Soc._, 1889, 199), and by Mühlhäusen. The latter used for its nitration an
acid mixture composed of equal parts of nitric and sulphuric acids, which
was allowed to act upon the jute for some time. He found that with long
exposure, i.e., from three to four hours in the acids, there was a
disintegrating of the fibre-bundles, and the nitration was attended by
secondary decomposition and conversion into products soluble in the acid
mixture. Cross and Bevan's work upon this subject leads them to conclude
that the highest yield of nitrate is represented by an increase of weight
of 51 per cent. They give jute the empirical formula C_{12}H_{18}O_{9} (C
= 47 per cent. H = 6 per cent., and O = 47 per cent.), and believe its
conversion into a nitro compound to take place thus:--

C_{12}H_{18}O + 3HNO_{3} = C_{12}H_{15}O_{6}(NO_{3})_{3} + 3H_{2}O.

This is equivalent to a gain in weight of 44 per cent. for the tri-
nitrate, and of 58 per cent. for the tetra-nitrate. The formation of the
tetra-nitrate appears to be the limit of nitration of jute-fibre. In other
words, if we represent the ligno-cellulose molecule by a C_{12} formula,
it will contain four hydroxyl (OH) groups, or two less than cellulose
similarly represented. The following are their nitration results:--

Acids used.--I. HNO_{3} sp. gr. 1.43, and H_{2}SO_{4} = 1.84 equal parts.
II. 1 vol. HNO_{3}(1.5), 1 vol. H_{2}SO_{4}(1.84).
III. 1 vol. HNO_{3}(1.5), 75 vols. H_{2}SO_{4}(1.84).

I. = 144.4; II. = 153.3; III. = 154.4 grms.; 100 grms. of fibre being used
in all three cases.

Duration of exposure, thirty minutes at 18° C.