New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 329 



CONCERNING PHYTIN IN OATS. 



In continuation of the investigation of the organic phosphoric 

 acids of grains and feeding materials which has been carried out in 

 this laboratory we have examined recently the compound existing 

 in oats. This substance has already been studied by other investi- 

 gators, notably by Hart and Tottingham x who came to the con- 

 clusion that oats contained phytin. The purpose of the present 

 investigation was to determine whether the phytin in oats was 

 identical with other phytin preparations obtained from other grains. 



We have previously shown that cottonseed meal 2 contains an 

 organic phosphoric acid which differs slightly in composition from that 

 required for the phytic acid formula of Posternak, viz : C2H8O9P2 

 or according to Neuberg C 6 H 2 40 2 7P6, although so far as properties 

 and reactions were concerned no differences could be observed. 

 This acid from cottonseed meal had been isolated as a crystalline 

 barium salt and since this salt did not show any change in eomposition 

 on recrystallization we felt reasonably certain that it was a homo- 

 geneous substance. On the other hand we were unable to obtain 

 any crystalline barium salts of the organic phosphoric acid of wheat 

 bran. 3 Only amorphous salts were obtained, which differed entirely 

 in composition from salts of phytic acid. It appeared of interest, 

 therefore, to determine whether other grains contained organic 

 phosphoric acids identical with those previously described or if 

 compounds of different composition were present. 



In the present investigation the substance was isolated as a barium 

 salt from 0.2 per ct. hydrochloric acid extract of oats by precipi- 

 tating with barium chloride. The substance was then repeatedly 

 precipitated from dilute hydrochloric acid alternately with alcohol 

 and with pure recrystallized barium hydroxide (Kahfibaum) until 

 all bases other than barium were removed and until all the inor- 

 ganic phosphate was eliminated. 



Several preparations were made from different lots of oats. The 

 substances showed absolutely no tendency to crystallize and they 

 were all obtained as snow-white amorphous powders. On analysis 

 these various preparations gave fairly concordant results but the 

 composition differed considerably from that required for salts of 

 phytic acid. The preparations were reprecipitated and subjected 

 to various other treatments but were always recovered without 

 showing any great variation in composition and it was therefore 

 thought the substance was homogeneous. 



However, it was found finally that these preparations, obtained 

 by direct precipitation, were mixtures of barium salts; probably 



1 Wis. Agr. Exp. Sta., Research Bull. 9, 1910. 



2 Journ. Biol. Chem. 13:311, 1912, and N. Y. Agr. Exp. Sta., Tech. Bull. 25, 1912; 

 yind preceding article. 



3 Joum. Biol. Chem. 12:477, 1912, and N. Y. Agr. Exp. Sta., Tech. Bull. 22, 1912. 



