37 



Boiling point. One hundred cubic centimeters slowly heated in a flask under 

 prescribed conditions must give a distillate of not less than 90 cc at a temperature 

 not exceeding 75 C. at the normal pressure of tin; barometer (7GO mm). 



Miscibility with water. It must give a clear or only slightly opalescent solution 

 when mixed with twice its volume of water. 



Acetone content. It must contain not more than 25 nor less than 15 grams per 100 

 cc of acetone and other substances estimated as acetone when tested by the method 

 of Messinger. 



Esters. It should contain not more than 5 grams of enters per 100 cc of spirit, cal- 

 culated as methyl acetate. 



Bromin absorption. It must contain a sufficient quantity of impurities derived 

 from the wood, so that not more than 25 cc nor less than 15 cc shall be required to 

 t decolorize a standard solution containing 0.5 grain of bromin. 



In addition to the above requirements, the methyl alcohol must be of such a char- 

 acter as to render the ethyl alcohol with which it is mixed unfit for use as a beverage. 



PURE METHYL ALCOHOL. 



As acetone and methyl alcohol form mixtures having a minimum 

 boiling point, it is impracticable to separate them by simple distilla- 

 tion, and therefore other means are employed. The alcohol is treated 

 with chlorin, which, combining with the acetone, forms chloracetones 

 having high boiling points and from which the alcohol may be sepa- 

 rated by distillation. Another method is to add iodin and caustic 

 soda, which form a precipitate of iodoform with acetone, which may 

 be removed by filtration or sedimentation, the alcohol being subse- 

 quently distilled. 



Still another method, and the one probably most generally used, 

 is to treat the alcohol with calcium chlorid, with which alcohol com- 

 bines forming a compound having the formula CaCl 2 .4CH 3 OH, stable 

 at 100 C. This compound is heated gently until the acetone is 

 driven off, treated with hot water under pressure, and the methyl 

 alcohol distilled. This distillate is again rectified and redistilled 

 over lime until it contains from 95 to 99 per cent of alcohol. This 

 product is known to the trade as " Columbian Spirits," "Louis d'Or," 

 " Eagle Spirits," " Colonial Spirits," or refined wood alcohol, which 

 has a spirituous odor, a specific gravity of 0.8142, and boils at 66 

 to 67 C. at It is miscible in all proportions with water, ordinary 

 alcohol, and ether, and is an excellent solvent for fats, oils, and resins. 

 It is extensively used in the manufacture of anilin colors and smoke- 

 less powder, in the making of hats, etc. 



ACETONE. 



Pure acetone is a colorless liquid having a peculiar ethereal odor 

 and a burning taste, a specific gravity of 0.814, and a boiling point 

 of 56.3 C. at 0. It is miscible with ether, alcohol, and water in all 

 proportions. Commercial acetone should not have a specific gravity 

 greater than 0.802 at 15 C., and four-fifths of it should distil below 



[Cir. 36] 



