Whole wheat mash fermented by Aerobacillus polym.yxa was stripped of ethanol, screened, and concentrated. The resulting iy.rp *ur passed through a steam stripping column, and the leao-2,3-butanediol in the condensate was recovered by rectification. The composition of intermediate materials and products, performance of pilot plant equipment, and data and recommendations for the design of a large scale plant are [i.'e.r. Corrosive conditions are indicated and possible materials of construction suggested. A quantitative flow sheet and cost estimates for a commercial plant u.ith a capacity br tooo bu. of wheat a day are included. The daily output of such a plant is estimated to be g460 lb. of 4lo! fSS,5/6 recovery),675 gal. of 95/6 eihanol, 3900 lb. of dried bran, and 25'300 lb. of dried solubles. The initial cost of such a plant is estimated at $500,000. From estimates of raw materials and energy requirements the total cost of production of diol is calculated to be 17.3 cents per lb.-when wheat costing $1.10 per bu. is fermented.veast (1/ ).

An atomic absorption method was developed to determine the isotopic composition of lithium. The method utilizes neon-filled 6Li and 7Li hollow cathode emission lamps and a flame atomizer. The absolute precision of the method is ±0.5 at.% 6Li.

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A modified Othmer equilibrium still was used to obtain vapor–liquid equilbrium data for the levo-2,3-butanediol–water system at 14.7, 45, and 75 p.s.i. absolute. Comparison with similar data reported in the literature for the meso-2,3-butanediol–water system showed a greater volatility for the levo-isomer. There is an inflection in the equilibrium curves at lower diol concentrations.