Smokeless Solvent Recovery (Ether Still) Area.

This is a close-up view of the Smokeless Propellant Solvent area more commonly referred to as Ether Stills. This photo was taken about the middle of July 1942. The large circular pads at the left end of the photo are for 36' diameter by 35' high tanks that would be used to store ethanol brought in by rail car. Each tank would hold about 250,000 gallons of ethanol. The ethanol was pumped to horizontal process tanks behind the three buildings under construction in the upper right corner of the photo. The tree buildings processed the ethanol for use in the Smokeless Propellant production as a dehydrating agent and as a solvent. These three buildings also processed spent alcohol sent back from the Smokeless Propellant Production areas for recycling back to Smokeless process. The smaller pads in front of these three buildings were for tanks to store the Ether Still products (ether and alcohol) until they were pumped to the Smokeless production areas. The concrete walls around these pads are to contain spills.

    The photo at the left is a completed Ether Still Building. This photo is looking up from the bottom end of the escape chute for the top floor. The purpose of the escape chute is just what the term implies. If there is a problem in the process requiring fast escape from the building this is that means of escape. An escape chute for the second floor can be seen at the right side of the photo.