ed by treating jute with nitric acid. Its
properties have been studied by Messrs Cross and Bevan (_Jour. Chem.
Soc._, 1889, 199), and by Muehlhaeusen. The latter used for its nitration an
acid mixture composed of equal parts of nitric and sulphuric acids, which
was allowed to act upon the jute for some time. He found that with long
exposure, i.e., from three to four hours in the acids, there was a
disintegrating of the fibre-bundles, and the nitration was attended by
secondary decomposition and conversion into products soluble in the acid
mixture. Cross and Bevan's work upon this subject leads them to conclude
that the highest yield of nitrate is represented by an increase of weight
of 51 per cent. They give jute the empirical formula C_{12}H_{18}O_{9} (C
= 47 per cent. H = 6 per cent., and O = 47 per cent.), and believe its
conversion into a nitro compound to take place thus:--

C_{12}H_{18}O + 3HNO_{3} = C_{12}H_{15}O_{6}(NO_{3})_{3} + 3H_{2}O.

This is equivalent to a gain in weight of 44 per cent. for the tri-
nitrate, and of 58 per cent. for the tetra-nitrate. The formation of the
tetra-nitrate appears to be the limit of nitration of jute-fibre. In other
words, if we represent the ligno-cellulose molecule by a C_{12} formula,
it will contain four hydroxyl (OH) groups, or two less than cellulose
similarly represented. The following are their nitration results:--

Acids used.--I. HNO_{3} sp. gr. 1.43, and H_{2}SO_{4} = 1.84 equal parts.
II. 1 vol. HNO_{3}(1.5), 1 vol. H_{2}SO_{4}(1.84).
III. 1 vol. HNO_{3}(1.5), 75 vols. H_{2}SO_{4}(1.84).

I. = 144.4; II. = 153.3; III. = 154.4 grms.; 100 grms. of fibre being used
in all three cases.

Duration of exposure, thirty minutes at 18 deg. C.

The nitrogen was determined in the products, and equalled 10.5 per cent.
Theory for C_{12}H_{15}O_{6}(NO_{3})_{3} = 9.5 per cent. and for
C_{12}H_{15}O_{6}(NO_{3})_{4} = 11.5 per cent. These nitrates resemble
those of cellulose, and are in all essential points nitrates of ligno-
cellulose.

Muehlhaeusen obtained a much lower yield, and probably, as pointed out by
Cross and Bevan, a secondary decomposition took place, and his products,
therefore, probably approximate to the derivatives of cellulose rather
than to those of ligno-cellulose, the more oxidisable, non-cellulose, or
lignone constituents having been decomposed. In fact, he regards his
product as cellulose penta-nitrate (C_{12}H_{16}O_{5}(ONO_{2})_{