COMMERCIAL VALUE OF THE OIL IN HEVEA SEEDS. I/I 



The sample consisted of about 7 Ibs. of finely ground meal 

 of a pale buff colour ; it was free from husk, and possessed the 

 pleasant odour characteristic of oil meals. 



On extraction with light petroleum, the meal yielded 36.1 

 per cent, of an oil which had a slightly acid odour, and, on 

 standing, solidified as a soft, crystalline, yellow mass. It furnished 

 the following constants : 



Specific gravity at 15 Cent. 0.911 



Free fatty f Acid value - 130.5 

 acids I acids (calculated as 



( oleic acid) 65.6 per cent. 



Neutral oil 34-4 



Ester value 65.2 



Saponification value J 95-7 



Iodine value 136.2 



When heated, the oil began to melt at 19 Cent., and was a clear 

 liquid at 28 Cent. It had very marked drying properties, and 

 yielded a solid, transparent film. On saponification with caustic 

 soda, the oil furnished a rather soft soap of a yellowish colour. 



In the following table the constants and properties of the 

 oil extracted from this sample of meal are contrasted with those 

 of the oil obtained from the freshly crushed decorticated seeds ; 

 the constants of linseed oil are again added for comparison : 



It will be observed that the oil extracted from the meal was 

 solid, whereas that obtained from the freshly ground seed was a 

 liquid. This difference is due to the large proportion (65.6 per 



