601. Estimation of Nitric Acid.—The nitric acid in a sample of tobacco is most easily estimated by the ferrous chlorid process.[619]
The sample is best prepared by making an alcoholic extract which is accomplished by exhausting about twenty-five grams of the fine tobacco powder with 200 cubic centimeters for forty per cent alcohol made slightly alkaline by soda lye. The mixture is boiled in a flask with a reflux condenser for about an hour. After cooling, the volume is completed to a definite quantity, and, after filtering, an aliquot part is used for the analytical process. It is evident that the nitric acid cannot be estimated in this case after previous reduction to ammonia by zinc or iron on account of the presence of ammonia in the sample itself. If, however, the amount of ammonia be determined in a separate portion of the sample, the nitric acid may be reduced in the usual way, by zinc or iron, the total quantity of ammonia determined by distillation, the quantity originally present in the sample deducted and the residual ammonia calculated to nitric acid.
602. Sulfuric and Hydrochloric Acids.—These two acids are determined in the ash of the sample by the usual methods. The sulfuric acid thus found represents the original sulfuric acid in combination with the bases in the mineral parts of the plant, together with that produced by the oxidation of the organic sulfur during combustion. In order to avoid all loss of sulfur during the combustion, the precautions already given should be observed. The separation of the sulfur pre-existing as sulfates from that converted into sulfates during the combustion is accomplished as previously directed.[620] For ordinary purposes, this separation is not necessary.
To avoid loss of chlorin from volatilization during incineration the temperature should be kept at the lowest possible point until the mass is charred, the soluble salts extracted from the charred mass and the incineration completed as usual.
603. Oxalic, Citric and Malic Acids.—The separation and estimation of organic acids from vegetable tissues is a matter of great difficulty, especially when they exist as is usually the case, in very minute proportions. During incineration, the salts of the inorganic acids are converted into carbonates and the subsequent examination of the ash gives no indication of the character of the original acids. In the case of tobacco, the organic acids of chief importance, from an analytical point of view, are oxalic, citric and malic. These acids may be extracted and separated by the following process:[621]
Ten grams of the dry tobacco powder are rubbed up in a mortar with twelve cubic centimeters of dilute sulfuric acid (one to five) and then absorbed with coarse pumice stone powder in sufficient quantity to cause all the liquid to disappear. The mass is placed in an extraction apparatus of proper size and thoroughly extracted with ether until a drop of the extract leaves no acid residue on evaporation. Usually about ten hours are required. The organic acids are thus separated from the mineral acids. The ether is removed from the extract and the residue dissolved in hot water, cooled, filtered, if necessary several times, until the solution is separated from the fat and resin which have been extracted by the ether. The filtrate is neutralized with ammonia, slightly acidified with acetic and the oxalic acid contained therein thrown out by means of a dilute solution of calcium acetate, which must not be added in excess. The calcium oxalate is separated by filtration, and determined as lime oxid. To the filtrate is added drop by drop, with constant stirring, a dilute solution of lead acetate, prepared by mixing one part of a saturated solution of lead acetate with four parts of water. When the precipitate formed has settled, the clear supernatant liquid is tested by adding a drop of acetic acid and a few drops of the dilute lead acetate. In case a precipitate be formed, the addition of the lead acetate is continued until a precipitate is secured which will immediately dissolve in acetic acid. At this moment the citric acid is almost completely precipitated. In order to avoid the accumulation of the acetic acid by reason of the repetition of the process as above described, the mixture is neutralized each time with dilute ammonia. The precipitated neutral lead citrate obtained by the above process, is separated by filtration and, in order to avoid its decomposition when washed with pure water, it is washed with a very dilute acetic acid solution of lead acetate. The washing and filtration are accomplished as quickly as possible, and the final washing is made with alcohol of thirty-six per cent strength. In the filtrate the residual lead citrate, together with a little lead malate, are precipitated by the alcohol used as the wash and this precipitate is also separated by filtration. The filtrate containing the greater part of the malic acid is evaporated to remove the alcohol and treated with lead acetate in excess. Afterwards it is mixed with five times its volume of thirty-six per cent alcohol containing a half per cent of acetic acid. In these conditions the lead malate is completely precipitated as neutral salt, and after standing a few hours, is separated by filtration. The three precipitates, obtained as above, are dried at 100° and weighed. If the precipitates have been collected on filter paper they should be removed as completely as possible, the papers incinerated in the usual way and any reduced lead converted into nitrate and oxid by treatment with nitric acid and subsequent ignition. From the quantities of lead oxid obtained, the weights of the citric and malic acids are computed. The precipitate which is obtained by the action of alcohol, above noted, is also dried and ignited and the lead oxid found divided equally between the citric and malic acids, the respective quantities of which found, are included in computing their total weights. The weight of the citric acid is calculated from the formula (C₆H₅O₇)₂Pb₃ + H₂O, and that of the malic acid from the formula C₄H₄O₅Pb + H₂O.
604. Acetic Acid.—For the determination of the volatile acids of the fatty series existing in tobacco, the following process, also due to Schlösing, may be followed:[622]
The apparatus employed is shown in [Fig. 12]1. Ten grams of the pulverized tobacco, moistened with water and mixed with a little powdered tartaric acid, are placed in the tube A. The two ends of the tube, A, are stoppered with asbestos or glass wool. Steam, generated in the flask, D, is passed into B. After fifteen minutes, or as soon as it is certain that the contents of A have reached a temperature of 100°, the dish, F, containing mercury, is placed in the position shown in the [figure]. The steam, by this arrangement, is forced into the lower end of A, passes into the condenser E, and the condensed water collected in C. The operation should be so conducted as to avoid any condensation of water in B. It is advisable during the progress of the distillation, which should continue for at least twenty minutes, to neutralize from time to time the acetic acid collected in C by a set solution of dilute alkali, or, an excess of the alkaline solution may be placed in C and the part not neutralized by the acetic acid determined at the end of the distillation by titration.
Fig. 121.—Apparatus for Acetic Acid.