The method employed in the decompositions was a simple one, consisting essentially of a means of dropping the glyceride directly onto the heated catalyst, with suitable provision for condensing and collecting the gaseous and liquid products. The catalyst in all cases was thorium oxide, prepared by ignition of the nitrate, and supported on finely cracked, porous tile. The reaction chamber, containing the catalyst, was a vertical silica tube, 76 by 3.8 cm., electrically heated. Analysis of the liquid products presented considerable difficulty, but the results are believed to be reasonably accurate.The determination of fatty acids was greatly facilitated by the use of their benzyl pseudothio-urea salts, a method suggested by the paper of Johnson and Donleavy.6The results for the four runs thus far completed have been given under the discussion. Summary 1. The catalytic decomposition of triacetin and of tripropionin over thorium oxide has been studied at a maximum temperature of 525°.2. Acrolein, acids, oxides of carbon, hydrocarbons and tarry condensation compounds are uniform products of decomposition. Unexpectedly, hydrogen and the lower homolog of the glyceride acid are also formed.3. The production of the latter substances makes it impossible at present to deduce a reaction mechanism.4. Tripropionin, prepared for this work, is a new representative of the glyceride series.
The absorption curves of diphenylmethane and diphenyl carbinol, and of triphenylmethane, triphenyl carbinol and triphenylmethyl chloride in neutral absolute alcohol solution have been determined and their relations discussed.2. A table has been prepared, showing the frequency numbers of the peaks of the absorption bands of the various substances studied.
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