Statistics and Cost of Manufacture, 4-c.—The principal seats of the manufacture of bisulphide of carbon in England are London (2), Irenbridge, and Manchester (1 each). Paris possesses 2 large works ; Bordeaux, 1; and Marseilles, 3. There are several manufactories in Germany ; and, in the Austrian dominions, 1 (in Galicia).
Though not exactly a newly established manufacture, it has only attained its present growth within recent times. It is constantly increasing, and will doubtless continue to do so, the more so as the valuable properties of the substance become generally known and appreciated. It is in the hands of a few who have made it a special study ; there are probably not twenty manufactories of it in the whole world.
The capital required to carry on the manufacture is comparatively small, the great essential being skilful and• careful management. The cost of production, as stated by Payen, is as follows :— £ s. d.
Sulphur, 2200 lb. .. 8 6 8 Charcoal, 10 sacks (660 lb.) .. 1 13 4 Labour-4 men by day and 4 by night, with 2 to pound the sulphur 1 16 8 „ 4 children preparing the paper aud 4 filling cartridges 0 10 0 Fuel—coke 110 bushels at 4d. per bushel .. 2 0 0 Cost of rectifying, cleaning, interruptions, and interest .. .. 1 13 4 16 0 0 Deduct sulphur recovered, 330 lb. .. 1 5 0 Nett cost of about 15i cwt. of bisulphide of carbon .. .. 14 15 0 Sells at .. 16 5 0 Profit .. £1 10 0 The differences between the theoretical and practical production are as follows :— 1. Charcoal : 1760 lb. of bisulphide obtained = about 2781b. carbon ; the 6601b. of wood
cha.rcoal (excepting moisture and impurities) would represent a loss of 387 lb., or more thau 50 per cent.
2. Sulphur : 1760 lb. of bisulphide 14821b. sulphur + 330 lb. recovered = 1812 lb. ; then the loss on 2200 lb. employed would be 388 lb., or 17i per cent.
According to E. van Haecht, the cost of three days' working is :— £ s. d. s. d.
Sulphur, 4189 lb. .. 12 7 0 Wood charcoal .. .. 1 18 0 Labour .. .. 2 0 0 Wear and tear .. 0 17 0 Coke .. 1 4 0 £18 6 0 The commercial value of the refined product, containing abuut •001 to •005 of impurities, prin cipally an alliaceous oil, varies between about 20/. and 25/. a ton, according to the fluctuations in the prices current of sulphur. Greater purity than this is seldom required, but may be obtained at a rather higher price.
The quantity of bisulphide produced in the United Kingdom probably does not exceed about 1500 tons per annum. It is not imported, nor is it exported in any appreciable quantity. It is transported in drums of sheet iron, or small metallic canisters, of any desired size, which are closed by screw stoppers fitting with absolute exactness, so as to prevent any possibility of the vapour escaping. In this way, it may be sent any distance without danger. The chief consumers are indiarubber manufacturers and sulphur refiners, besides oil and fat refiners. The retail trade is very limited, and passes almost entirely through the hands of chemists and druggists.
(See Iudiarubber Manufactures ; Oils; Sulphur.)