Purification of Benzyl Alcohol

100 parts of crude benzyl alcohol, obtained by the hydrolysis benzyl chloride with an alkali, are dissolved in 200 parts of benzol, drieci with 5 to 10 parts sodium carbonate, filtered and stirred with 100 part powdered anhydrous calcium chloride. The thick, pasty emulsion whici forms with liberation of heat, is allowed to stand for several hours and i-then filtered add the filter cake is then washed with approximate 200 parts of benzol. 

The filter cake is then stirred with 125 parts of water, the resulting oily layer is separated from the calcium chloride solution, dried with sodium carbonate and then distilled. The resulting alcohol is free from chlorine. Source Montonna 1922 

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