New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-11
LITHIA IN MINERAL WATERS.

DR.. Elwyn Waller, Professor of Chemistry at the
School of Mines, has read before the American CheIni
cal society very interesting paper the DeteTmi
nation Of Lithia in Mineral Waters After mnutcy
describing the processes employed by him for the
determination of lithia he continued:
in order to test these methods upon water containing
ltha, samples OF several Of the Dest-knOwn and
widely advertised waters were purchased and sub
mittcd 10 examination.
The results werv somewhat surprising, and showed
un;uestOnaDly that either tile original analyses, on
the strength Of which those waters tic now sold were
erroneous Oh account Lnpe.feeIlon IN the metllods
used, or, what is probable the proportions
OF lthum in those waters are liable 70 great nuctua
lions
lie results given chiefly obtained by Carnots
huOrde method, but were ~ severa! cases confirmed w
the OF other methods. The most scrupuIOGs care
was exercised be OF obtaining all the lthium
in to waters under examination, the spcC,rOscOplc lnd
cations having been used at every stage p.ocess
In tie tarmyllle LIthia Wafer, purchased AZ the
office of the company, no thiun could be detected by
the ,pectro,cOp on moderate amounts of the water. On
evaporatng elght Hires vi The wafer ana treating In
the manner described for the concentration OF Tie
Ithia into "A solution Of small bulk, lithla line
obtained in The spccuOscDpe but the amount was
found to be- too small 70 permit OF II cumulative
estimation. The experiment was repeated with ten
lite, OF the water with essentially the same result
With the Buffalo Lithia Water the reaction IQr lthg
the water were concentrated. From 20 hire, Of the
O.Oi55 part llthium blcarbonate per 600.
In Tie Londonderry waer. the hthla reaction could
water purchased by myself showed little over parts
per 100000 The company puts up some Of the water
in half gallon botcs charged with carbonic acid,
and also in pint bottles (caled in their circulars
"supho carbOnlted. y which is charged with carbOnic
aciu and has also received the add ton OF some salts.
The amounts of salts added appear to be somewhat IT.
regular.
The proportion Of ltlium was essentially the same
for the still water.
/ was told tlIa several lots Of water purportng TO
from these springs had at times appeared on the
market in which no litha could be detected As !
learned that Dr. Eniomann lad obtained some water
II that kind. requested him to send me bottle.
lie compiled, and although lie bottle bore all the
labels and marks similar those purchased by myself.
il could De detected In H.. The water contained
j2 parts total solids per 100000. have heard OF
other, who had sim llr experiences
naturally desired T. OBTAIN samples OF these waters
direct from tho springs, taken by one whom
knew to be Gi,intcrcstcd. Attempts thus far have
been unsuccessful In the case OF the Londonderry
springs. all is denied 10 visitors ard applca
tons or wa;cr are referred TO the b0ttng establish
TESTS were also made on the waters manufactured
and sold By Carl II. schultz containing ltl4a.
they were found 10 contain little more tIia than
cllimed. r. E.. the formula on his Nichy with
Litlda call, for an amount pOndinG to about
% IL parts lthirn bc1rbonate per 1O0000.-The
he Journal 0C VI the ADercan Chemical society VOL
NIL, No. q.