As stated previously, the oil was found to contain a small percentage
of esters, or organic acids in combination with higher alcohols. In
order to identify these acids, which are in combination in the form
of esters, a quantity of the oil, after removing the free acids,
was saponified by heating on a water bath for half an hour with a
slight excess of alcoholic potassium hydroxid. The mixture, after
saponification, was diluted with water and the unsaponified oil
separated. The alkaline liquid, which now contained the combined acids
as their potassium salts, after being freed from adhering particles
of oil by shaking with ether, was acidified with sulphuric acid and
distilled with steam. The insoluble oily acids which formed on the
distillate were separated by shaking the distillate lightly with ether
and evaporating the ether.