1868 The complete Practical Distiller

THE COMPLETE PRACTICAL DISTILLER.

100

this twice more, drawing off two-thirds each time ; to add water to this alcohol, which will turn 'it milky, by separat- ing the essential oil remaining in it; to distil the spirit from this water, and finally rectify it by one or more dis- Others set apart the first running, when about one-fourth is come over, and continue the distillation till they have drawn off about as much more, or till the liquor runs off milky. The last running they put into the still again, and mix the first half of what comes over with the preceding first product. This process they repeat again, when all the first products mixed together are distilled afresh. When half of the liquor has come over, this is to be set apart as pure alcohol. Alcohol in this state, notwithstanding, is not so pure as when it has been dephlegmed, or still fur- ther freed from water, by means of some alkaline salt. Muriate of soda has been recommended for this purpose, deprived of its water of crystallization by heat, and added hot to the spirit ; but the subcarbonate of potash is pre- ferable. About a third of the weight of the alcohol should be added to it in a glass vessel, well shaken and then suf- fered to subside. The salt will be moistened by the water absorbed from the alcohol, which being decanted, more of the salt is to be added; and this is to be continued till the salt falls dry to the bottom of the vessel. The alco- hol, in this state, will be reddened by a portion of pure potash which it will hold in solution, from which it must be freed by distillation in a water-bath. Dry muriate of lime may be substituted advantageously for the alkali. Lastly, as alcohol is much lighter than water, its specific tillations.