Abstract: A device is displayed for determining an organic and inorganic fraction of a sample, which comprises a suspension medium, particularly water, and also solids. A preferably tightly sealable treatment chamber is provided, which comprises a sampling device, a filter unit, which is constructed and attached to the sampling device such that the suspension medium can be removed from the sample through the filter unit, a suction device for removing the suspension medium, a heat energy source for supplying heat energy to the sample, a temperature measuring unit for recording the temperature of the sample, a weighing unit for weighing the sample and a control and data evaluation unit, for controlling the energy source and for receiving and storing output signals from the temperature measuring unit and also the weighing unit. All parts of the device are constructed so that a sample can be analysed within the treatment chamber, without having to remove it in the interim. This represents a considerable time saving.

Abstract: A process for reducing the content of ethyl 3-dimethylamino-2-phenylpropionate in a solution, contaminated therewith, of ethyl 2-dimethylamino-1-phenyl-3-cyclohexene-1-carboxylate in a water-immiscible solvent, which comprises adding from 0.5 to 2.0 equivalents of a carboxylic acid per mole of ethyl 2-dimethylamino-1-phenyl-3-cyclohexene-1-carboxylate to this solution, and stirring this mixture at a temperature of from 50° C. to 100° C., is described.

Abstract: A process for preparing ethyl atropate by reacting ethyl phenylacetate with paraformaldehyde in the presence of a base is described and entails employing as ethyl phenylacetate a product which contains not more than 0.03% of the corresponding methyl phenylacetate, and carrying out the reaction in N-methyl-pyrrolidone or N,N-dimethylformamide.