PRINCIPAL RAW MATERIALS USED IN MANUFACTURE OF ETHYL ALCOHOL Importation of raw molasses into the United States was 2 5,000, 000gal. in the year ended June 3o, 1904. For the year ended June 3o, 1938, importation by the United States of molasses not for human consumption was 2 29,306,9o8ga1. and of other molasses Completely Denatured Alcohol.—Thisis ethyl alcohol which has been rendered extremely obnoxious by the addition of denaturants according to a limited number of formulae prescribed by the U.S. internal revenue bureau, and so made entirely unfit for beverage purposes, as well as injurious if used externally. It may be bought and sold without keeping records or making reports to the internal revenue bureau, but persons dealing in, storing or using such alcohol in quantities exceeding 1 obbl. or drums during a period of 3o days must keep such commercial records_ as will enable any Government officer to trace the receipt and disposal of such alcohol.
Of the three formulae (No. 12 ; No. 13; No. 14) currently possible for completely denatured alcohol, composition of No. 14 follows: Specially Denatured Alcohol.—Thisis designed for distribu tion to approved manufactures, under regulations, protected by a bond to guarantee the faithful performance of the conditions stipulated by the Government. In such alcohol only those de naturants are used which will not materially interfere with the special manufacturing use to which the alcohol is to be put. There are about 6o formulae for specially denatured alcohol which have been authorized by the Government for over 40o different uses.
The post-war developments in the automobile industry have resulted in more than half the annual output of industrial alcohol being devoted to some phase of its manufacture or operation. A considerable quantity is used annually by manufacturers of solutions which prevent the freezing of water in automobile radi ators. Lacquer, another enormous consumer of industrial alcohol, is, because of its rapid drying qualities through evaporation of the alcohol (while paints and varnishes dry by a process of oxidation) and the ease with which it may be applied, rapidly superseding the use of oil paints and varnishes for the exterior finish of passenger cars. When dry it is inert and has a hard tough surface.
Ordinary alcohol contains 5% water and it was not until 1926-2 7 that absolute or anhydrous alcohol was developed to such a degree that it could be manufactured in tank car quantities at less than $I.00 per gal. The development of absolute alcohol is considered one of the great triumphs of the chemical industry.
The United States Navy and the United States post office have found that gasoline when mixed with absolute alcohol produces a superior aeroplane fuel. (J. C. McG., X.)