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ZACATON AS A PAPER-MAKING MATERIAL. Table III.— Copper number and furfural

19

yield of samples of cotton, poplar

Epicampes pulp in two determinations. Determination No.

1.

pulp and

Determination No.

2.

Sample.

Copper No.

Furfural.

Per

Cotton Poplar pulp

1.25 4.26

Epicampes pulp

4.

Copper No.

Per

cent. 0. 40 10.01 10. 92

58

Furfural.

cent.

1.31

0.

3.82 4. 39

10.

50 00

10.62

evident that Epicampes cellulose is close to poplar pulp in oxycelluand contains slightly more of it. This being so, the Epicampes cellulose should be more sensitive to attack by hydrolytic and oxidizing agents. In verification of this, determinations were made (a) of the action of alkaline solutions and (6) of nitric acid on all three celluloses, using the same three of the preceding work. First, the action of a 1 per cent aqueous NaOH solution on the three celluloses was tried. Weighed samples were boiled 60 minutes with a large excess of the solution, then filtered, washed, dried, and again weighed. This verifies, in so far, the prediction from the relative amounts of oxycellulose. Next, the action of concentrated NaOH solution was tried, according to the usual procedure for determining "loss on mercerizing." The agreement here is as good as can be expected of this reaction, because of the slow penetration and uneven action of the cold concentrated solution. It shows the same relation between the celluloses, although more roughly than preceding determinations. Next, the action of nitric acid was tried, (a) using "nitrating acid " and determining "gain on nitration" in the usual manner and (b) using 5 per cent HN0 3 at 70° C. The resistance to combined oxidizing and solvent action of the nitrating for 7 hours. acids (equal parts of concentrated sulphuric and fuming nitric acids) is very evident It is here again

lose content

Table IV shows the numerical results

in the predicted order.

Table IV.

of

these

tests.

Action on cotton, poplar pulp, and Epicampes pulp of a concentrated and dilute and concentrated solutions of sodium hydroxid.

nitrating mixture

Determination No.

Sample.

Loss in

Loss in

NaOH,

1

per cent

solution.

Per

Per

cent.

2.0 12.3 19.3

Epicampes pulp i

Total yield

per 100 NaOH, con- grams in centrated

solution.

Cotton Poplar pulp

Determination No.

1.

cent.

7.9 15.4 17.3

Loss in

1

per cent

nitrating

mixture.

Grams. 177.7 159.0 149.2

Sample exploded during the process

Loss in

NaOH,

solution.

Per

Per

1.4 12.1

19.4

Total yield

per 100 NaOH, con- grams in centrated

solution.

cent.

2.

cent.

9.1 18.2 18.4

nitrating

mixture.

Grams. 180.7

0) 140.

of drying.

Weighed samples of hot dilute (5 per cent) nitric acid was tested. poplar pulp and Epicampes pulp were heated for 7 hours at 70° 0. with 100 times Because filtered, washed, dried, and weighed. their weight of 5 per cent 3 then Next, the action

of

HN0

,

the small amount of Epicampes pulp remaining, no duplicate could be made. The soda poplar pulp lost 6.1 per cent and the Epicampes pulp 10.2 per cent in the process. of