f^^O PURIFICATION OF Oil. 



Birdlime Is vlfcid, elaftic, dries a little in the air, by ex- 

 pofure to which it becomes brown ; but is not rendered brittle 

 and irrecoverable like gluten. 



It melts in the fire, fwells, and burns with a vivid Maze ; 

 but does not difFufe that animal odour which is to be obferved 

 in gluten. 



Water will not diflolve birdlime; it merely imbibes the 

 raucilage, the extra6tive matter, and the acetic acid. 



Alcalies diflolve it; when concentrated, they convert it 

 into foap. 



Dilute acids foften and partially diflolve birdlime. 



Concentrated fulphuric acid renders it black and charry. 



Nitric acid turns its colour to yellow, converting the fub- 

 ftance partly to malic and oxalic acids, and partly to refin and 

 wax. 



Oxigenated muriatic acid renders it white and folid, con- 

 flituting oxigenated birdlime. 



Alcohol exerts but little aflion upon birdlime; it diflfolves 

 the refin and deftroys the acid, 



Laftly, fulphuric ether difl'olves it entirely. 

 Recapitulation Birdlime, therefore, differs from gluten, 

 of the points jft^ jn ^hg acetous acid which exifts in it, 



wherein it dir- ^iti- n-ii i- i 



fo£ from gluten, 2d, In being very flightly animahzed. 



3d. In the mucilage and extra6live matter which may be 

 oblained from it. 



4th. In the great quantity of refin which may be obtained 

 from it by means of nitric acid. 



5th. In its folubility in ether. 



Method of purifying Oil. By M, Curaudeau.* 



The purificatioa -^ HE purification of oils for combuflion confids folely In 

 of oil confifts in tiiejr clarification : It is only fince Argand's lamps have come 

 Its clarificatJOJj. . ^ r i . i- y i ■ o . ■ i i .. ^■ 



mto common ule that this lubject has received much attention. 



There are many procefles for the purification of oils, but 

 all are not equally good ; and thofe who fell purified oil make 

 a fecret of the method of purification. 



* From Cours complet d'Agiiciilture, Tome XII. 



However, 



