Meta toluene sulphonic acid and related compoundsAllen, C. F. H. (Charles Francis Hitchcock)
Science
Meta toluene sulphonic acid and related compounds
Allen, C. F. H. (Charles Francis Hitchcock)
Organic compounds -- Synthesis; Sulfonic acids
Another portion of the syrup was dissolved in water, boiled with
purified animal charcoal, and filtered. The filtrate was colorless.
It was then evaporated on the water bath and solidified completely.
Some of this solid was ignited and a white ash was left; had it been a
sulphonic acid there would have been no residue. A qualitative analysis
of the ash was made and much phosphate and calcium found present;
therefore this solid was presumed to be a mixture of calcium phosphate
from the animal charcoal and perhaps the calcium salt of the sulphonic
acid. This showed that animal charcoal could not be used for purposes
of purification.
“Activated charcoal” has been advocated for decolorizing solutions as
well as for absorbing toxic gases; the author had become acquainted
with this material while in the Chemical Warfare Service, and had
obtained small samples of “Dorsite” and “Carbonite”. Some of this was
powdered and the brown solution boiled with it until most of the color
was removed. The solution was then filtered and evaporated on the
water bath; a white crystalline solid was again left. Investigation of
the activated charcoal showed that concentrated acids extracted some
substance which was thrown down in a flocculent white precipitate on
making alkaline with ammonia. Therefore another sample of the activated
charcoal was boiled with concentrated nitric acid, filtered, and the
charcoal washed free from acid; this sample did not decolorize well.
A sample of a specially prepared charcoal for decolorizing purposes
manufactured by the Barneby-Cheney Co. was obtained and tried, but was
unsuccessful; the color was not removed.
Infusorial earth, kiesel guhr, and “Sil-o-cel” were also tried
unsuccessfully; Fullers Earth made a very clear solution but no color
was removed.
Some of the brown viscous solution was dissolved in water, the solution
filtered and evaporated to a constant volume (estimated when no more
vapor could be seen to condense) under diminished pressure (water
pump) until it became more brown. It was then allowed to cool, and
dry hydrochloric acid gas passed in, first to expel all air or other
vapor present, and then under pressure. The solution became slightly
warm. A few fine crystals formed on the interior surface of the flask
where some of the solution had spattered during distillation, which
however were quite indistinct and seemed to be in the center of a drop
of water or solution. On allowing the flask to stand over night the
whole of the solution seemed to be filled with crystals. They were too
indistinct to enable their crystalline form to be determined so an
attempt was made to remove some for examination. As soon as they came
into contact with the air they disappeared and left a very viscous
solution, indicating that they are very hygroscopic. A small amount was
removed and placed in a dish in a vacuum desiccator which was evacuated
and left for a month, with periodical examinations. No solid appeared
at any time.
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