| Pyroligneous acid | |
|---|---|
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 8030-97-5 |
| EC number | 232-450-0 |
| Properties | |
| Density | 1.08 g/mL[1] |
| Boiling point |
99 °C, 372 K, 210 °F ([1]) |
| Hazards | |
| EU classification | Xn |
| R-phrases | R10-R21-R36/37/38 |
| S-phrases | S16-S26-S36 |
| Flash point | 44 °C (111 °F)[1] |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) | |
| Infobox references | |
Pyroligneous acid, also called wood vinegar, is a dark liquid produced through the natural act of carbonization, which occurs when wood is heated in an airless container during charcoal production.
Contents |
The principal components of pyroligneous acid are acetic acid and methanol. It was once used as a commercial source for acetic acid. In addition, the vinegar often contains 80-90% water along with some 200 organic compounds.
During the United States Civil War, cooks in the Confederate States of America tried to make up for an increasing deficiency in salt by preserving meat and fish in pyroligneous acid, which was not very effective.[2]