Anti-Freeze

When winter driving of motor cars became common, a great impetus was given to the manufacture of industrial alcohol. Drivers began to consume large quantities of this product for anti-freeze mixtures in their radiators.

Last year our total output of industrial alcohol was in the neigh-borhood of 70,000,000 gallons. The production is increasingly competi-tive. The U. S. Industrial Alcohol Co. was responsible for between 25 and 30 million gallons, and National Distillers’ Products Corporation for about 7 millions more. On the other hand, several sugar companies have recently entered the business, in order to utilize molasses, a by-product of sugar refining.

Another serious problem for the larger makers of industrial alcohol is the competition afforded their product by glycerin compounds for preventing frozen radiators. Glycerin is a by-product of soapmaking, and such large soapmakers as Lever Bros, and Procter & Gamble are strenuously seeking to market glycerin anti-freeze mixtures. The Commercial Solvents Co. and the United Carbide Co. also are perfecting competitive mixtures for the same purpose.

Much of the success of all these efforts depends, of course, on the weather this winter. A severe cold spell will be a boon for makers of anti-freeze mixture.