Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 June 2009
1. Measurements, by means of a continuous vaporization equilibrium still, of vapour/liquid equilibrium relationships in the steam distillation of dilute aqueous solutions showed that for mesityl oxide the relationship was linear, equilibrium coefficient (CV/CL)= 74.
2. For acetylpropionyl it was linear over the concentration range l–10 p.p.m. in the liquid, CV/CL=51, and above a concentration of 20 p.p.m. it was again approximately linear. At 20 and 50 p.p.m. in the liquid the values found for CV/CL were 34 and 21·5 respectively.
3. For acetyl-iso-butyryl it was not linear even at very low concentrations, of the order of 1–3 p.p.m. in the liquid, but there was an approach to linearity at concentrations 0–1 p.p.m., CV/CL=240. At concentrations above 1 p.p.m. in the liquid there was a steady fall in the value for the equilibrium coefficient.
4. For acetylvaleryl it was curvilinear even over the concentration range 0·1–4·0 p.p.m. in the liquid. At 0·5–1·0 p.p.m. in the liquid the equilibrium coefficient was of the order of 240. Above a concentration of 4 p.p.m. in the liquid the relationship was linear.
5. For acetylcaproyl it was approximately linear only over the concentration 0·1–0·4 p.p.m. in the liquid, CV/CL=180. At 4 and 8 p.p.m. in the liquid the coefficients were 90 and 70 respectively.
6. For acetylbenzoyl it was curvilinear at low concentrations, i.e. 0·1–0·5 p.p.m. in the liquid, CV/CL=30 decreasing to 16. Above this concentration there was a gradual fall in the equilibrium coefficient to 11·5 at 70 p.p.m. in the liquid.
7. Of the substances investigated only diacetyl and acetylpropionyl and, within limits, acetylbenzoyl were considered to be of suitable properties for use as reference substances in detailed investigations on cream deodorization equipment.