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Tests for Pure Glycerine (Mr Richard A Tilghman of this)

Mr. Richard A. Tilghman, of this city, has discovered a process, which consists in subjecting fatty bodies to the action of water at a high temperature under pressure, whereby their constituents combine with water, so as to form free fatty acids, and solution of glycerine. Thus obtained, it is called white or distilled glycerine, and is produced at once in the purest form. Impure glycerine may be told by the following tests: One volume of glycerine should dissolve completely in one volume of alcohol, acidulated with one per cent. of sulphurice acid, without affording any precipitate of sulphat of lime, even after standing for twelve hours. If a drop be rubbed on the hand, no odor should be perceived. Glycerine is employed to give body and age to liquor; it is also a good beading. Use one pound to a barrel of liquor. (See page 58.) To Purify Glycerine.

Commercial glycerine is purified by diluting it with water, it is then decolored with a little animal charcoal, filtered, and evaporated to the consistence of a thin syrup. It is further evaporated in a vacuum, or over sulphuric acid until it acquires a specific gravity of 1,265.

Some samples of glycerine called pure contain lead; others, chlorine, and are seldom free from water; and the best that can be procured is generally more or less acid. This last impurity is the most important to get rid of, which may be effected by digesting for some days with powdered chalk, and afterwards decanting.

Tests for Pure Glycerine.

Pure glycerine has a neutral re-action ; and, on