Supplementary Chapter 325 



Incidentally to this investigation it was necessary to study 

 the reactions of the fibre substance with various acids viz. con- 

 centrated aqueous hydrochloric acid (33 p.ct. HC1), ethereal 

 HC1, and dilute sulphuric acids N/i and N/5, in the latter 

 cases with concurrent oxidation (CrO 3 ). The following points 

 resulted : 



HClAq. at ordinary temperatures reduces the ligno- 

 cellulose to a disintegrated mass, with a loss of weight of 

 17 p.ct. From the soluble products there were obtained 



Furfural, 5-35 j f Qri M ii gnO cellulose. 



Acetic acid, 3-0 j v 



The insoluble disintegrated residue contained no furfural 

 yielding group there is therefore a constitutional change 

 affecting one-third of these. By oxidation (CrO) 3 there 

 was considerable production of acetic acid (6 '95 p.ct.), and evi- 

 dence that this was in part formed by further oxidation of a 

 ketonic acid. 



Ethereal HCl acts in many respects similarly, but no 

 volatile acids were formed. The disintegrated residue gave 

 the ordinary colour reactions with phenols and arylamines. 



H. 2 SOAq. and CrO-^. There is a notable contrast in the 

 oxidations in presence oftheN/i and N/5 acids, respectively, at 

 ordinary temperatures ; in the latter case there is a much 

 diminished yield of acetic acid, and an increase of oxalic acid. 

 We have previously shown that the lignone groups are oxi- 

 dised under these conditions, in the main to ultimate products, 

 i.e. of the lowest molecular weight, and these later observations 

 are a further confirmation of the schematic constitutional for- 

 mula for the lignone complex which we have proposed (* Re- 

 searches,' iii. p. 104). This formula has been critically discussed 

 by C. Doree in relation to the quantitative study of the action 

 of ozone on the typical lignocelluloses, the jute fibre substance, 



