On peat and its products / Professor Brande.

  • Brande, William Thomas, 1788-1866.
Date:
[1851]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On peat and its products / Professor Brande. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    layers; the lower consisting of acid, water, and impurities ; the upper, of paraffine and oils. This mixture of paraffine and oily hydrocarbons is then submitted to distillation : the first half of the distilled products consists chiefly of hydrocarbons of the naphtha family ; the other half contains the denser oils and paraffine; when cold, the paraffine crystallises, and is separated from the oil by straining and pressure ; it is subsequently bleached and deodorized by chlorine, or chlorochromic acid ; then redistilled, pressed, and steamed, until brought to a state of purity. The heavy oils, from which the paraffine is deposited, are then mixed with the lighter oils, which were separated in the first instance hy distillation, and with caustic lime. After a time sulphuric acid is added, which combines with impurities. The oils are then distilled, bleached by chlorochromic acid, and deodorized. In this part of the process the substance called capnomor, the properties of which have not been investigated, presents itself. C. The gases. — The greater part of the oxygen of the air which is blown through the furnace, naturally combines in the first instance with the burning carbon and is converted into carbonic acid. This gas, however, on rising through the intensely heated mass, takes up an additional proportion of carbon to form carbonic oxide, which passes off with the hydrogen and gaseous hydrocarbons, also generated by the combustion, and which, notwithstanding the large proportion of nitrogen blended with them, remain in the form of an inflammable mixture, which is ultimately used as fuel to work the steam-engine, and to heat the stills and boilers. In conclusion Professor Brande reviewed the various products of peat and their uses. They appear to be. 1. Sulphate of Ammonia. This substance is employed in the pre- paration of carbonate and muriate of ammonia, of caustic ammonia, and in the manufacture of manures and fertilizing composts. 2. Acetate of Lime, which is in constant demand as a source of acetic acid, and of various acetates largely consumed by the calico printers. 3. Pgroxylic spirit (or wood-alcohol) used in vapour lamps, (two of which were exhibited and attention called to the brilliancy of the light afforded,) and in the preparation of varnishes. 4. Naphtha, used for making varnishes, and for dissolving caoutchouc. 5. Heavy and more fixed oils, applicable for lubricating machi- nery, especially when blended with other unctuous substances ; or as a cheap lamp oil, and as a source of lamp black. 6. Paraffine. This when mixed with fatty matter forms a material for candles, samples of which were shown, consisting of mixtures of paraffine, sperm, and stearine.