A woodcut engraving depicting the production of saltpetre

A woodcut engraving depicting the production of saltpetre layers of calcium nitrate scrapings and lime mixed with wood put in a vat and water trickled through it. Liquor collected at the bottom. If not judged strong enough it was poured through a second vat, then boiled down and set in pans to crystallise. Dated 16th century

Boiled Calcium Chemical Collected Crystallised Enough Judged Layers Lime Liquor Mixed Nitrate Pans Poured Saltpetre

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