View report page

74
ELECTROLYTIC DISINFECTANT.
Condition of Plant, Improvements, Cost of Plant, Output, Cost
of Manufacturing. Balance Sheet and Comparison.
The Electrolytic apparatus commenced work in February, 1906.
Condition of Plant.
The wear and tear has been practically nothing to speak about.
The plant after two years is still in good working order, turning out
185 gallons of fluid in 8 hours, at an average strength of 4.5 to 5.0
grammes of chlorine per litre. It has not been necessary to renew any
of the zinc electrodes, which from their present condition no doubt can
be used for a much further period.
To prevent the salt from acting upon the iron, the interior of the
large supply tank has been coated over with "Rosbonite," a preparation
which answers admirably. The saturators have been treated in a like
manner.
There has been introduced a very simple arrangement to insure the
mixing of the preservative (Hydroxide of Magnesia*) and a large amount
of labour is also saved.
Cost of Plant, &c.
Total cost up to date, 31st January, 1908, of depot, plant, fittings,
alterations, painting, testing apparatus, carboys, syphons, &c., £606 18s. 3d.
Initial outlay, 1906, was £583 9s. 2d., which shows that £23 9s. 1d. has
been expended during the years 1906 and 1907 for carboys, sundry
additional apparatus, repairs to depot, new electric light, paint, Rosbonite,
and minor details.
* See Lancet, 18th, January 1908. Electrolytically produced Fluids containing
Hypochlorites, their Manufacture and the Rationale and Chemistry of the process for
securing stability.