Crystallised Phenol and Cresylic Acid from Crude Carbolic Acid, Lunge 1887

Crude carbolic acid is dried and fractionally distilled: phenol comes over first and crystallises in the cold, while cresylic acid (the cresols) boils higher and stays liquid. Drained, treated with a little strong sulfuric acid and distilled again, the crystals give white crystallised carbolic acid (Lunge, 1887). Phenol burns skin and is poisonous. The picture: our diagram of the fractions.