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BENZOLE IN AUSTRALIA.
Extensive Manufacture Urged.
lAccording to Melbourne advices Mr.
J. K. Merrit. in the Victorian Legis
lative Council, recently emphasised the
importance of the extensive manu
factare of benzole in Australia. Ben
zole is a «ood substitute for petrol, ana
it was pointed out that its manufacture
would have the effect of decreasing tpe
imports of motor spirit into Victon*.
Benarfe is a mixture of Benaane ano
toluene, both of which are largely used
in the manufacture of high expMBivee,
the benzine being converted into _ picric
acid, and the toluene into tnmtro
tohiene by nitration -with nitric «?d.
The mixture of the two liquids, ;'*J£n
makes benzole, is made by the distUm
tion of coal tar in conjunction with many
other valuable by-prodlucts. The pro
cess is a fairly lengthy one, and the re
sidtant benzole amounts to afcout 1 per
cent, of the tar. Thin result appears
small, but with operations- conducted oa a
large scale, a large amount of the fuel
would be turned out daily. I- connec
tion with the manufacture of benzole,
tbe brown coal deposits of 'Victoria pre
sent enormous possibilities, but tn«
whole matter resolves itself into the
question of whether all the try-pTodoets
and dfetffla-on could be successfuHy de
posed of. The distillation of coal tar
for the purpose of getting benzole only
would be a poor business propositiftii.
The whole scheme, however, is one that
needs carefuUy going into. Benzole has
given satisfaction as a fuel for jBteraai
combustion.
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