Saccharine : the new sweet product from coal-tar 300 times the sweetening power of cane sugar a powerful antiseptic absolutely non-fermenting positively harmless to the human system / Wilson, Salamon & Co.

  • Wilson, Salamon & Co.
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Saccharine : the new sweet product from coal-tar 300 times the sweetening power of cane sugar a powerful antiseptic absolutely non-fermenting positively harmless to the human system / Wilson, Salamon & Co. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    one which immediately attracted his attention by its intensely sweet taste. To this substance he gave the name of “ Saccharine,” and it has since been described by Sir Henry Roscoe, in his lecture at the Royal Institution, as “ the most remarkable of all the marvellous products of the coal-tar industry.” Toluene is obtained in the destructive distillation of coal, as employed in the manufacture of gas, and may also be derived from several oils and bituminous residues. It is a derivative of coal-tar, and as such is forthcoming in far greater quantity than can ever be demanded by Dr. Fahlberg and his colleagues. An ample supply of the base from which saccharine is prepared is therefore at all times secure. It may be of interest briefly to indicate the various processes to which toluene is subjected before it finally emerges as saccharine. 1. —Toluene is heated with ordinary sulphuric acid of i68Q Twaddel, at a temperature not exceeding ioo° C. This effects the formation of toluene sulphonic acid. c6h6ch3 + h2so4 = c„h4 j gf:0H + h2o Toluene. Toluene Sulphonic Acid. 2. —The sulphonic acid produced consists of two modifications —the ortho and the para acids. The excess of sulphuric acid is neutralized by chalk, and the two sulphonic acids are converted into the corresponding calcium salts. 2(C,;H41 Cs5oh) + H2S04 + 2CaCOs =(C„H, | 2Ca + Calcium Toluene Sulphonates CaS04 + 2C02 + 2H20 3. -—The calcium salts are now treated with carbonate of sodium to obtain the sodium salts with precipitation of carbonate of calcium. (C«H* {sS) 2Ca + Na’C°3 = 2CA { Sol’ONa + CaC°3 Sodium Toluene Sulphonates. 4. —The sodium sulphonates in solution are evaporated, and are subsequently solidified and dried.