations. It was found that up to 40 per cent. of peat could be used in the charge fed to the retorts. A report on the experiments was made available to the industry, and the results discussed with the managers of the various gas undertakings. The bureau has also assisted in experiments at Limerick, Dundalk and Dublin, in the use of peat for gas production in vertical retorts.
When the bureau commenced work a large number of different types of commercial producer was being introduced embodying a large variety of special devices, many of which had been developed abroad to meet conditions other than those obtaining in Ireland. The bureau decided to develop a laboratory test in which the operation of the producer and gas filter could be studied under conditions closely resembling those of practical use, but without the inevitable variations due to weather, traffic and the like which render the correlation of road test results very difficult. This test is now in operation and is being used to study the behaviour of the different fuels now available.
Some of the gas filters now in use on commercial plants have proved inefficient in service and instances of exceptionally rapid deterioration of motor truck engines from this cause have been investigated. Attempts have been made to develop an electrostatic filter but difficulty has been experienced in adapting the laboratory instrument to use on a lorry. An experimental wet filter washing the gases in soda solution and in used lubricating oil has given promising results in service, but the consumption of oil proved rather high.
In the course of an investigation in regard to the possibilities of the manufacture of certain supplies required for the match industry, some supplies were produced on a small scale in the laboratory, and a method was worked out for the production of potassium chlorate from kelp on a commercial scale. The investigation was not pursued as the industry decided it would not be possible to embark on commercial production owing to difficulties in obtaining the necessary plant and other supplies.
Successful results have attended investigations in regard to supplies of refrigerants. Early in July, 1941, several creameries were being obliged to curtail their operations owing to an interruption in imports of compressed carbon dioxide for replenishing their refrigeration plants. After some initial experimental work it was found possible to generate, purify, compress and supply to the creameries, over a period of five weeks, about 85 per cent. of their normal demand. The plant was then installed at a creamery where another ton of compressed gas was produced. Limited supplies of imported gas later became available, but the bureau's plant was kept ready to be put into operation in case further interruptions in supplies occurred. In addition to providing the creameries with an essential material, this work enabled the bureau to give useful advice to a number of mineral water manufacturers and other industrialists who desired to manufacture carbon dioxide for their own use.
Although no interruption occurred in imports of compressed ammonia, which is also required for refrigerating plants, it was decided that arrangements should be made for the home production of this gas. A generating and compressing plant, sufficient for the country's essential needs, was designed and erected by the bureau, and this plant will be kept in working order against a possible emergency.
To ensure supplies of essential disinfectants the bureau investigated the home manufacture of formalin. Following laboratory investigations and experiments on a pilot plant scale, a plant was designed and erected at Riverstown Distillery, with the co-operation of Irish Alcohol Factories, Ltd. This plant, which is sufficiently large to meet the country's requirements, has been operated by the bureau's staff for a few weeks, during which time three tons of formalin were produced. Arrangements have now been completed for Irish Alcohol Factories, Ltd., to take over the plant for commercial operation.
Experimental work arranged by the bureau resulted in the development of processes for the preparation of sulphonated oil and sodium sulphide from indigenous materials. The results of the work have been made available to the tanning industry, which required these materials.
The bureau has undertaken a number of investigations on the manufacture of various organic acids to meet shortages of imported tartaric and citric acids required by the confectionery and other industries. Preliminary experiments on the production of tartaric acid have indicated that there is little likelihood of producing this acid from available materials on the scale required. A process was developed for the production of phosphoric acid which can replace organic acids for some purposes, and following an examination by the Department of Industry and Commerce of the possibilities of commercial production, one firm succeeded in making arrangements for importing the supplies required. Investigations in regard to the production of citric acid, lactic acid and mucic acid are proceeding.
Following experimental work conducted by the bureau on the production of oil from fish, the possibility of the production of fish oil on a commercial scale is being examined by the Department of Industry and Commerce in conjunction with the industries concerned.
The bureau is investigating the possibility of obtaining home supplies of sulphur for use on existing plants for the manufacture of sulphur dioxide and sulphuric acid. Experiments designed to concentrate pyritic ore from a dump at Ballymurtagh, County Wicklow, were not successful, but it is hoped that a higher grade ore can be obtained by mining. Experiments are in progress on the production of sulphur from spent oxide from gas works.
Aluminium sulphate, a chemical of importance in water treatment and the manufacture of paper, and now in short supply, has been successfully manufactured in the course of large scale experiments carried out under the auspices of the bureau. The product has been found satisfactory for the purposes required and the possibilities of commercial production are now being examined.
Invert sugar solution, prepared from beet sugar by a simple process, has been found to be a satisfactory substitute for medicinal glucose for oral or rectal administration. On the completion of the bureau's experimental work, the Department of Industry and Commerce made arrangements for the manufacture, testing and marketing of this commodity by a firm of food manufacturers. Further experiments showed that by taking special precautions a solution of invert sugar suitable for intravenous injection could be prepared, and it is hoped to have this material manufactured on a commercial scale.
Experimental work carried out under the auspices of the bureau resulted in the development of a method for estimating fat in milk using the moderately concentrated acid manufactured in the country in place of the imported acid normally employed. This result will prove valuable if the imported acid cannot be obtained.
A number of other investigations involving experimental work which the bureau completed during the period under review may be briefly referred to. It was found possible to carburise steel to produce blanks suitable for the manufacture of table knives. Formulae were developed for the preparation of creosote disinfectant and of axle grease using indigenous materials in place of imported resin oil. A method was worked out for the production from oils available in the country of fatty acids required in rubber manufacture. The bureau assisted in an investigation which has resulted in the manufacture of zinc oxide on a commercial scale. An apparatus for the rapid testing of moisture in wood was developed for an industrial firm. The conditions were determined for grinding wood charcoal to manufacture tablets required in churches. Assistance has been given in the development of substitutes for oil and size in the textile industry. Investigations have been commenced with a view to manufacturing carbon black for ink and paint manufacture, improving the short wave broadcasting station at Athlone and providing home manufactured supplies of certain essential medicaments.
Some of the bureau's investigations have not achieved the results desired. A study of the drying of peat by electroendosmosis showed that while the water content of raw peat could be reduced to below 70 per cent. by this method, the consumption of electric power would render the process impracticable on the large scale. Methods for the storage of yeast for baking were worked out to meet a possible emergency resulting from interruptions in transport, but it was considered preferable to arrange for the accumulation of reserve stocks of sodium bicarbonate at various centres throughout the country. Trials with substitute baking powders for use in home baking were not successful. It was not found possible to recommend suitable denaturants for petrol to render stocks incapable of being used by enemy forces. Preliminary experiments on the bleaching of beeswax without the use of potassium bichromate were dropped when the firm interested in the process obtained plant for the recovery of waste chrome salts.
The number of technical problems arising from supply difficulties which were examined by the bureau was very great, but it was frequently found possible to give useful assistance to industry without special experimental work. Some inquiries could be dealt with from the experience of one of the members or staff of the bureau, or by consulting the technical staff of some of the many firms with which the bureau has established close contacts. Help was also given by furnishing digests of technical literature prepared by the Library and Information Bureau of the Industrial. Research Council.
Technical advice covering a wide range of subjects has been given to Government Departments. Much time was devoted to discussions with officers of the Department of Local Government and Public Health and of the Department of Supplies and with representatives of the professional and commercial interests concerned in regard to the accumulation of stocks of certain essential medical supplies.
There is close co-operation between the various Government Departments and the bureau, and also between the bureau and the authorities of the universities and technical schools. Thanks are due to a large number of industrial firms, scientists and private persons who helped the bureau in the solution of problems.