Soil erosion in South Africa
- Authors: Kitto, P H
- Date: 1936
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193679 , vital:45385
- Description: The development of Soil Science in western Europe, eastern North America, and later in other countries, which, in its modern form only started about the beginning of the last century, might be said to mark the first step in the consideration of Soil Erosion from a scientific aspect, although it was some time before scientists began to concentrate on and study the problem as one which demanded a detailed investigation. Empirically, erosion has been noted and, where the value of the land warranted it, practical methods adopted for its control, in many cases with no small measure of success, for centuries, but the methods adopted were localised to small regions, and the major destruction went on unchecked. The seriousness of this destruction was usually not realised until too late, and striking examples exist of the complete desiccation resulting from this neglect. Those of China, Arabia, Mesopotamia and other countries have often been quoted, and need not be described again here. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 1936
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- Date Issued: 1936
A polarographic study : the estimation of sodium and potassium in the presence of each other
- Authors: Carter, Austin John
- Date: 1938
- Subjects: Polarographs , Polarography , Potassium , Sodium
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4455 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1010434
- Description: The polarographic method has been described, and an attempt made to describe the difficulty of the simultaneous deposition of sodium and potassium. Various methods have been examined, of which precipitation of potassium with magnesium dipicrylaminate seems the most promising. The quantitative results were unsatisfactory, and possible sources of error are discussed. The method, while very convenient, rapid and labour-saving, is not sufficiently standardised to be trustworthy.
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- Date Issued: 1938
The determination of selenium and tellurium in blister copper and copper concentrates
- Authors: Gray, Douglas James Skirving
- Date: 1940
- Subjects: Selenium , Tellurium , Copper
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4478 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012090
- Description: Selenium and tellurium do not occur to any great extent in Nature and they are seldom studied in any detail. However, a general understanding of their properties, both physical and chemical, is essential in an investigation of their analytical determination. A general account may be found in many of the text-books on inorganic chemistry, but the following resumè has been included in this dissertation for the sake of completeness.
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- Date Issued: 1940
A preliminary investigation of the chemical nature of wattle tannin
- Authors: Corbett, John Henry
- Date: 1945
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:21062 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6201
- Description: From Introduction: Although the tannins of wattle bark extract are generally considered to be of the class known as condensed tannins, a review of the general chemical nature of the tannins is given for the sake of completeness. This constitutes Part I of the thesis. Part II describes the preliminary investigation of the chemical nature of black wattle extract.
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- Date Issued: 1945
A study of the errors involved in the sampling of soils
- Authors: Steyn, Willem Johannes Abraham
- Date: 1945
- Subjects: Soils -- Analysis , Soil chemistry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4505 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013290
- Description: The importnnce of representative soil sampling is now beginning to receive more general recognition. The analysis of the sample, and any chemical or physical treatment it may undergo in the laboratory, is of little practical value if it is not known with reasonable certainty that this sample represents fairly the area from which it as taken. It has been said over and over again, that the existence of the world's whole civilization is dependent upon a mere strip of soil, only 9 inches in depth. The study of the soil is therefore of special importance if only for the practical end of replacing any nutrient deficiencies which may be found. Intro., p. 1.
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- Date Issued: 1945
Base exchange in soils : a study of the reproducibility of base exchange values for some South African soils, as indicated by leaching with normal ammonium acetate solution
- Authors: Pienaar, D J
- Date: 1946
- Subjects: Soil chemistry , Soils
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4489 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013038
- Description: A very reliable method for the total analysis of the ammonium acetate leachate has been outlined. This is both simple and straight forward and is more rapid than any which have been seen in the literature. It is particularly applicable where a worker must perform a large number of routine analyses in the minimum of time. Shirley (29) and other workers have shown that 1000 ml. of leaching solution is generally necessary to extract all the exchangeable gases. The present investigation has shown that the time of leaching makes no appreciable difference to the amounts of bases replaced, as long as this exceeds four hours. Two alternative methods have been introduced for the rapid determination of the total exchangeable bases in a soil and there are considered to be more reliable than that of Bray and White. It is suggested that the two new methods might yield a still greater degree of accuracy if larger aliquots were to be used for each determination. It is further pointed out that the values obtained by the chloride methods are more likely to represent correct values than the sum totals of the bases as determined individually, since these are arrived at by summing the results of four different estimations, each of which is liable to experimental error, whereas in the chloride methods there is only one perfectly straightforward determination. The values for the total exchangeable bases in the soils examined were found to vary over the range 2.50 to 14.28 m.e. per 100 g. soil, with a variance of up to ± 0.2sm.e. per 100 g., corresponding to a percentage error of up to ± 4.7%. These figures are based on the analysis of 12 separate leachings of each soil with normal ammonium acetate solution of pH 7.00. This rather wide variance can be attributed to the fact that the exchangeable bases in some soils are more easily replaceable than in other soils. It is regretted that the shortage of time and the non-availability of a complete range of samples of all typical South African soils has prevented the attainment of an original objective, namely, a statistical evaluation of the base exchange figures for all South African soil types. It would also have been of great interest to have been able to establish exactly the composition of the double salt of calcium and magnesium, whose existence has been postulated to explain the effect of the Ca/Mg ratio on the results yielded by the first chloride method. Summary, p. 67-68.
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- Date Issued: 1946
A preliminary investigation of the determination of ionic mobilities by conductometric titration
- Authors: Festenstein, Gerald Norman
- Date: 1947
- Subjects: Ionic mobility , Conductometric analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4472 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011810 , Ionic mobility , Conductometric analysis
- Description: The determination of ionic mobilities by conductometric titration was first suggested by Barker, Rowler and Shuttleworth in discussing the theory of conductometric titration of acids, bases and neutral salts. Intro. p. 1.
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- Date Issued: 1947
The high pressure catalytic hydrogenation of the tannin of black wattle (Acacia mollissima Willd)
- Authors: Silk, M H
- Date: 1947
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:21132 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6528
- Description: From Introduction: The wattle industry in South Africa has, from its commencement in the middle of the last century, gradually assumed a position of increasing importance in the economic structure of the country. Apart from the provision of a valuable tanning extract for home use and for export, the tree itself has proved of considerable importance to the Union’s mining industries. In addition there would appear to be possibilities for the utilisation in the near future, of the raw ground bark and the wattle extract for the manufacture of a number of by-products, including certain types of plastics.
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- Date Issued: 1947
A critical evaluation of the analytical method used for the separation and estimation of copper and nickel
- Authors: Sismey, J E
- Date: 1948
- Subjects: Copper -- Analysis , Nickel -- Analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4519 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014335
- Description: [From Introduction]. This thesis deals with the determination of copper and nickel both separately and in each other's presence. The work is divided into two sections, one of which treats the subject from the theoretical side while the other contains an account of the practical work performed by the author. In the theoretical section, an attempt is made to summarise the better-known methods for the determination of copper and nickel, and at the same time, to incorporate such improvements, criticism and variations as have appeared in the literature. The subject is so vast that its summary in so short a space must necessarily be incomplete. Yoe and Server, for example, quote 111 references on the subject of the nickel-dimethylglyoxine with other ions. Only a fraction of the literature was available, and space permitted only a fraction of this to be abstracted in the following pages.
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- Date Issued: 1948
The oxidation and degradation products of black wattle tannin (Acacia mollissima)
- Authors: Heugh, Richard Anthony
- Date: 1948
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:21169 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6706
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- Date Issued: 1948
The anodic oxidation of calcium lactate : an estimation of the products of electrolysis and an investigation into some of the problems involved
- Authors: Impey, Norman Robert Murray
- Date: 1949
- Subjects: Electrolytic oxidation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4480 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012556 , Electrolytic oxidation
- Description: The subject of this thesis was chosen originally as a result of a suggestion made by a manufacturer of lactic acid. Lactic acid is made by a fermentation process from molasses and the acid is extracted from the fermentation liquors as calcium lactate. The conversion of the calcium lactate back to lactic acid is a tedious process from an industrial point of view. It was therefore suggested that the conversion may be more easily accomplished by electrolysis. The first experimental work was conducted with this object in view, but it soon became apparent that it was unlikely that lactic acid could be produced in suitable quantities for industrial purposes by this means. There was no reference in the literature to the electrolysis of calcium lactate, and little reference to the electrolysis of lactates in general, and what there was appeared to be conflicting, so it was decided to continue the investigation into the subject in order to determine what are the products of the anodic oxidation of calcium lactate. Intro., p.1.
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- Date Issued: 1949
The construction of a precision conductance bridge and its application to a study of chromium sulphate complexes
- Authors: Goddard, Errol Desmond
- Date: 1949
- Subjects: Chromium
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4476 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012038 , Chromium
- Description: A constant temperature room employing the comparatively new method of temperature control by means of a thyratron relay has been constructed. A high precision conductance bridge has been built in a very convenient form. Improvements include the incorporation of a cathode ray oscilloscope as null detector and the inclusion of a very stable oscillator of the phase shift type which is capable of giving a very pure wave form. Tests carried out on a system of degenerative tuning showed the the system is not easily applicable to high gain amplifiers. A new form of conductometric titration cell, employing the dipping type electrodes has been designed with special precautions against possible Parker Effect. A series of tests has been carried out on three types of cell to ascertain the effects of absorption, polarisation and Parker Effect on the accuracy of an ordinary conductometric titration. Conductometric titrations of NaOH solutions of violet and green chromic sulphate has been carried out, and the effect of aging these solutions closely studied. In addition, conductometric titrations of BaCL₂ into the chromic solutions have been made, and the NaOH titrations have been studied potentiometrically as well.
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- Date Issued: 1949
An investigation of certain complex ions of trivalent chromium by spectrophotometric and other physical methods
- Authors: Burley, Ralph Walter
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Chromium
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4521 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014675
- Description: Although chromium coordination compounds are of considerable technological importance, they have been subjected to few thorough investigations since Werner's original experlments, in spite of the fact that we now possess a number of accurate physical methods, not available in Werner's time for the study of coordination complexes, The object of the work described in this thesis was to obtain further information on the chemistry of complex chromium(III) ions with special reference to the dioxalato-diaquochromiate system, [Cr(C₂0₄)₂(H₂0)₂]. For this purpose; spectrophotometric and potentlometrlc measurements were combined to yield information on a number of topics, The spectrophotometric investigations consisted in measuring the absorption spectra of the potassium salts of the complexes under consideration and in observing the changes in light absorption which occur during their formatlon and decomposition. The instrument used was a Beckmann Quartz Spectrophotometer model du. More than than twelve new absorption spectra were measured in this work and in conjunction with the spectra of other chromium and cobalt complexes reported by earlier workers, these are used to review the position of spectrophotometry as a method of investigating chromium complexes. The reasons for the shapes of the absorption spectra are discussed and it is concluded that spectrophotometry is useful for observing the progress of reactions involving complex ions and for analysing solutions, but that more fundamental data cannot be expected from the absorption curves.
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- Date Issued: 1950
A preliminary investigation of the structure of green wattle tannin (acacia decurrens willd)
- Authors: Glueck, Leonard David
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Tannins , Tannin plants
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4475 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011988 , Tannins , Tannin plants
- Description: Green wattle tannin extracts were separated by lead salt precipitation into a phenolic tannin fraction and a nontannin fraction. The combustion analysis of the tannin fraction corresponded to an empirical formula C₁₅H₁₄O₆. Methoxy and acetyl values showed four oxygens were hydroxy groups while the residual oxygens could either be ether linked or carbonyl groups. Diazomethane methylation produced a white product of high methoxyl value which indicated that the four hydroxyl groups were phenolic. Chromatography of the lead salt purified tannin showed an indistinct non-fluorescent trail. Ether extraction of the tannin removed the associated Phenolic bodies. The ethereal extract unlike black wattle extracts contained no fisetin and evaporation of the ethereal solutions yielded a gummy non-crystalline residue. Alkaline fusion of the purified tannin produced for the first tlme a variety of acidic and phenolic compounds i.e. resorcinol, pyrogaloll, phloroglucinol β-resorcylic acid, gallic acid and protocatechuic acid. From the high yields of resorcinol (6%) and gallic acid (3%), these units appear to predominate. These degradation productions, coupled with the analytical figures, indicate a possible C₁₅ unit with resorcinol and pyrogallol nuclei as a basis. The non-tannin fraction failed to reveal any compound which might cause the excessive redness in green wattle extracts. Chromatography of this non-tannin fraction showed the presence of sucrose.
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- Date Issued: 1952
A study of cation exchange in South African soils
- Authors: Du Toit, A A
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Soil chemistry , Ion exchange
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4462 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011506 , Soil chemistry , Ion exchange
- Description: The colloidal fraction is the vital part of a soil. These extremely minute particles determine the nature of the soil and are mainly responsible for its many and varied functions. The most important of these functions is perhaps the ability of the colloids to adsorb and exchange cations, the elements so essential to all organisms as building materials. When pure water is passed through a non-saline. soil, the leachate will contain very few dissolved cations. If, on the other hand, an electrolyte such as a weak solution of sodiun chloride, is passed through the same soil, the leachate will contain considerable quantities of calcium, magnesium and potassiun chlorides as well as much of the original sodium chloride. The number of equivalents of the cations collected will be approximately the same as the number of equivalents of sodium ions added. Sodium ions have displaced some of the calcian, magnesium and potassium ions from the soil. This phenomenon is known as cation exchange. Intro., p. 1.
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- Date Issued: 1952
Attempted synthesis of a [beta] or [gamma] resorcinyl alcohol
- Authors: Ryding, William Wallace
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Alcohol -- Synthesis , Resorcinol
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4517 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014134
- Description: The ultimate objective of this research is the elucidation of the mechanism of the resorcinol-formaldehyde condensation. Whilst a vast literature has been built up about the phenol- formaldehyde condensation, that of resorcinol has received but scant attention, probably because the high reactivity of resorcinol rendered the following of the condensation extremely difficult. The earliest observation concerning the resorcinol-formaldehyde condensation was due to Baeyer who, in 1872, condensed resorcinol with various aldehydes. When the aldehyde was relatively inactive crystalline compounds were obtalned but with acetaldehyde or formaldehyde a resinous product resulted. In 1892 Caro condensed an excess ot resorcinol with formaldehyde in the presence of dilute hydrochloric acid; the product obtained recrystallised from alcohol as white microsoopic crystals, decomposed without melting at 250° and was stated to be bis (2- 4 dihydroxyphenyl) methane ... In decidlng upon the most suitable lines of attack it would seem that a survey of the literature relating to the phenol-formaldehyde concentration which might be expected to be closely related to that of resorcinol, would be of value. Summary of p. 1-5
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- Date Issued: 1952
Investigation leading to a process for the synthesis of hydrogen sulphide from sulphur and certain lubricating oils derived from petroleum
- Authors: Schauder, H
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Hydrogen sulfide
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4499 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013160
- Description: The primary object of the present study was to provide a process adaptable to prevailing South African conditions, for the manufacture of hydrogen sulphide. Such a process would also be suitable for use in other countries where the gas is not obtainable naturally or from refinery operations or as a by-product from other industries. Early in the study it was found that the literature embodying prior work was very scattered in character and had to be sought in many different fields of research. It was therefore decided to make the record of prior work as comprehensive as possible so as to provide, at the same time, a starting point tor future workers on related subjects. Intro., p. 1.
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- Date Issued: 1952
Studies in chromium complexes
- Authors: Friend, Maurice Temple
- Date: 1953
- Subjects: Complex ions , Chromium
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4474 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011892 , Complex ions , Chromium
- Description: In this work physical and analytical methods have been used to investigate the potassium salts of certain dioxalato chromium (III) complexes. The solid potassium salts of the trioxalatochromiate and the cis and trans dioxalatodiaquochromiates together with a salt corresponding to potassium dioxalatosulphatoaquochromiate were prepared. The mono- and dihydroxo derivatives of the cis and trans dioxalatochromiates were also obtained in aqueous solution. The methods of preparation and analysis used are described. Spectrophotometric absorption curves obtained on solutions of these salts using a Beckman Spectrophotometer are in agreement with results of previous workers, and the new absorption curve obtained from a solution of the solid cis dioxalatodiaquochromia salt shows that it is pure and gives additional proof of the completeness of the trans - cis isomerisation. Summary, p. i.
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- Date Issued: 1953
Studies in chromium complexes
- Authors: Cooper, Desmond Rudolph
- Date: 1953
- Subjects: Chromium , Complex ions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4523 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014707
- Description: The chemistry of co-ordination compounds in general has played an important role in the development of the modern theory of valency, but the properties of complex salts between chromium and organic compounds containing carboxyl and amino- groups are of additional interest because of their bearing on the theory of certain technological processes such as chromium plating and, in particular, chrome-tanning. Owing to the rapid development of valence theory over the last two decades the technological chemist finds himself at a disadvantage vis-a-vis his academic counterpart in attempting to interpret the results of researches relating to these compounds as he must rely on the less powerful "classical" approach to his problems. Hence the need was felt for a brief survey of modern concepts of valency in terms of wave mechanics. For a more extended study the reader may consult the appropriate references and text books.
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- Date Issued: 1953
The chemistry of the wattle tannins
- Authors: Roux, David Gerhardus
- Date: 1953
- Subjects: Tannin plants , Tannins , Wattles (Plants)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4492 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013098
- Description: Four species of acacia of Auatralian origin are associated with the wattle industry in South Africa. Black wattle, Acacia mollissima willd., is the most important of these and is today almost exclusively cultivated. The tree grows successfully only in a limited area of rich soil and high rainfall and is easily affected by adverse conditions caused by insect pests, frost damage and drought. Expansion of the area under cultivation is therefore, not feasible, although the world demand for vegetable extracts far exceeds the available supply. The remaining species such as green (Acacia decurrrens willd.) and silver wattles (Acacia dealbata Link.) possess many desirable characteristics which resist such adverse factors. Their barks, however, give reddish extracts, which are considered unsuitable for tannery usage because of the red colour they impart to the leather. Hybridisation studies, involving the crossing of green and silver wattle with the black, and aimed at produc1ng progenies containing many of the desirable characterlstics of the parent plants, are thus a natural result and have been in progress for a considerable period. Summary, p. i.
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- Date Issued: 1953