THE PHILIPPINE 



Journal of Science 



A. General Science 



Vol. Ill JUNE, 1908 No. 3 



METHYL SALICYLATE L— THE SEPARATION OF SALICYLIC 



ACID FROM METHYL SALICYLATE AND THE 



HYDROLYSIS OF THE ESTER. 



By H. D. GiBBS. 

 {From the Ghemioal Laboratory, Bureau of Science, Manila, P. I.) 



Since salicylic acid and the salicylates have been prohibited in foods,^ 

 it becomes necessary in many cases to separate salicylic acid and its 

 metal salts from its esters. 



The methyl ester, either the synthetic preparation or oil of gaultheria, 

 or oil of betula, is often found to be a constituent of many non-alcoholic 

 beverages, such as the so-called root beers, sarsaparillas, and soda-water 

 flavors. The LTnited States Pharmacopoeia and the National Formulary ^ 

 authorize its use as a flavoring agent, and it is therefore often found in 

 emulsions, the most common of which is cod-liver oil and other pharma- 

 copoeial preparations. 



Salicylic acid or its salts and its methyl ester may be, and often are, 

 found together in the above preparations ; first, through the incoi-poration 

 of both in the original mixture; second, when methyl salicylate, or oil of 

 gaultheria, alone is used the ester may contain varying amounts of free 

 salicylic acid as an impurity; tJdrd, when a comparatively pure ester is 

 employed, free salicylic acid may subsequently become a constituent of 

 the compound through the hydrolysis of the ester. 



Eegarding the first of these sources, it is sufficient to note that pre- 

 servatives of various kinds, borax and Ijoric acid, benzoic and salicylic 



' U. 8. Dept. Agric., Food Inspection Decision 76 (1907). 

 = 3d ed. (1006), 46. 

 71978 . 101 



