71.    ARIES, R. S.  The Changing Industrial Alcohol Picture.  Chem. and Eng. News, vol. 25, 1947, pp. 1792-1796; Petrol. Processing, vol. 2, 1947, p. 409.

               Two sources are expected to satisfy the major part of the demand for industrial alcohol in the next decade, which may arise to over 200 million gal. per yr., chiefly for chemical use.  The 1^st and most important source is that from C₂H₄ from petroleum as the raw material, which even now is producing 70 million gal. per yr. with many new plants in prospect.  The second source is that by synthesis from natural gas, and 3 plants now are planned each to produce 8-10 million gal. per yr. as a byproduct.  Doubt is expressed that the industry will depend again upon molasses as the chief raw material, or that serious competition will arise from alcohol derived from waste wood or sulfite liquors or from grain alcohol because of the economic factors involved.  Alcohol is now selling at a high price ($0.80 or more per gal. compared with prewar price of $0.20-$0.25), which will be maintained only until more petroleum alcohol plants can come into production.  Present costs from C₂H₄ are even now below $0.15 per gal. at present economic levels.