From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Letter from the British Petroleum Company regarding the estimation of alcohol content in a fuel mixture.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 32\1\ Scan114 | |
| Date | 14th May 1930 | |
| CONTINUATION. Messrs. Rolls Royce, Derby. No. 2 DATE 14/5/30. There is a risk of error in this system as the fractions which you took are not necessarily dry alcohol nor, in spite of the extremely long fractionating column, are they necessarily the alcohol falling in the boiling range. Our own method of estimation which is correct to 1/2% is by a series of extractions with water. As the partition coefficient of alcohol is 1/5th, we suggest five extractions. 100 minus the remaining percentage of petroleum spirit, etc. not soluble in water indicates the alcohol content extremely closely. The error to be expected owing to the slight solubility of Benzol in aqueous alcohol is compensated by the slight residuum of alcohol in the spirit/benzol layer. We have checked our mixture figures and find that you received a mixture composed of 167 gallons of Alcohol, 167 gallons of Benzol and 168 gallons of Aviation Spirit, totalling 500. Yours faithfully, For BRITISH PETROLEUM COMPANY, LIMITED. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Thompson General Sales Manager. LD | ||