Development of the Use of Electricity in Industrial Organic Chemicals Production.

Hydrogenation of plant matter, production of calcium carbide and acetylene, electric arc production of nitric acid, plasma chemistry, electrolysis in organic chemistry, and electric heating are discussed. It is concluded that in addition to the conventional uses of electricity, which may gain value owing to the soaring cost of fuels, it is by reason of the new applications of electrolysis and, principally, of hydrogen, that organic chemicals production will offer large outlets for electricity in France.