338 ON THE PRODUCTION OF FURFUROL. 
sent in bran, which, by the action of sulphuric acid, yields 
the oil. The following are the results, which, although 
not decisive, serve to narrow considerably the question. 
The process was in each case conducted in the same n:ian- 
ner, and with the apparatus already described. 
Fine Wheat Flour. — 64 troy ounces of flour, 32 ounces 
oil of vitriol, and an equal bulk of water, yielded about I5 
drachms of pungent and impure furfurol. 
Potato Starch. — 4 lb. of starch, 2 lb. sulphuric acid, and 
an equal bulk of water, gave merely indistinct traces of 
furlurol. The residue iii the jar was a brown pulverulent 
substance, partly soluble in solution of caustic potash, and 
apparently a mixture of ulmine and ulmic acid. 
Woody Fibre. — 2 lb. new linen cut into small shreds and 
well washed with boiling water, 1 lb. sulphuric acid, and 
an equal bulk of water gave not the least indication of fur- 
furol. 
It was interesting to remark, however, the presence in the 
distilled liquid of a minute quantity of solid white volatile 
fatty matter, illustrating the universal diffusion of fatty sub- 
stances in the vegetable kingdom, since they occur in such 
a body as linen thread. The residue in the jar consisted of 
brown insoluble matter, with a little unaltered fibre. This 
experiment was again repeated with a similar result. 
Bran perfectly freed from starch, gluten, &c., either by 
being steeped in a cold dilute solution of caustic potash, or 
mixed with water only, and left to ferment, well washed 
and dried, yields a greatly increased product of furfurol. In 
one experiment 32 troy ounces of bran thus prepared, with 
the usual proportions of sulphuric acid and water, yielded 
1072 grains of furfurol, or l-14lhof its weight. In a second 
experiment TO troy ounces of the same gave 2.959 grains of 
furfurol, or 1-1 3th of its weight. In the practical prepara- 
tion of furfurol, therefore, should this ever become an object 
of importance, it will be very advantageous to adopt this 
