(a) Nitrobenzene:

Fr.

100 kgs. Benzene at 32 cts. ......

32.00

110 kgs. Hno3 (75 %) at 40 cts, ......

44'00

170 kgs. K2So4 2.70 frs. ......

4.60

80.60

Yield: 154 kgs.

Repairs and depreciation, 50 cts. per 100 kgs. ...

0.77

Labour, at 35 cts. per 100 kgs. .....

0.54

Total for 154 kgs. Nitrobenzene ....

81.91

Less 3 frs. for recovered spent acid ...

78.91

Cost of 1 kilo. Nitrobenzene about 55 centimes.

Actually the larger works can produce it more cheaply, at less than 50 centimes.

(b) Reduction of Nitrobenzene:

We will assume that exactly the 154 kgs. are reduced, remembering, however, that in actual practice charges up to 2000 kgs. are dealt with.

Fr.

Nitrobenzene, 154 kgs. about .......

85.00

Iron, 40 kgs. at 3cts ........

1.20

Hydrochloric acid, 4 kgs. at 4 cts. . .....

0.16

Lime, 4 kgs. at 1.25 frs. per 100 kgs. .....

0.05

Steam, repairs, depreciation, distillation, power, etc., for 154 kgs.

Nitrobenzene ....................................................................................

5.00

Total ..........

91.41

Yield 110 kgs. Price per kilo. 83.1 centimes.

If it is remembered that the price of aniline has at times gone down as low as 85 cts. per kilo. in the open market, it is not difficult to realize that practically no profit could have been obtained on it, and the suggestion sometimes made by purchasers that too high prices were charged for it is seen to be without foundation. At the same time it is certain that the large aniline works, such as Weiler-ter-Meer and others, had considerably lower production costs.

Fr.

no kgs. Sulphuric acid at 2.70 frs. .....

2.97

93 kgs. Aniline at 1 fr. per kg. (price in Switzerland). .

93.00

95.97

Labour, 5 hours at 80 cts.. . . . . . .

4.00

Steam (baking-stove) coal ......

2.50

Upkeep at 10 cts. per 100 kgs. .....

0.17

Total ........

. 102.64

Yield about 163 kgs. 100 % Sulphanilic acid. Price about 70 cts. per kilo.

We have now determined approximately the prices of the intermediate products, but these will, of course, vary according to circumstances and serve chiefly to show how difficult it is to get really accurate figures.

We will assume that the Sulphanilic acid costs us 70 cts., and the β-naphthol 95 cts. per kilo., according to the usual conditions obtaining in Switzerland.