Balsams detection

Tlio purity of essential oils is all-important, as they are used solely for their perfume. Those found in commerce do not always have that quality, but are frequently debased with alcohol, spirit of turpentine, resin, balsam copniva, or Borne oil of inferior price. The detection of the latter fraud is very difficult—in most cases the specific gravity being the only test. The presence of resin or balsam is elicited when a drop of the suspocted oil, heated upon a piece of paper, leaves a greasy spot. 

The usual adulteration is with oil of turpentine, sometimes in conjunction with a little orange oil or with lemon or orange terpenes paraffin oil, fatty oils and balsams are rarely used. These adulterants are detected and the value of the oil determined by the following tests ... 

Interesting substances possessing juvenile hormone activity against hemipteran bug have been detected in conifers belonging to Abies species (-F)-Juvabione [methyl ester of (-F)-todomatuic acid], isolated from balsam and Japanese fir wood, may have potential use for insecticidal applications. A related compound have been isolated from Douglas fir wood. 

The fragrance mix, introduced in 1977 by Larsen (1), is used to detect sensitivity to fragrances in, for example, cosmetics and household products (SEDA-20, 149) (2). The mix contains eight widely used fragrance compounds. Additional indicators of fragrance allergy are balsam of Peru and colophony. 

Should air-bubbles be detected in the balsam shortly after mounting, heat a dissection needle in a flame and touch each with its tip, when they will be found to disappear. 

Chinnici, F., Masino, F., and Antonelli, A. (2003). Determination of furanic compounds in traditional balsamic vinegars by ion-exclusion liquid chromatography and diode array detection. J. Chromatogr. Sci. 41, 305-310. 

To Detect factitious Balaam of Tolu. The genuine balsam is perfectly soluble in alcohol, forming a transparent solution. By exposure to tho air it becomes hard and brittle. It i.s frequently adulterated, in which cose it has a weaker smell, is less soluble in alcohol, and the tincture formed with that ilnid is opaque. 

Dr. Hager recommends the following simple mode as very reliable for detecting adulteration of copaiba balsam with turnontino oil 5 or 6 drops of water and about 1 urachm of the balsam arc mixed in a small porcelain dish with as much litharge as will mako a thin ointment. This mass, at the common summer temperature, exhales tho characteristic odor of oil of turpeutine, even if tho balsam is adulterated with only 10 per cent, of tho oil. 

Perfume screening trays for patch testing has been developed to increase the sensitivity and specificity of perf ume allergy detection (Larsen 1977). In 20 perfume-sensitive patients examined with a screening tray of 15 fragrances, jasmin synthetic, cinnamic alcohol, and hydroxycitronellal were the three most common allergens. Rudzki and Grywa (1977 a) tested 35 essential oils and 4 balsams on... 

Fig. 108. Comparison of the most important resins and balsams on a 40 cm TLC plate. Detection with antimony(III)- and (V) chlorides (Rgt. Nos. 15 and 18). See text for...

The author, a few years ago, observed a new adulterant in Bulgarian otto of rose, which caused the optical rotation to be abnormally high. This has since been identified by Schimmel Co. as gurjun balsam oil. This is detected by mixing 5 drops of nitric acid with 5 c.c. of glacial acetic acid, and then shaking with 5 drops of the otto in question. In the presence of gurjun oil a reddish-violet colour develops within a minute or two. 

In 18661 made some attempts to ascertain whether the state of strain in a viscous fluid in motion could be detected by its action on polarized light.., It is easy... to observe the effect in Canada balsam.. . . James C. Maxwell (1873)... 

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