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The Story of Acetone
From the Memoirs of David Lloyd George
Acetone — commonly produced by the distillation of wood — great
deal of wood to produce a ton of acetone — dependent on exports from
America — with acetone there could be no cordite for our cartridges, for
rifles or big guns.
Weizmann, as soon as I met him I realized he ivas a very remarkable
personality. His brow gave assurance of a fine intellect, and his open
countenance gave confidence in his complete sincerity. I told him that we
were in a chemical delimma and asked him to assist us. I explained the
shortage in wood alcohol and what it meant in munitionment. Would he
help? Dr. Weizmann said he did not know but he would try. He could
produce acetone by a fermentation process on a laboratory scale but it
would require some time before he could guarantee successful production
on a manufacturing scale.
“How long can you give me?” he asked. I said "/ cannot give you very
long.” Weizmann replied, "I will go at it night and day.’’
In a few weeks' time he came to me and said “The problem is solved.”
After a prolonged study of the microflora existing on maize and other
cereals also of those occurring in the soil he succeeded in isolating an
organism capable of transforming the starch of cereals, particularly that
of maize, into a mixture of acetone butyl alcohol. But generations of these
organisms die very quickly; and in quite a short time, working day and
night as he promised, he secured a culture which would enable us to
get our acetone from maize.
Now maize contains about two-thirds of its iveight of starch, and our
sources of supply were very wide; so that this discovery enabled us to
produce very considerable quantities of the vital chemical. Today this
discovery is the center of an important industry.
In King's Lynn there was an oil-coke factory which had been con
verted in 1912 to make acetone from the starch content of potatoes. It
had come into the field with promises of supply, but the quality of its
output was not satisfactory and financially the company was unsteady.
So in March, vtvf, it was nationalized and by June it was making acetone
from maize by the Weizmann process with highly successful and valuable
results. The shipping shortage in 1917, which forced us to restrict all
unnecessary imports, induced yet another experiment. In the autumn of
that year horse-chestnuts were plentiful, and a national collection of
them was organized for the purpose of using their starch content as a
substitute for maize. . . . The Weizmann process was turning out acetone
from horse-chestnuts by the time the factory was closed in 1918.
When our difficulties were solved through Dr. Weizmann’s genius 1
said to him, “You have rendered great service to the state, and I should
like the Prime Minister to recommend you to His Majesty for some
honor.” He said, “There is nothing I want for myself.”
“But is there nothing we can do as a recognition of your valuable
assistance to the country?” I asked. He replied, "Yes, I would like you
to do something for my people." He then explained his aspirations as to
the repatriation of the Jews to the sacred land they had made famous.
That was the fount and origin of the famous declaration about the Na
tional Home for the Jews in Palestine (rebuilding of Zion.) It is the only
reward he seeks, and his name will rank with Nehemiah in the fascinating
and inspiring story of the children of Israel.
Officers of Southeast Temple Ladies
DOTHAN, ALA. — Mrs. Myer Blumberg (center) new presi
dent of the Southeast Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, is shown
with other officers just after installation ceremony conducted
by Rabbi Martin Hinchin, Albany, recently in Dothan. In the
front row (left to right are) Mrs. Harold Thurman, Miami, his
torian; Mrs. Henry Solomonson, Atlanta, treasurer; Mrs. Blum
berg, Mrs. Hyman Miller, Birmingham, new director; and Mrs.
N. S. Rubin, Pensacola, parliamentarian. Back row (left to right)
are Mrs. Sam Mohr, Atlanta, first vice president; and Mrs. Sidney
Katz, Dothan, secretary. Not present for the photograph were
Mrs. N. L. Marcus, Tampa; and Mrs. Abe Goldstein, Huntsville,
vice presidents; Mrs. M. D. Gutterman, Orlando; Mrs. William
Goldstein, Atlanta; and Mrs. Sam Buckholtz, Jacksonville, di
rectors.
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