BARIL′LA. [Eng., Ger., L., Sp.] Syn. So′dæ car′bonas vena′le, L.; Barig′′lia, Baril′lor, Sp., Lev.; Barille, Soude, Fr. The alkaline residuum of the combustion of salsola, salicornia, chenopodium, and other species of the order Chenopodiaceæ. These
plants, which are cultivated on the sea-coast for the purpose, are cut down when ripe, dried, and burned in heaps, on iron bars laid across pits dug in the earth. The alkali and saline matter contained in them is thus fused, and flows into the cavity below, forming, when cold, a hard grey or bluish porous mass which is BARILLA.
Comp. Carbonate, sulphate, chloride, and sulphide of sodium, carbonate and sulphate of calcium, alumina, silica, oxide of iron, and imperfectly consumed carbonaceous matter, with a little iodine and bromine. The proportion of soda varies in different varieties:—
Alicant’ barilla; obtained chiefly from several species of salso′la and from chenopo′dium setig′erum (-tĭj′-), &c.; contains from 25% to 40% of carbonate of soda. (Guibourt.)
Cana′′ry b.; from salso′la ka′li. (Loudon.) French barillas:—
a. Narbonne’ b., salicor; from salicor′nia ann′ua or herba′cea; contains 14% to 15% of carbonate of soda.
b. B. of aiguemortes, blanquette; from mixed plants; contains 3% to 8% of carbonate of soda. (Guibourt.)
c. Nor′mandy b., N. soda; from fuci.
Sic′ily barilla (sĭs′-). Principally from salso′la sati′va; furnishes 55% of carbonate of soda. (Fée.)
Good barilla, on the average, contains about 20% of real or available alkali, chiefly under the form of carbonate, besides sulphates, muriates, &c.