Fusel oil also results in the production of a small amount of amyl acetate in the ethyl acetate, which, as pointed out, increases the value of ethyl acetate as a pyroxylin solvent. In the pure state ethyl acetate finds extensive use in the artificial fruit essence industries and is known as acetic ether. The manufacture of ethyl acetate is very similar to the production of amyl acetate described above, so that a detailed description is not necessary. The materials used are ethyl or grain alcohol, acetate of lime or soda, and sulphuric acid, all of which are produced in this country in sufficient quantity. Owing to the lower boiling point and greater volatility of ethyl acetate, even greater care must be exercised in its manufacture than in the production of amyl acetate. ETHYL CHLORIDE. Description and uses.-Ethyl chloride is the hydrochloric ester of ethyl alcohol. It is known by many pharmaceutical names, such as æthylum chloratus, æther chloratus, æthylis chloridum, æther hydrochloricus, hydrochloric ether, chlorhydric ether, and chlorathyl. It is used as an anesthetic, especially for local anesthesia. For this purpose on account of its low boiling point (12° to 15° C.) it is put up in sealed or mechanically capped glass or metal tubes of convenient forms, wherein it is held under pressure. Automatic closing tubes are preferable for anesthesia, and there are several different types on the market, each manufacturer using his own special form. At temperatures below its boiling point or when under pressure as in the above containers it is a colorless, mobile, very volatile liquid having a characteristic ethereal odor and a burning taste. On account of its great volatility ethyl chloride is sometimes mixed with an equal volume of ethyl alcohol. This mixture is known as "alcoholized muriatic ether." For anesthetic purposes ethyl chloride must be exceptionally pure and should not contain water, foreign chlorides, acids, aldehydes, ether, alcohol, and organic metallic substances. Ethyl chloride has not been used industrially although its advantages as refrigerating agent have been pointed out. Domestic production.-Figures on the domestic production of ethyl chloride are not available. Ethyl chloride is usually prepared from ethyl alcohol as the basic raw material. It may also be prepared from ethane or from ordinary ether. Hydrochloric acid or chlorine gas are the other materials required for the preparation of ethyl chloride from any of the above materials. Ethyl chloride is generally prepared by treating ethyl alcohol with hydrochloric acid gas in the presence of a dehydrating agent, such as anhydrous zinc chloride or phosphorus pentoxide. One part of zinc chloride is mixed with 80 parts of ethyl alcohol and the mixture is then saturated with hydrochloric acid gas in the cold. The mixture is then heated to boiling and hydrochloric acid gas passed into the mixture during the distillation. A reflux condenser prevents the alcohol from distilling out of the vessel but allows the ethyl chloride as it is formed to pass into a refrigerated container where it condenses. Ethyl chloride is purified by passing the vapors through water, then dilute caustic soda, and finally through concentrated sulphuric acid. This treatment removes alcohol, hydrochloric acid, and water. Ethyl chloride may be obtained from alcohol by treatment with phosphorus pentachloride or sulphur monochloride. It is also formed by the action of chlorine on ethane and by the action of hydrochloric acid on ether in sealed tubes. In the manufacture of ethyl chloride it is advisable to use very pure alcohol and hydrochloric acid as there will then be no danger of the product containing impurities. If denatured alcohol is used, impurities are introduced which must be removed by the process of purification. The use of animal oil, pyridin bases, pyridin bases and benzol, or methyl alcohol and zinc chloride as denaturants are permitted in the preparation of ethyl chloride from alcohol. The use of these denaturants are in accordance with the Bureau of Internal Revenue Regulations No. 30, formulas 6-b, 8, 14, and 17. The imports of ethyl chloride prior to the war averaged about 8,000 pounds per year. The import in 1917 was about 9,000 pounds, but during the other war years the import declined considerably below the average. (P. 9.) FRUIT ETHERS. Many fruits owe their flavor to mixtures of various esters. It has become common practice to use mixtures of organic esters to imitate fruit flavors. These fruit ethers are largely used in soft drinks and confectionery. They usually contain as the base material ethyl alcohol (cologne spirits). About 85 to 90 per cent of the fruit ether is alcohol and the remainder is a mixture of various synthetic esters and in some cases they contain other organic substances. There are three possible classifications of fruit ethers under the act of 1913, depending on the alcohol content of the ether. Fruit ethers are mentioned by name in paragraph 46 along with various essential and distilled oils, followed by the provision "that no article containing alcohol shall be classified in this paragraph." The only fruit ethers which could come within this provision would be mixtures of various esters with the alcohol omitted. These mixtures could be imported and then diluted with alcohol, thus producing the product which is commercially known as fruit ethers. If a fruit ether was imported containing less than 10 per cent of alcohol, it would probably be classified under paragraph 29. The rate of duty on fruit ethers in paragraph 46 and for all other ethers in paragraph 29 is the same (20 per cent ad valorem). On the other hand, if what are usually known as fruit ethers were imported, they would be necessarily dutiable under paragraph 16 in view of their alcoholic content. The duty then would be 10 cents per pound and 20 per cent ad valorem, 20 cents per pound and 20 per cent ad valorem, or 40 cents per pound and 20 per cent ad valorem, depending on the alcohol content. It seems that the provision for fruit ethers in paragraph 46 is out of place. Fruit ethers are very dissimilar from essential or distilled oils. If this provision was eliminated, fruit ethers would then be classified in paragraph 16 or 29, depending on their alcohol content. 1 Does not include the ether manufactured and consumed by the explosive industry. Ethers, ethyl chloride-Imports for consumption-Revenue. |