( 797 ) 
From another flask quite alike to the preceding, which also con¬ 
tained 100 G. of cane sugar, were gained 15 G. of laevulan after 
17 days, 45 G. of cane sugar and 35 G. of invert sugar still being 
present. 
The slime adhering to the bottom, consisting of B. mesentericus 
with thick cell-walls of laevulan, was used for a new culture for 
which a solution of 2 # / 0 of cane sugar, 0.05 •/# K NO, and 0.05 % 
K 2 HP0 4 was used. After 18 days were obtained 2.25 G. from the 
10 G. of original cane sugar, accordingly 22,5 % of laevulan was earned. 
Pure laevulan is somewhat soluble in cold water, much better in 
boiling; all solutions opalise very strongly. It does not reduce Fehling’s 
coppersolution; only after prolonged boiling a feeble reduction is 
observed. It is incapable of alcoholic and lactic acid fermentation, 
but by butyric acid ferments, in absence of air, it gets into as strong 
a fermentation as cane sugar, whereby hydrogen, carbonic and volatile 
acid result. 
A number of bacteria can feed on it when growing with access of 
air. Azotobacter chroococcum can use it under fixation of free nitro¬ 
gen and formation of some acid. 
• By a treatment with acids, especially when warm, it changes 
readily into laevulose and so becomes fit for alcoholic and lactic- 
acid fermentation. After the inversion, by heating with resorcine and 
Strong hydrochloric acid, the red colour appears, characteristic of 
laevulose, whilst with orcine and hydrochloric acid the violet colour, 
indicating pentose, is completely absent. When distillated and 
treated with sulphuric acid no perceptible quantity of furfurol can 
be detected. 
As said, the specific rotation, which cannot be exactly determined 
on account of the strong opalisation is 
and after hydrolysis 
After prolonged heating with acid in the autoclave at 120 3 the 
rotation lowered even to 
That of pure laevulose is 
v=- 92 ‘- 
There is some probability that this diminution is due to destruction 
of part of the laevulose. 
