LIME JUICE. Syn. Lemon Juice. The juice of the fruits of various species of Citrus, principally LIMES, is known in commerce under these names. It is very variable as to quality, which depends upon the method of extraction, the quality of the fruit, and the honesty of the shipper.
We have examined the juice expressed from limes sent from the West Indies, from Jamaica, and from South Africa, with the following results:
| W. Indies. | Jamaica. | S. Africa. | |
| Specific gravity of juice | 1041·30 | 1044·18 | 1044·90 |
| Per cent. of citric acid | 7·96 | 8·66 | 8·50 |
| Per cent. of ash | 0·321 | 0·401 | 0·364 |
The yield from limes is very small, and the freshly expressed juice contains a large amount of pulp. This, however, on standing a few weeks, separates, and a clear sherry-coloured liquid is obtained.
A concentrated lime or lemon juice is used by calico printers. It is a “dark, treacly-looking fluid, marking from 48° to 54° Twaddell,” and contains about 30 per cent. of pure citric acid.
Adult. See Lemon juice.
Estim. Lime juice is only valuable on account of the citric acid it contains. If of good quality, 100 gr. will neutralise from 70 to 76 gr. of pure crystallised carbonate of soda. “For commercial purposes each grain of carbonate of soda neutralised may represent a half grain of crystallised citric acid (equal to 38 gr. of dry acid), and the value of the lime juice be calculated in proportion.” (O’Neill.) As commercial lime juice contains variable proportions of vegetable extractive matter, the indications of the hydrometer cannot be depended upon. Acidimetry, Citric acid, &c.
LIME′STONE. A general term applied to a great variety of rocks in which carbonate of lime is the principal constituent.
Estim. The value of chalk, limestone, marble, &c., for hydraulic mortars and cements, may be determined as follows:
A given weight (say 100 gr.) of the sample is reduced to powder and digested in hydrochloric acid dilated with about an equal weight of water, with frequent agitation for an hour or longer; the mixture is then diluted with thrice its volume of water, thrown upon a filter, and the undissolved portion washed, dried, ignited, and weighed. This weight indicates the per-centage of clay and silica or sand, and the loss that of the lime or calcium