Heating Gas From White Clover
The future in which our energy needs were met by white clover never materialized.
I wonder if there was something special about white clover that produced more/better gas? Or had they simply succeeded in producing the kind of biogas that can be derived from any plant material?
I wonder if there was something special about white clover that produced more/better gas? Or had they simply succeeded in producing the kind of biogas that can be derived from any plant material?
St. Lous Post-Dispatch - Nov 17, 1935
Lowry City Independent - Dec 26, 1935
Two Students Learn Secret of Clover Gas
ST. Paul, Minn. Nov. 6 (1935) — Discovery of a method for manufacturing a commercially adaptable gas from ordinary clover was claimed today by Dean R.U. Jones, head of the MacAlaster college chemistry department, for two of his students.
Dean Jones attributed "great possibilities" to the discovery. William Mahle and Harold Ohlgren, the latter a football star, said they developed the gas from a secret process, accidentally encountered.
Both seniors, Marle and Ohlgren conducted experiments under the direction of Dean Jones and Prof. R.B. Hastings of the college physics department. They worked with white clover plucked from roadsides.
"I am convinced," Dean Jones said, "there are great possibilities in the boys' discovery, and I believe it can be worked out commercially. I am proud of the boys, for I gave them a problem and they went far ahead of me."
ST. Paul, Minn. Nov. 6 (1935) — Discovery of a method for manufacturing a commercially adaptable gas from ordinary clover was claimed today by Dean R.U. Jones, head of the MacAlaster college chemistry department, for two of his students.
Dean Jones attributed "great possibilities" to the discovery. William Mahle and Harold Ohlgren, the latter a football star, said they developed the gas from a secret process, accidentally encountered.
Both seniors, Marle and Ohlgren conducted experiments under the direction of Dean Jones and Prof. R.B. Hastings of the college physics department. They worked with white clover plucked from roadsides.
"I am convinced," Dean Jones said, "there are great possibilities in the boys' discovery, and I believe it can be worked out commercially. I am proud of the boys, for I gave them a problem and they went far ahead of me."
Comments
Mainly or completely, it's hype to make it interesting.
By the way, I accidentally encountered a new process to trim my toenails the other day. Before that, It was a secret.
By the way, I accidentally encountered a new process to trim my toenails the other day. Before that, It was a secret.
Posted by Virtual in Carnate on 02/07/23 at 10:47 AM
'Commercial gas' at the time was produced by a fairly expensive process. That's why it was eventually replaced by natural gas as drilling and pipeline technology improved. This process was likely in the middle, cheaper than commercial gas but more expensive than natural gas.
White clover produces a wide spectrum of enols. But like most weeds, it's not well suited for cultivation.
White clover produces a wide spectrum of enols. But like most weeds, it's not well suited for cultivation.
Posted by Phideaux on 02/07/23 at 05:00 PM
White clover is NOT a weed. Here it IS cultivated on a wide scale as forage.
Posted by F.U.D in Stockholm on 02/08/23 at 12:26 AM
F.U.D. -- There are several subspecies. What is grown for fodder is fairly domesticated and is relatively simplistic. It is the wild kind (as noted in the article) which produces the richest mix of organic molecules. That is a weed.
Posted by Phideaux on 02/08/23 at 01:52 AM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Category: 1930s | Power Generation