3 70 Messis. Itowney and How's Analysis of'

CXCIV. Analysis of the Ashes oj ' the Orange-Tree (Citrus aurantium). By %!essrs. T H ~ M A ~ H. ROWNEY and HENRY How.

F O R the materials used in the follon-ing analyses we are indebted to the kindness of Mr. Da Cumara, who had

sent i t over for investigation from his plantations on the island of St. Michel, being desirous to become acquainted with the mineral constituents of the orange-tree, which forms the principal wealth of his country. The analyses were per- formed under the direction of Dr. Hofmann in the laboratory of the Royal College of' Chemistry.

To prepare the ashes in a fit state for analysis, the different parts of the plant were heated in an inclined, open Hessian crucible, until the carbon was consumed". The ashes thus obtained were mixed with a small quantity of oxide of mer-

* To obtain the ash of the fruit, the oranges were cut into slices, and after separation of the seed dried on the sand-bath in a covered porcelain dish, and tlicii burnt in a cruciblc.

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the Aslies of the Orairye- Tree. cury and ignited a second time in a platinum capsde over a spirit-lamp, in order to reproduce the sulphates, which in the former process had been reduced to sulphides.

The same quantity of ash served to determine the potash and soda, sulphuric and phosphoric acids, perphosphate of iron, lime and mapesia, silicic acid and accidental sand and charcoal. For this purpose, the hydrochloric acid solution was evaporated to dryness, gently ignited and extracted with hydrochloric acid. The solution thus obtained was divided into different parts. The first portion served fbr the determi- nation of the potash and soda.

For this purpose the acids, lime, magnesia, &c. were re- moved by baryta, the excess of baryta by carbonate of am- monia, and the ammoniacal salts by gentle ignition. The residue, potash and soda, were estimated partly by separating them by means of bichloride of platinum (analyses of the ashes of the root and seed) and partly by the indirect method, namely, by converting the mixed chlorides into sulphates, weighing these and ascertaining the amount of sulphuric acid by means of chloride of barium (analyses of the stem, leaves and fruit).

I n the second portion, sulphuric and phosphoric acids were determined, the former as siilphate of baryta, the latter by neutralizing the filtrate from the former with ammonia and precipitating the phosphoric acid by means of sesquichloride of iron and acetate of potash. This precipitate was dissolved in hydrochloric acid, a sufficient quantity of tartaric acid was added, and the phosphoric acid estimated in the form of py- rophosphate of magnesia, by precipitating with ammonia, chloride of ammonium and sulphate of magnesia. The latter precipitate, frequently containing a small quantity of iron, was redissolved in hydrochloric acid, and after the addition of some tartaric acid reprecipitated by ammonia. A third portion served for the estiniation of perphosphate of iron, lime and magnesia. For this purpose the liquid was neutralized with ammonia, some acetate of potash was added, and the solution strongly acidulated with acetic acid, in order to keep the phosphate of lime, which might be precipitated, in solu- tion; on heating perphosphate of iron subsides, from which the sesquioxide of iron was calculated according to the for- mula 2Fe, 0, + 3P0,. From the filtrate the lime was preci- pitated by means of oxalate of ammonia, and after the sepa- ration of the lime, the magnesia by means of phosphate of soda. Chlorine and carbonic acid were determined in sepa- rate portions of the ash. I n this manner the following expe- rimental numbers were obtained :-

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11.

grm

s.

4.65

3

171.

503

2042

2

22.5

74

11.'

grm

s . 3.

07

154.

059

33.0

5

35.4

42

39.1

55

1.22

3:

......

......

I.

grm

s.

3.74

90

207.

520

2071

6

33.0

13

1 R

oots

.

Qua

ntity

of a

sh e

mpl

oyed

for

Who

le a

mou

nt o

f the

hyd

ro-

Hyd

roch

loric

aci

d so

lutio

n}

for t

he a

lkal

ies

........

....

the

gene

ral a

naly

sis

......

} . ch

loric

aci

d so

lutio

n ....

.. }

Stem

. --

I.

grm

s.

2936

0

164.

634

21.3

20

111.

3.27

7

139.

376

22.9

4

25.9

9

26.3

3 1

25.8

27

1.29

1

grin

s.

16-1

8 }

......

......

169.

273

2346

8

18.2

2

22.5

68

1,45

95

1.52

75

......

-- L

eave

s.

I ~

Fru

it;

I Se

ed.

171.

100

41.1

90

25.6

30

23,9

45

.827

(

0.58

5

3-78

2i

I.

grm

s.

4,30

40

202.

696

28.9

13

23.6

16

;z: }

2.12

30

1.53

30

1.98

92

I__-

Hyd

roch

loric

aci

d so

lutio

n

Qua

ntity

of a

sh em

ploy

ed fo

r fo

r lim

e, m

agne

sia,

&c. ... }

th

e es

timat

ion

of c

hlor

ine}

31.9

59

25,6

86 }

1'495

5

27.3

56

{ 21

.716

}

1,98

25

......

I

3.54

50

I I -_

__

-__

__

11.

grm

s . 2.

544

181.

45

39.9

48

34.2

88

27.3

91

0.62

55

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I I

Roo

ts.

Silic

ic a

cid

..........

..........

..........

..........

.. Sa

nd a

nd c

harc

oal .....

..........

..........

........

Mix

ed c

hlor

ides

of

pota

ssiu

m a

nd s

odiu

m

Pota

ssio

-chl

orid

e of

pla

tinum

.. ....

........

.......

Chl

orid

e of

sod

ium

.........

..........

..........

.... M

ixed

sulp

hate

s of

the

alka

lies ....

........

........

....

Sulp

huric

aci

d co

ntai

ned

in th

e su

lpha

tes

of

the

alka

lies

........

........

........

........

....

Sulp

hate

of

bary

ta fo

r sul

phur

ic a

cid

Pyro

phos

phat

e of

mag

nesi

a fo

r pho

spho

ric}

acid

....

........

........

........

........

........

. Pe

rpho

spha

te of

iron

.......

........

........

.......

Car

bona

te o

f lim

e .....

..........

..........

........

Pyro

phos

phat

e of

mag

nesi

a for

mag

nesi

a ....

.. C

hlor

ide

of s

ilver

.. .......

..........

..........

.......

Car

boni

c ac

id ...

........

........

........

........

....

Am

ount

of a

sh le

ft on

inci

nera

tion

... } ....

.....

......

......

I.

grms.

-040

5 ,0

125

-818

5 1.

9089

-2

355

......

,394

6 .5

007

-056

6 2.

1059

44

54

*037

0 01

600

-077

0

11.

0.0 1

95

0.84

6

0.24

2

O%& ....

.. ....

.. ....

.. 04

2 0.

53

0588

2.2

1

0.47

00

275

......

...

...

Stem

.

I.

gm

s.

-033

0 -0

120

......

......

......

*777

2 *3

772

-367

7 ~7

244

-035

8 3.

7565

-6

675

-005

5

-031

0 0.

146

11.

grm

s.

0.04

375

0.00

7 ...

...

......

....

.. 0.

784

0379

0,

362

0.73

0.

0375

2.

69

0-46

9 0*

008

......

....

..

Leav

es.

I.

ms

.

-158

0 *0

105

......

......

......

1.40

91

-686

3 42

05

-167

3 -0

355

3.32

96

a528

2 -2

640

-356

0 -2

732

11.

grm

s.

0176

0.

010

......

......

......

1-

51 1

0.73

9 0.

471

0.19

00

493

3.61

0.

547

0245

0.

372

......

Frui

t.

I.

grm

s.

-01 1

5 -0

635

......

...

...

......

2.83

49

1.39

14

-3 14

3 -5

060

*030

3 1.

2858

-6

545

-142

5 *3

6(H

) -1

400

11.

OZE5

0.

0575

...

...

......

...

...

2.71

27

1.33

3 0.3028

0.48

3 00

3 1.

191

0.59

0.

1 1 I

-309

0 ...

...

Seed

.

I. gr

ms.

-0

140

,078

5 -7

91 3

2.4 8

6 1

-032

1

*176

9 -4

372

-021

4 -4

037

-292

9 .0

160

-125

0 00

4

11.

08;;5

0.13

25

4.29

4 0,

052

0306

0.

7546

00

397

0.69

7 0-

4809

0.

0105

Thes

e nu

mbe

rs c

orre

spon

d to

the

follo

win

g pe

r-ce

n tag

e :-

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374 Messrs. Rowney and How's Analysis o f

found. Analysis of the Ashes of the Root.

Amount of ashes left by 100 parts of the root . . 4.48. Composition directly

I. 1 I. Mean. Potash . . . . 12*54 12.40 12.47 Soda . . . . . 3.72 3-57 3-64 Lime . . . . . 40.16 40.3 1 40m23 Magnesia . . . 5-55 5 -60 5-57 Sesquioxide of iron 0'83 0.82 0.83 Chloride of sodium 1.01 0*91 0.95 Phosphoric acid . 10*80 10.93 10-86 Sulphuric acid . . 4-61 4-76 4-68 Silicic acid . . . 1.38 1-45 1-42 Carbonic acid . . 19-04 39-04 19-04 Sand and charcoal 0.42 0-63 0.5 3

100.06 100.31 100*22 Per-centage of the ash after deduction of the unessential

constituents, carbonic acid, sand and charcoal :- Potash . . . . Soda . . . . . Lime . . . . Magnesia. . . . Sesquioxide of iron Chloride of sodium Phosphoric acid . Sulphuric acid . . Silicic acid . . .

15.43 4*52

49-89 6.91 1-02 1-18

13.47 5-78 1-75

Analysis o f t h e Ashes of the Stem. Amount of ashes left by 100 parts of the stem . . 2-74,

Potash . . . . Soda . . . . . L i m e . . . . . Magnesia . . . Sesquioxide of iron Chloride of sodium Phosphoric acid . Sulphuric acid . . Silicic acid . . , Carbonic acid . . Sand and charcoal

I. 9.66 2% 1

45.46 5-28 0*48 0.19

14*18 3-90 0.92

16-51 0.33

99.5 2

I I.

2-47 45-96

5.24 0-4 8 0'24

14*17

1.14 16-50 0.21

99.93

9* 73

3.79

Mean. 9.69 2.54

45-71 5-26 0.48 0.2 1

14'17 3.84 1-03 1650 0.27

99.70

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the Ashes o f the Orange-Tree. 375

Potash . . . . Soda . . . . Lime . . . . . Magnesia. . . . Sesquioxide of iron Chloride of sodium Phosphoric acid . Sulphuric acid . . Silicic acid . . .

11.69 3-07

55-13 6-34 0 .5 7 0.25

17-09 4.64 1.22

100~00

Analysis o f the Ashes of the Leaves.

Amount of ashes left by 100 parts of the leaves . . 13.73

J. Potash . . . . 12-87 Soda . . . . . 1.22 L i m e . . . . . 43.32 Magnesia . . . 4-49 Sesquioxide of iron 0.36 Chloride of sodium 5*08 Phosphoric acid . 2.46 Sulphuric acid . . 3*35 Silicic acid . . . 3-67

. Carbonic acid . . 23*22 Sand and charcoal 0.24

100'2 8

Potash . . .. . Soda . . . . . Lime . . . . . Magnesia. . . . Sesquioxide of iron Chloride of sodium Phosphoric acid Sulphuric acid . . Silicic acid . . .

11. 12.48

1-38 43.44

4.30 0.44 5-1 7 2-58 3.47 3 9 3

22.53 0'21

100*22

16.5 1 1.68 56.38

5*72 0*52 6.66 3.2 7 4-43 4-83

Mean. 12-67

1 -30 43.38

4.39 0.40 5-12 2.5 2 3*41 3-72

23-09 0-23

10023

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376 Messrs. Rowney and How's Analysis of

Analysis of the Ashes of the Fruit.

Amount of ashes left by 100 parts of the fruit . . 3.94 Potash . . . . Soda . . . . . Lime . . . . . Magnesia . . . Sesquioxide of iron Chloride of sodium Phosphoric acid . Sulphuric acid . . Silicic acid . . . Carbonic acid . . Sand and charcoal

I. 28.2 1

8.73 19.20

6-3 9 0.35 2.93 8.55 2*88 0.3 1

20.3 8 1.69

99.62

11. 28-32

8-99 18.83 6-14 0.36 3.09 8.64 2.93 0.38

20.22 1.62

99.52

Potash . . . . 36.42 Soda . . . . . 11-42 Lime . . . . . 24.52 Magnesia. . . . 8.06 Sesquioxide of iron 0.46 Chloride of sodium 3-87 Phosphoric acid . l l * O 7 Sulphuric acid . . 3-74 Silicic acid . . . 0.44

1 oo*oo

Anatysis of the Ashes of the Seed.

Amount of ashes left by 100 parts of the seed

Potash . . . . 35-22! 35-29 Soda . . . . . 0.77 0*84 Lime. . . . . 16.59 16.65 Magnesia . . . 7*87 7.5 1

Chloride of sodium 0.77 0.6 7 Phosphoric acid . 20.33 20.3 9 Sulphuric acid . . 4.46 4.48 Silicic acid . . . 1*02 0.96 Carbonic acid . . 6-83 6.83

I. TI.

Sesquioxide of iron 0.68 0.72

Mean. 28.26

8-86 19-02 6 9 6 0'35 3.02 8.59 2*90 0.34

20.30 1.65

99.5 5

. . 3.30 Mean. 35.26 0.8 1

16*62 7.69 0.70 0.72

20.56 4.4 7 0.99 6.83

Sand and charcoal 5-76 5.78 5-77 L00.30 100*12 100.22

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the Ashes of the Orange-Tree. 377 Potash . . . . Soda . . . . . Lime . . . . . Magnesia . . . Sesquioxide of iron Chloride of sodium Phosphoric acid . Sulphuric acid . . Silicic acid . . .

40.28 0.92

18-91 8-74 0*80 0.82

23.24 5 .10 1.13

100.00 The preceding analyses furnish a new confirmation of the

fact first observed by De Saussure, namely, that the largest amount of mineral constituents is deposited in those parts of the plant in which the process of assimilation appears to be most active. While the ash left by the root, stem, fruit and seed did not exceed from 3 to 4 per cent., the leaves left not less than 13 per cent. of fixed residue on incineration.

Regarding the composition of the different ashes, the great amount of carbonic acid found in the ashes of the root, the stem, and the fruit is at once obvious; proving that not only the fruit, but also the roots and stem, contain a large quan- tity of organic acids.

From the composition of the ashes of the root, the stem, and the leaves, the orange-tree belongs decidedly to the lime plants. In these three ashes the joint amount of lime and magnesia exceeds the quantity of the rest of the mineral con- stituents. In the ashes of the fruit and seed, however, the alkalies are as prevalent as they have been found in analogous cases. The amount of phosphoric acid (23.24) in the ash of the seed is considerable, as might be expected, still it is in- ferior1to the quantities (54.81 and 42.02) which Mr. Souchay founddon analysing the seeds of the citron (Citrus Medica) and quince-trees (Pyrus Cydonia). Nevertheless the ash of the orange-seed is very analogous in composition to the ashes of the last-mentioned seeds, as may be easily seen on com- paring their analysis *.

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