Improvements in the Production of Iodoform.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1898-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of Iodoform.
I, MARIUS OTTo, of Boulevard St. Denis, 9. Paris, France, Doctor of Physical
Sciences, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement; -
Iodoform is usually prepared by causing iodine to act, in the presence of an
alkali, upon an alcohol such as spirits of wine (ethylic alcohol). Messrs. Cornélis
and Gille have attempted to substitute iodide of potassium for the pure iodine,
their process consisting in treating an alcoholic solution of iodide of potassium with
hypochlorite of lime. By this means however there is obtained a confused crystal-
line mass formed of a mixture of iodoform and iodate of calcium. The yield is
not very great, which is obvious, especially in view of the formation of iodate of
calcium; furthermore the iodoform produced is rather difficult to purify.
A process which would allow of the whole of the iodine being expelled from
one or other of its alkaline compounds, or even from the mother-liquors resulting
directly from the lixiviation of varec so as to combine with the carbonated radical
which is capable of forming indoform therewith, would obviously constitute a great
step in advance of what has hitherto been done. Now this invention has reference
to a process of the kind just referred to.
I have discovered that by treating a mixture of iodide of potassium and alcohol
containing about 30% of water, at a temparature of 50° C. with ozone, very pure
iodoform is produced. The reaction may be effected in the presence of an alkali
or of an alkaline carbonate.
The fixing of the iodine freed by the ozone, on to the hydro-carbon radical, in
order to produce iodoform (CHI) is an extremely curious fact. I have demon-
strated that iodine readily becomes oxidized in the presence of ozone, and then
combines energetically with bases. The affinities brought into action for the
formation of iodoform, are therefore stronger than is the case with bases.
To carry into practice the preparation of iodoform by the process hereinbefore
described, it is sufficient to place in a glass or porcelain balloon or any other vessel
of suitable shape, the mixture of iodide of potassium and alcohol containing 30%
of water, and to heat the mixture to a temperature of about 50° C., whilst a current
of ozone is passed into the same.
A suitable mixture for producing iodoform according to this invention may
consist of
Water
Methyl alcohol
Carbonate of soda
Iodide of potassium
-
100 kilogrammes.
300 kilogrammes.
10 kilogrammes.
55 kilogrammes.
1
the las

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The production of iodoform by expelling iodine from one of its alkaline
combinations, or from the mother-liquors resulting from the lixiviation of varec by
means of ozone and causing it to unite with a hydrocarbon radical capable of
forming iodoform therewith as set forth.
2. The hereinabove described process for the production of iodoform which
consists in treating with ozone a mixture of iodide of potassium and alcohol con-
taining about 30 per cent. of water, at a temperature of about 50° C., substantially
as described.