ness contribute to the self-confidence of organic chemists who increasingly declare that most any natural mole­cule can be made. "The joy is in tak­ing some compound you can buy, and elaborating it into something else made only by nature prior to that," Confalone says. "It goes right back to the first synthesis of urea," by current standards a ridiculously simple mol­ecule whose synthesis certified that "natural" products indeed could be made by chemists in laboratories.

To be sure, these syntheses of ak-lavinone add something to the overall repertoire of organic chemists. But all three of these organic chemists see the principal benefit coming from this work to be new antibiotics. "You can expect to see some development of analogs useful to medicinal chemists from this synthesis rather than ben­efits to organic chemists," Kishi says. Kende and Confalone agree. "We can use these syntheses to custom build any anthracycline molecule you might need," Kende says. And Confalone adds: "All these syntheses are ame­nable to analog synthesis. All could lead to compounds that are not available naturally." •

Technology

Rockwell develops PCB incineration method A new incineration process for the destruction of toxic polychlorinated biphenyls has been tested success­fully by the Energy Systems Group of Rbckwell International. Program manager John Blakeslee says that the new Rockwell process can destroy PCB's at about half the temperature required by other incineration pro­cesses. This, in turn, promotes longer equipment life, permits the use of less-expensive materials of con­struction with greater safety, and provides the option of portability for the incinerator.

The process, originally developed at Rockwell's Rocky Flats, Colo., nu­clear weapons plant, first was in­tended to destroy low-level trans-uranic contaminated combustible waste, and later was adapted to the destruction of PCB's. In the demon­stration, a sample of PCB trans­former coolant (52% by weight PCB and 48% trichlorobenzene) was de­stroyed with an efficiency of more than 99.9999%. This is well within the limits prescribed by the Environ-

Worker checks fluid-bed incinerator

mental Protection Agency, which monitored the test. The combustion products were carbon dioxide, water, and sodium chloride.

The process features a fluid-bed combustor followed by a catalytic afterburner. Temperatures in both

ENVIRON CHEMlSf Specialist in "State-of-the-Art" Wastewater Analysis

At SOHIO, we are seeking an experienced specialist who thrives on solving environmental problems, especially those pertaining to waste­water analysis. For this position you need a BS and an MS in Chemistry, Biology or Environmental Science. You should also have analytical strengths and expertise pained in at least 3 years'recent experience in industry, solving environmental problems and conducting recent wastewater analysis using EPA methods. Familiarity with bio­logical waste treatment concepts is desirable.

You will need proficiency in basic statistics and technical writing, and a willingness to travel nationwide-including Alaska-about 40% of the time.

You would be part of a highly skilled group of in-house technical consultants in the area-of waste treatment, environmental sampling and analysis.

You will also be involved with professional societies such as ASTM and American Petro­leum Institute.

Responsibilities can include: • Implementation of environmental Q.C.

programs at various plant labs. • Conducting environmental test method audits. • Development of new test methods. • Evaluation and recommendation of state-of-

the-art methods and instrumentation. This challenging position offers excellent growth

potential in many areas of environmental work, together with a competitive salary commensurate with your background plus generous benefits. SOHIO's relocation package for qualified new hires includes a mortgage interest differential allowance, third party home purchase option, and other features normally restricted to internal transfers.

If this opportunity interests you, please send your resume and pertinent information, in strictest confidence to:

Rodney Butler, Executive Recruitment THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY (Ohio)

1424 Midland Building-265«Cleveland,Ohio 44115 An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F

NO THIRD PARTY INQUIRIES, PLEASE. "Help us Help fo Assure America's Energy Future"

SOHIO.

34 C&EN July 20, 1981

Don't get hung up on your searching problems. Call or write our Search Assistance Desk for help in accessing CA, CAS ONLINE, CA SEARCH, CIN and other printed and computer-readable services from Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS).

Ask us about • online searching of CAS files • chemical substance searching • finding bibliographic data • CAS Registry Numbers • content and coverage of CAS files • tips for efficient chemical information

retrieval

Our Search Assistance staff is specially trained to help you get the most from CAS services.

Need Jielp searching a CAS service? DROP US

ALINE *CALL TOLL FREE:

800-848*6533 IN OHIO CALL: 614-421-6940, Ext. 3209

8 a.m.—5 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Or Write: Chemical Abstracts Service Search Assistance Desk P.O. Box 3012 Columbus, Ohio 43210

Chemical Abstracts Service A Division of the American Chemical Society

*

July 20, 1981 C&EN 35

Aniline is used in the manufacture of synthetic dyes, polyurethane foams, rubber chemicals, pharmaceuticals and photographic chemicals.

Halcon SD process offers one-step route to aniline from phenol feedstock.

Since the 19th century, aniline has been produced by nitrating benzene and then hydrogenating the nitrobenzene formed.

Today, this traditional method is being challenged by a Halcon SD process which produces high-purity aniline through the vapor phase ammonolysis of phenol.

The Halcon SD process offers a number of advantages over the classical nitrobenzene process. It is a one-step sys­tem which is simpler to operate. The raw materials-ammonia and phenol-are transportable, as opposed to nitrobenzene which usually must be produced on-site. And capital costs of the Halcon SD system are about one-fourth of the nitro­benzene route, taking into consideration that the dedicated nitric acid and hydrogen facilities are not needed. In addi­tion, the hazardous nitration step and acid waste disposal systems are eliminated, effecting additional savings in con­struction and operation.

Key to the process is the energy-saving low pressure reaction system using a proven Halcon SD catalyst that does not require regeneration and has an extraordinary commer­cial life.

With worldwide demand for aniline growing rapidly, USS

Chemicals Div. of U.S. Steel Corporation will use the Halcon SD aniline from phenol process in a new 200 million Ib/yr plant now under construction at Haverhill, Ohio. Halcon SD is providing technology, process engineering, detailed engi­neering and construction services for this project which is scheduled for operation in early 1982.

Aniline from phenol is only one of more than 85 Halcon SD and third-party processes available for license. If you would like more information on Scientific Design's worldwide capabilities in chemical process development, licensing and engineering, write on your com­pany letterhead to: SCIENTIFIC DESIGN COMPANY, Dept. CN-7, 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016, orto SCIENTIFIC DESIGN COMPANY, LTD., Dept.

|CN:7,i Bush House, Aldwych, London WC2B4QB, England.

Aniline plant under con­struction for USS Chemicals Div., U.S. Steel Corporation.

SCIENTIFIC DESIGN COMPANY Scientific Design, Halcon Research and Development and Halcon Catalyst Industries are Halcon SD Group Companies

Technology

units do not exceed 695 °C. Conven­tional incinerators are required by EPA to operate at temperatures up to 1600 °C and to have a wet scrubber to remove hydrogen chloride from the flue gas. The Rockwell system uses chromic oxide catalyst, deposited on alumina, and granular sodium car­bonate to neutralize the acid in situ in the dry state.

Rockwell spokesman Jerry Lang-heim notes that there now are two PCB incinerators licensed by EPA, one operated by ENSCO-Energy Systems at El Dorado, Ark., and the other by Rollins Environmental Ser­vices, at Deer Park, Tex. Both incin­erators are stationary and require the PCB's to be trucked to the incinera­tor. If Rockwell's plans bear fruit, the new process will be mounted on rail cars for portability.

In late May EPA approved the only chemical destruction method for PCB's. The PCBX process, devel­oped by Sunohio, is truck-mounted for portability (C&EN, June 1, page 4). It chemically strips the chlorine atoms from the PCB's and poly­merizes the biphenyl to nontoxic en­vironmentally safe materials. •

Goodyear takes on roofing market with new rubber system

Workmen waterproofing the 200,000-sq-ft roof of a new Richmond, Va., shopping center (above) may be at the vanguard of a new application for rubber. That's Goodyear Tire & Rubber's hope, as its newly formed roofing systems department begins marketing of its Versigard system that utilizes specially compounded eth-ylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, available in sheets 24 feet wide and 100 feet long. The single-ply sheets can be applied as original roofing or on top of most old roofing, often eliminating the cost of removing the old roof. Goodyear plans to select roofing contractors and distributors in cities around the U.S. It is now screening applicants and will send selected contractors to the company's master roofing school for training and certification. The system, says Goodyear roofing systems department manager Ned G. Kendall, will be marketed with a 10-year, no-leak guarantee when installed by a Goodyear-approved contractor.

AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST Provide Air Monitoring and Source Control Expertise

Here's an opportunity to participate in the growth and diversity of SOHIO's dynamic activities. You would be part of a highly skilled group of in-house technical consultants in the areas of waste treatment, environmental sampling and analysis.

More specifically, you would; • Conduct air sampling at various company

facilities in accordance with EPA regulations. • Provide technical expertise to air pollution

control projects. • Survey ambient air for fugitive hydrocarbons

and other emissions. • Solve problems in gaseous emission

monitoring and control. This position requires BS and MS degrees in

chemistry, together with at least 3 years' exper­ience in industry including recent involvement in source sampling using EPA methods. You should

be very familiar with Clean Air Act requirements and air sampling instrumentation.

Technical report writing and willingness to travel extensively are inherent to this activity. Participation in ASTM and the Air Pollution Con­trol Association is also expected.

This challenging position offers excellent growth potential in many areas of environmental work, together with a competitive salary commensurate with your background plus generous benefits. SOHIO's relocation package for qualified new hires includes a mortgage interest differen­tial allowance, third party home purchase option, and other features normally restricted to internal transfers.

If this opportunity interests you, please send your resume and pertinent information, in strictest confidence to:

Rodney Butler, Executive Recruitment THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY (Ohio)

1424 Midland Building - 266 • Cleveland, Ohio 44115 An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F NO THIRD PARTY INQUIRIES, PLEASE.

"Help us Help to Assure America's Energy Future"

SOHIO.

July 20, 1981 C&EN 37