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Cevlon Citronella oils. 
Schimmel's test 
Bamber's test 
Ceylon citronella oil No. i . 
„ No. 2^) 
„ No. 3 . 
„ „ „ No. 4. 
No. 4 with Russ. petrol. 
No. 4 „ io7o „ 
N0.4 „ is\ „ 
No. 4 „ 2o7o „ 
Passes Schimmel's test even when 
Russian petroleum is added 
Passes Schimmel's test even when 
Russian petroleum is added 
Does not pass Schimmel's test . . 
Passes Schimmel's test, but no 
longer does so after 5^0 Russian 
petroleum is added 
Does not pass Schimmel's test 
Increase in volume 
of the cocoanut oil 
in cc. 
in % 
0,15 
0,2 
10 
0,25 
12,5 
0,35 
17,5 
0,4 
20 
0.45 
22,5 
0,45 
22,5 
0,5 
25 
These examinations have convinced us ' that the best way of 
meeting the present-day adulteration of citronella oil with petroleum, 
is to test the oil in the first place for its solubility in 80^/0 
alcohol (Schimmel's test), and then to repeat the test after 
adding 5 ^/q Russian petroleum. According to our present 
experience, the Ceylon citronella oils should in the latter 
case have about the same solubility as the oil not mixed 
with petroleum, but the opalescence should be stronger; a 
separation of oil should, however, not take place in this case. 
We will call this method of testing, for the sake of brevity, the 
''raised Schimmel's test", and will put it in practice from now. 
We would ask all those who are interested in this question to support 
as far as possible our efforts to make a clean sweep of the system of 
adulteration practised in Ceylon. 
Parry and Bennett^) report on a case of adulteration of citronella 
oil with alcohol. When this oil was distilled at atmospheric pressure, 
about 20^/0 passed over between 82° and 83°; this portion consisted 
(as was shown by further examination) chiefly of ethyl alcohol. This 
adulteration is especially remarkable, inasmuch as it cannot be detected 
either by Schimmel's test, or by the method recommended by Bamber, 
as these tests only refer to the adulterants insoluble in alcohol. 
^) Nothing could be said against the Ceylon citronella oils Nos. i and 2, even 
after the most minute examination. 
^) With regard to the adulteration of i7,5 7o determined for the original oil, 
the results in the mixtures should have been: 22,5; 27,5; 32,5; and 37,5 7o- 
^) Chemist and Druggist 63 (1903), 1061. 
