Peru

Address San Isidro, Lima Peru Phone +51 14 442 1919 Web site www.itri.co.uk/minsur Stock listing Lima SE 

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Ci-,H2,N04. Colourless prisms, m.p. 98°C. Obtained from coca, either by direct purification, or by acid hydrolysis of the mixed alkaloids to ecgonine, which is then methylated and benzoylated. Coca consists of the dried leaves of Eryihroxyluni coca and Erythroxylum iruxillense, shrubs growing in Bolivia and Peru. 

Large copper ore deposits are found in the U.S., Chile, Zambia, Zaire, Peru, and Canada. The most important copper ores are the sulfides, the oxides, and carbonates. From these, copper is obtained by smelting, leaching, and by electrolysis. 

Silver occurs native and in ores such as argentite (Ag2S) and horn silver (AgCl) lead, lead-zinc, copper, gold, and copper-nickel ores are principal sources. Mexico, Canada, Peru, and the U.S. are the principal silver producers in the western hemisphere. 

Tellurium is occasionally found native, but is more often found as the telluride of gold (calaverite), and combined with other metals. It is recovered commercially from the anode muds that are produced during the electrolytic refining of blister copper. The U.S., Canada, Peru, and Japan are the largest Free World producers of the element. 

The most important ores are bismuthinite or bismuth glance and bismite. Peru, Japan, Mexico, Bolivia, and Canada are major bismuth producers. Much of the bismuth produced in the U.S. is obtained as a by-product in refining lead, copper, tin, silver, and gold ores. 

Of considerable usefulness in transporting heat toward the poles are the ocean currents. They are particularly effective because of the high heat content of water. Significant poleward-moving currents are the Brazil, Kuro-shio, and Gulf Stream currents. Currents returning cold water toward the equator are the Peru and California currents. 

Balfiam of Peru Pine resin, cjnnamates, benzoates... 

These results seemed to establish with certainty that the active component of tube curare is derived from Chondrodendron tomentosum, but the matter again became doubtful when King reported that in the stems of a carefully authenticated specimen of the plant, collected at Tarapoto in Peru, he had found 1-curine and Z-tubocurarine chloride. This is the first recorded natural occurrence of the latter and seems to indicate either that the alkaloidal components of the plant are not constant in character, or that the botanical description of Chondrodendron tomentosum covers two species containing the dextro- and Icevo- quaternary alkaloids respectively. 

Isotoma longiflora. This Peruvian plant contains an alkaloid, m.p. 190°, forming a hydrochloride, m.p. 160°. Pharmacological results are recorded and it is suggested that the alkaloid resembles lobeline of which it may be a derivative (Sanchez, Rev. Med. expU, (Peru), 1945, 4, 284 Chem. Abstr., 1948, 42, 1350). 

Maytenus spp. Chuchuara or chuchuhuasha from Peru contains an amorphous alkaloid which lowers body temperature and reduces blood pressure. (Raymond-Hamet and Colas, Bull. Acad. M d., 1935,114,139 Perrot, MUlat and Colas, Bull. Sci. Pharmacol., 1937, 44, 325.)... 

VsUlago maydis. Alkaloids isolated from this maize fungus were named ustilaginine and ustilagotoxine and are stated to resemble ergotinine and ergo-toxine respectively. (Mas, Bol. Soc. Quim. Peru, 1938, 4, 3.)... 

The discovery of beryllium in 1798 followed an unusual train of events. The mineralogist R.-J. Haiiy had observed the remarkable similarity in external crystalline structure, hardness and density of a beryl from Limoges and an emerald from Peru, and suggested to L.-N. Vauquelin that he should analyse them to see if they were chemically identical. As a result, Vauquelin showed... 

W orld annual production of bismuth and its compounds has hovered around 4000 tonnes of contained Bi for many years and a similar amount of secondary (refinery) Bi is also produced. Production has been dominated by China, Japan, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, Canada, USA and Australia which, between them, account for almost of all supplies. Prices tor die free element have fluctuated wildly since the 1970s, from < 4 (Xl/kg to > 44.00/kg at die end of 1990 it was 6.30/kg Consumption of the metal and its compounds has also been unusual, usage in the USA dropping by a factor of 2 from 1973 to 1975, for example. The mam uses are in pharmaceuticals, fusible alloys (including type metal, p. 547), and metallurgical additives. 

Cold-hammering was used in the late Stone Age to produce plates of gold for ornamental purposes, and this metal has always been synonymous with beauty, wealth and power. Considerable quantities were accumulated by ancient peoples. The coffin of Tutankhamun (a minor Pharaoh who was only 18 when he died) contained no less than 112 kg of gold, and the legendary Aztec and Inca hoards in Mexico and Peru were a major reason for the Spanish conquests of Central and South America in the early sixteenth century. Today, the greatest hoard of gold is the 30000 tonnes of bullion (i.e. bars) lying in the vaults of the US Federal Reserve Bank... 

In 1899 Thoms isolated an alcohol from Peru balsam oil, which he termed peruviol. This body was stated to have powerful antiseptic properties, but has not been further investigated until Schimmel Co. took up the subject. The oil after saponification was fractionated, and after benzyl alcohol had distilled over, a light oil with characteristic balsamic odour passed over. It boiled at 125° to 127° at 4 mm., and had a specific gravity 0 8987, optical rotation -1- 12° 22, and refractive index 1-48982. This body appeared to be identical with Hesse s nerolidol, whilst in physical and chemical properties it closely resembles peruviol. The characters of the various preparations were as follows —... 

It appeared that the impure alcohol isolated from balsam of Peru was, in fact, identical with nerolidol. When allowed to stand for three to four weeks with phenyl-isocyanate both alcohols yielded a phenyl-urethane, melting at 37" to 38°. A mixture of the two bodies suffered no depression in melting-point. The alcohols have the formula 15 260-The alcohol from balsam of Peru is therefore mixed with a small quantity -of an alcohol of higher specific gravity, the nature of which is still undetermined. Traces of benzyl alcohol were found in it, but not in sufficient quantity to account for the differences observed. Oxidation experiments did not throw any light on the question. It may therefore be safely assumed that the peruviol of Thoms consisted in the main of nerolidol, but contaminated with a substance of the same boiling-point to such an extent that its combustion figures pointed to the formula CjjH. jO instead of... 

Cinnamic alcohol, C Hj. CH CH. CH OH, or y-phenyl-allyl alcohol, is found in the form of esters, principally of either acetic or cinnamic acid in storax, balsam of Peru, and in hyacinth and other essential oils. 

Benzyl Ginnamate.—The cinnamic acid ester of benzyl alcohol is a natural constituent of storax, tolu, and Peru balsams. It is a crystalline Bubstance with a characteristic sweet balsamic odour. It may be prepared by heating sodium cinnamate, alcohol, and benzyl chloride together under a reflux condenser. It is a useful ester where a sweet balsamic odour is required to be introduced into a perfume, especially cf the heavy type. It forms white, glistening prisms, which melt at 39°, and.decompose when heated to 350°. The best commercial specimens have the following characters —... 

Vanillin, CgHgOj, is one of the most important synthetic perfumes. It is the active odorous ingredient of the vanilla pod, in which it occurs to the extent of about 2 per cent., appearing on the surface of the bean as a fine white crystalline efflorescence. It occurs naturally also in Sumatra benzoin (about 1 per cent.), Siam benzoin (15 per cent.), and the balsams of Tolu and Peru (traces). Numerous other bodies have been recorded as containing it, such as asafoetida, beetroot and asparagus, the seeds of Lupinus albus, the seeds of Sosa canina, etc. 

China-ol, n. baleam of Peru, rindet/. cinchona bark, Peruvian bark. rindensauret /. quinic acid, -rot, n. cinchona red. 

Indisch, a. (East) Indian. — indischer Balsam, balsam of Peru. — indische Bohne, St.-Ignatius s-bean. — indische Feige, prickly pear. — indischer Flachs, jute. — indisches GrasSl, palmarosa oil. —- indisches Rohr, rattan. — indischer Safran, turmeric. 

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