596 Prof. H. E. Armstrong and Mr. H. W. Gosney. [June 13, 



In a second experiment in which 25 c.c. of water was used together with 

 1 grm. of enzyme, the results were as follows : — 



10 grm. 21-1 61-8 



20 „ 29-6 43-3 



30 „ 338 32-8 



50 „ 39-8 23-2 



It will be noticed that in both cases only about twice as much oil was 

 hydrolysed when the amount used relatively to a given weight of enzyme 

 was increased five times. 



The amount of oil hydrolysed is also not proportional to the amount of 

 enzyme used : thus on digesting 5 grm. of oil and 30 c.c. of water at 30° C. 

 during three days the percentage hydrolysed was : — 



By - 5 grm. enzyme 58'5 

 „ TO „ „ 83-0 

 „ 1-5 „ „ 92-0 



Apparently, when sufficient water is present, an increase in the amount 

 produces relatively little effect. Thus on digesting 10 grm. of oil with 1 grm. 

 of enzyme and varying amounts of water during 20 hours, the results obtained 

 were as follows : — 



Water used Percentage hydrorysed 



3 c.c. 88-2 



5 „ 90-3 

 10 „ 90-5 

 25 „ 90-1 

 50 „ 89-7 



Oleic acid is strong enough to make the untreated enzyme active if used 

 in sufficient amount. Thus on digesting 5 grm. of oil, 2 c.c. of water and 

 - 5 grm. of oil-free seed with varying amounts of oleic acid, the results 

 obtained were : — 



Molecular proportion of 



oleic acid Percentage hydrolysed 



1-6 

 0-5 3-2 



1 5-8 



2 23-4 



4 32-8 



6 • 35'7 



But oleic acid has a marked retarding effect. Thus in 20 hours the 

 percentage of oil hydrolysed in presence of different proportions of the acid 

 by the enzyme prepared with the aid of acetic acid was as follows : — 



80-6 

 0-5 82-4 



1 84-3 



2 70-9 

 4 58-1 

 6 45-6 



