UTAH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 201 
an angle of 15°. This side neck serves as a vapor outlet, 
and is connected to a standard vertical water cooled con- 
denser with a well fitting cork. After the oil has been 
poured into the flask, a wire support is placed in the 
bottom of the vertical neck, and the column filled for 614 
inches with a small iron chain—jack chain—which serves 
as a fractionating tower. The thermometer is then placed 
in the proper position through a cork in the top of the 
vertical column and distillation started. 
The Bureau of Mines uses electrical resistance heat- 
ers for distilling petroleum and shale-oil, as the heat 
can be regulated closely and conveniently, and there is 
small danger of fire. A variable resistance placed in 
series with the heater makes for easy control of tempera- 
ture. 
As the oil starts to distill, the vapor temperature 
when the first drop falls from the delivery end of the 
condenser is noted, and the rate of heating so adjusted 
that about two drops of distillate fall into the receiver per 
second. - 
The receiver is placed under the delivery end of the 
condenser, and is usually a graduated glass cylinder. The 
volume distilled is noted beginning at 50°C, and there- 
after for every 25°C rise in temperature. Usually, in 
the case of shale-oil, the oil distilled is allowed to accum- 
ulate in one receiver until the vapor temperature has 
reached 125°C, when the receiver is changed. There- 
after the receiver is changed for every 25°C rise in 
vapor temperature, so after the first fraction, each frac- 
tion or cut represents the oil distilled while the vapor 
temperature in the still was rising 25°C. Distillation is 
completed at a temperature of 275°C, as above this tem- 
perature there is danger of the oils decomposing’ or 
cracking. 
The flask and contents are then allowed to cool so 
they may be handled without danger, then the chain is 
taken from the vertical neck of the flask, and two copper 
gauze cones substituted for it about midway in the neck. 
The flask is connected to the condenser as before, and to 
the delivery end of the condenser is connected a vacuum 
receiver, so the fractions may be taken off under reduced 
pressure, and that the receivers may be changed without 
