So I read about the various nonpolar aromatics present in whiskey and decided I would try to separate them out (I was bored). I measured 2 mL of Jefferson creek whiskey and 3 mL of xylene into a vial, mixed and then centrifuged for 5 minutes. When I looked at the vial, there was the organic phase on top, relatively clear and then below that was a solid white precipitate, with a color exactly like egg whites. Below the white precipitate was the aqueous phase, consisting of a brown, clear liquid from the whiskey. When I pipitetted the white liquid out and mixed it with xylene, I found it was NOT miscible with the xylene and was therefore hydrophilic. I really have no idea what this was, any ideas?

 

p.s.- I currently do not have a camera nor smart phone so i can post a picture. If I do in the near future I will!

 

~ee

Edited April 30, 201510 yr by Elite Engineer

Sounds like an emulsion to me.

Sounds like an emulsion to me.

Good point.But wouldn't an emulsion usually happen with amphipathic compounds?

If you have a look here you can see what the analysis of whiskey shows you about how complicated it is.

http://www.chromatographyonline.com/advances-ageing-chemistry-distilled-spirits-matured-oak-barrels-0?id=&sk=&date=&%0A%09%09%09&pageID=2

Why would you think that none of those compounds is amphiphilic?

If you have a look here you can see what the analysis of whiskey shows you about how complicated it is.

http://www.chromatographyonline.com/advances-ageing-chemistry-distilled-spirits-matured-oak-barrels-0?id=&sk=&date=&%0A%09%09%09&pageID=2

Why would you think that none of those compounds is amphiphilic?

Wow, very nice, thanks that was very helpful!