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1950 - 1959
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| 1950s |
Expansion of large British gas plants to regional works. British experiment (Water Pollution Research Lab, Stivichal) with biochemical oxidation of ammoniacal liquors and spent liquors. General shutdown of remaining manufactured gas plants in U.S. Incidental use of MGPs for peak shaving in winter time. Manufactured gas plants demolished for utility service yards. Widespread scrapping of gas holders for metal values in U.S. |
| 1950 |
Natural gas dominates over manufactured gas in U.S. UK requires dephenolization of ammoniacal liquors before discharge to open waters so as to protect aquatic life and reduce objectionable tastes for water supplies. Discharge to municipal sewers must be by way of negotiated agreement with sewer authority and in accordance with the Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises) Act of 1937. Agreement to place maxima for ammonia, sulphide, free tar and oils temperature and pH. |
| 1951 |
USPHS studies coke process and waste streams at Columbia-Geneva works of U.S. Steel Corp. |
| 1952 |
British devise Rochdale process of transferring blue gas or town gas through continuous vertical carbonization retorts to improve throughput of manufactured gas by up to 50 percent. |
| 1953 |
All-time peak coke production in U.S. AGA Subcommittee on Plant Waste Disposal: "The group discussed the changes in waste disposal resulting from raw material changes, such as the increased use of oil and decreased use of coal, the ways in which the subcommittee might be useful in solving air and water pollution which may occur throughout the industry and what research program to propose. |
| 1954 |
Manufactured gas companies in transition; Mixed manufactured and natural gas, also LPG gas. California State Water Quality Control Board Issues Water Quality Criteria; First in U.S. |
| 1955 |
Worldwide trend appearing outside US in growing shortage of good gas-making coals; Wide- scale conversions to manufacture city gas by oil-gas; with lower demand for carburetted water-gas plants. Consolidated Edison Co., of NYC, begins final phase of conversion of its carburetted water-gas generators to high-Btu oil-gas manufacture as peak-shaving backup. Canada installs 16 new Power-Gas Canada, Ltd., MGP units. USPHS report warns of toxicity of PAHs (Van Oettingen). |
| 1956 |
25 percent of British coal-gas plants remain using horizontal retorts. Coal-gas retort life extended to 4000 days, by improvements in refractories. |
| 1957 |
First U.S. national Water Pollution Control Act; Requires primary treatment of industrial wastewater; "Toxic substances, including metallic ions, phenolic compounds, oils, alkalis, and acids should be virtually eliminated from sewage effluents." AGA deactivates its Manufactured Gas Production Committee. |
| 1958 |
U.S. coke production from 78 works in 22 States. Sewage and Industrial Wastes: journal issues Industrial wastes guide - By-Product coke industry: Update to the 1944 U.S. Army-U.S. Public Health Service Pollution on The Ohio River study.UK Ministry of Education issues its classic Town Gas, Its Manufacture & Distribution, by Stewart. |
| 1959 |
Revival of gas lighting (natural gas) for ambience. Price of creosote rises 75 percent to 1969; Reflects diminishing supply of coal tar. |
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