122 Cellulose 



(1) Ten grms. raw jute (with 10 p.ct. moisture), purified by 

 boiling in dilute solution Na. 2 CO 3 ; washed, squeezed, and placed 

 in bottle with 4 grms. CS 2 . When evenly diffused, treated with 25 

 c.c. of 15 p.ct. NaOH and left 48 hours. 



Insoluble product (after purifying), 7*053 grms. (dry) ; yield on 

 9 grms. (dry), 78-4 p.ct. Gave 4*1 p.ct. furfural on distillation 

 (HC1). 



(2) Conditions exactly as in (i), with which it was comparative 

 in regard to effect of varying the reaction ; viz. in this case the jute 

 was first treated with the NaOH, and afterwards sealed up with 

 4 grms. CS 2 . 



Insoluble product, 7*004 grms., 77*8 p.ct. The variation in 

 question was therefore without effect. The filtrate from the in- 

 soluble residue was treated with zinc acetate in excess, which has 

 been found to precipitate the dissolved fibre-constituents. The 

 precipitate was then decomposed with HC1 in excess, and the now 

 insoluble fibre-products washed, purified, dried, and weighed. 

 Weight, 0*980 grm. On distillation with HC1 this gave 0*031 grm. 

 furfural ; the filtrate from this insoluble product gave none. 



The undissolved fibre was chlorinated, and the cellulose sepa- 

 rated in the usual way : 5728 grms. obtained, i.e. 81*8 p.ct. on pro- 

 duct, or 63 p.ct. of original lignocellulose. The results are as 

 follows : 



The furfural-yielding groups have been attacked ; the total yield 

 of the aldehyde is reduced by 50 p.ct., the reduction falling chiefly 

 upon the portion hydrolysed and dissolved. The a- cellulose is un- 

 affected, the keto R. hexene groups also. The portion dissolved 

 appears to be the /3-cellulose and the furfural-yielding constituent 

 of the lignone. 



(3) The above conditions were maintained, varying the duration 

 of action of the alkali ; it was left 48 hours before adding the CS 2 . 

 The results were : 



Insoluble fibre, 6-82 grms. =75*8 p.ct. 



Giving cellulose (after Cl &c.), 57^ grms. =64 p.ct. of the original. 



Under constant conditions as regards the reagents, the results 

 are therefore independent of the mode of carrying out the reaction. 

 The reaction requires further investigation, as it appears capable 

 of throwing light upon the actual mode of union of the constituent 

 groups in the lignocellulose. 



