io6 



Journal of Agricultural Research 



Vol. VI, No. 3 



Stearic-acid solutions were found to crystallize more readily and with 

 greater uniformity in sterilizer bottles than in separatory funnels, prob- 

 ably owing to the more rapid chilling of the narrow column of liquid and 

 more thorough filtration. 



Table III shows the amount of stearic acid crystallized from solutions 

 of different content and the saturation of the mother liquor. 



Table 111.— Crystallization of stearic acid from solutions of different content, using 



sterilizer bottles 



Table IV. — Crystallization of stearic acid from solutions of different content, using 



sterilizer bottles 



Alcohol-stearic-acid solution (0.3990 gm. 

 in 150 c. c). 



100 

 IIO 



120 

 130 

 140 



150 



Alcohol. 



C.c. 



SO 



40 

 30 



20 

 10 



Equivalent in 



stearic acid 



(grams in 



150 c. c). 



O. 2660 

 . 2926 

 .3192 

 •34S8 

 •3724 

 •3990 



Precipitate. 



Gm. 



o- 0555 

 . 0980 

 • iSoo 



•174s 

 •20SS 



•233s 



Saturation 

 (grams in 

 100 c. c). 



o. 1403 



.1297 

 . II28 



. 1 142 



.1113 

 .1103 



APPLICATION OF CRYSTALLIZATION METHOD 



The facility with which alcohol-stearic-acid solutions crystallize in- 

 creased with the concentration. Solutions of 0.40 to 0.45 gm. to 150 c. c. 

 formed crystals readily, gave a satisfactory amount of precipitate, and 

 when applied to the insoluble acids of butter yielded an additional amount 

 from that source. This would indicate that if the stearic-acid content 

 of the solution is sufficient, crystallization of stearic from butter 

 acids is no more difficult than from other products. The results were 

 very concordant for a crystallization method when all details of manip- 

 ulation were strictly observed: The water maintained at the required 

 level, properly iced at all times, and the pump run continuously at good 

 speed. A gentle agitation of the solution after standing overnight in 

 the ice tank assisted in completing the precipitation, but anything in 



