Acetone by Dry Distillation of Acetate of Lime

Before the cumene process, acetone was made from "acetate of lime", calcium acetate. Limestone (calcium carbonate) soaked in vinegar gives calcium acetate; when the dry salt is heated it breaks down into calcium carbonate and acetone: Ca(CH₃COO)₂ → CaCO₃ + (CH₃)₂CO. Charles Friedel reported this dry distillation in 1858, and until World War I it was the main commercial way to make acetone. The calcium carbonate is left behind in the retort and the acetone distils over.

中级

2–3 days

说明

Make calcium acetate

Soak crushed limestone in vinegar. The acetic acid dissolves the calcium carbonate as calcium acetate.

此步骤所需材料：

碳酸钙——破碎石灰石1 as required

醋1 as required

所需工具：

沉淀罐

Dry the salt

Draw off the solution and evaporate the water to leave dry calcium acetate.

所需工具：

蒸发器

Dry-distil

Heat the dry calcium acetate in a closed retort. It decomposes into calcium carbonate, which stays behind, and acetone, which comes off as vapour; condense it.

所需工具：