The name is absent

Chemistry in the Industries 283
mercial removal of magnesium from sea water, the deminer-
alizing of sugar solutions at various stages in refining, the
removal of salts from many impure solutions or as a unit
accessory in life-rafts for the purpose of making drinkable
water from sea water.

After the water is used in the city it is sent into the sewers
which convey it to the sewage disposal plant. At many such
plants the sewage is aerated in large open basins so that
aerobic bacteria can thoroughly digest and decompose the
organic matter. Coagulents are added after mechanical con-
centration of the sludges; the solids are filtered out, dried,
and made into balanced fertilizers. The clear, sterile, effluent
water may then be returned to the river from whence
it came.

Today the petroleum industry has changed from almost
a non-technical industry to a very technical one. There must
be a highly trained exploration and production staff, a care-
fully trained research and development department, a tech-
nically trained control laboratory, an engineering and refin-
ing staff, and finally, a co-ordination and sales department.
Petroleum is a chemist’s and chemical engineer’s business.
Chemical control follows the oil from its original formation
to its final usage.

Soil and gas analyses indicate presence of petroleum forma-
tions. Chemical control of drilling muds insures most efficient
drilling conditions. Hydrochloric acid, inhibited with amines
to protect the drilling equipment from attack, is used to open
up limestone formations. Emulsions must be broken to lower
water content to the point where the oil can be pumped into
the oil lines. Casinghead gasoline recovery plants must be
designed, installed, and operated under absolute control.
And finally, in the refinery, ultimate control is chemical in
nature whether it be in the straight run or cracking unit, in

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