As heretofore stated, the insoluble oily acids obtained by extraction
with ether were carefully neutralized with potassium hydroxid solution
and precipitated fractionally with silver nitrate. Two precipitates
were obtained which were thoroughly washed and dried. The first and
largest precipitate assayed 51.2 per cent silver, the second assaying
45.1 per cent silver. This would indicate that the insoluble acids were
valerianic acid (silver valerianate requiring 51.6 per cent silver),
and heptoic acid (silver heptoate requiring 45.5 per cent silver), the
valerianic acid predominating.
The results show that the esters of this oil exist as the salts of
butyric, valerianic, and heptoic acids, valerianic acid esters,
however, predominating.