Newsgroups: alt.drugs.chemistry,alt.drugs,alt.drugs.pot
From: [t--n--l] at [unislc.slc.unisys.com] (Tony Larson)
Subject: OTC Solvents FAQ
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 1994 21:42:26 GMT
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This is a first draft of an "over-the-counter" solvents FAQ.
Significant effort has gone into its preparation, but it is still
lacking in a few areas.
I need help with improving the "solvents" section, especially what
these solvents will and will not dissolve. It would also be nice
to know which are the best solvents for various substances.
Also, I would like to expand the "other substances" section,
specifically adding information on what will and will not dissolve
various interesting substances (or substances contained in) including
but not limited to: cinnamon, cannabinoids, citrus oils, DMT and
relatives, hot peppers, psilocybin/psilocin, aromatic oriental
mushrooms, LAA, garlic, opiates, ginko biloba, coca/cocaine, chinese
ephedra, (pseudo)ephedrine, ginsen, kava. (Information on any
controlled substances would be just for the purpose of satisfying
curiosity; not to do anything illegal, of course. :-)
I only took about 1 year of general chemistry in college, so I am not
exactly an expert on organic chemistry. It would be wonderful if
someone who is more knowledgable would suggest massive improvements
to the FAQ, or, better yet, if they would take over maintenance of
this FAQ altogether. Just keep in mind that the intended audience is
the not-too-much-above-average kitchen chemist. (Sometimes, it seems
that the more knowledgable people get a little too impatient with the
less knowledgable ones.) It wouldn't hurt, however, to add extra
information that would be useful to more experienced chemists.
Perhaps it would be good if someone provided information on how polar
various solvents are, along with an explanation of what the
difference between polar and non-polar is.
========================= OTC* Solvents FAQ =========================
* OTC = over-the-counter
First draft: by "The Goose" on September 29, 1994
PURPOSE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This document is intended to provide information on solvents and
other substances to people who have less than an expert knowledge of
chemistry. This information can be used by kitchen chemists, etc.
who desire to do relatively simple organic extractions (e.g. THC from
pot, DMT from whatever, psilocybin/psilocin from shrooms, LAA from
morning glory, etc. for those who like to break the law. Mint oil,
citrus oils, and essences from various herbs, for those like myself
who would rather stay legal.) Recipes for organic extractions are
not provided here. There is an entire FAQ on organic extractions
floating around somewhere.
DISCLAIMER/WARNING: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I do not advocate breaking the law. References to illegal substances
are included, however, for informational purposes only (just to
satisfy everyone's curiosity :-).
Most of these substances are toxic to one degree or another. Many of
them contain other contaminants of unknown toxicity. Usually, after
sufficient evaporation, such small quantities remain, that there is
not a great risk of poisoning, but you still need to watch out for
contaminants. DO NOT ingest unless you know what you are doing! You
have been warned! Also, it is not a good idea to breath the fumes
from most of these substances. You could get poisoned that way too.
When evaporating or boiling off solvents, make sure there is adequate
ventilation. Most of these solvents are flammable (or explosive).
When working with flamable solvents, avoid sparks (e.g. from
electrical switches) and open flames (e.g. from gas stoves). Using a
hot plate with an extension cord to get it away from the house is a
good idea. Good ventilation is the key to preventing both poisoning
by inhalation, and explosions resulting from the build-up of flamable
fumes.
ALWAYS read the label of the products before you purchase them to
make sure they contain what you are looking for, and are not mixed
with a lot of other unwanted things. (See section on purity)
P.S. This information is incomplete, Never assume that something is
safe just because the information is not there!
P.P.S. Only you are responsible for your own actions!!
P.P.P.S. Use your head, damn it!!!
TERMS: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"bp" = boiling point (or boiling fraction in some cases)
note: boiling points are slightly lower at high altitudes
"C" = degrees centigrade
"dens" = density (in grams per ml unless otherwise specified)
"dis:" = what it dissolves
"F" = degrees Fahrenheit
"LD50" = (lethal dose 50%) dosage at which 50% of test subjects
(rats, dogs, etc.) died.
"mp" = melting point
"otc:" = (over-the-counter) where to find it, etc.
"prop:" = physical properties
"sol:" = what it is soluble in
"tox:" = data on toxicity. if not listed, DON'T assume it is safe!
"uses:" = common uses. this is nice to know when you are asking a
store clerk to help you find it.
SOLVENTS: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ACETONE (dimethyl ketone, ketone propanone, propanone)
prop: mp -94.6 C, bp 56.48 C, dens 0.80
dis: water solubles, oils
tox: oral LD50 (rat) 9750 mg/kg
otc: hardware stores (acetone)
uses: thinning fiberglass resins, dissolving 2 part epoxies,
cleaning brushes and tools used with resins or epoxies,
cleaning greasy stuff
otc: some drug stores (pure, but small quantities, and expensive)
uses: dissolving fats, waxes, etc.
caution: flamable
note: acetone is also used in fingernail polish remover, but
it is mixed with water, fragrance, and other stuff.
ALCOHOL see ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol
BUTANE (C4H10, n-butane, methylethyl methane, butyl hydride)
prop: bp -0.5 C
dis: oils and water solubles ??
sol: ether, alcohol, water
otc: anywhere (butane cigarette lighters)
uses: lighter fuel for torching dubes
caution: extremely flamable
note: if you use this, you will have to work in sub-freezing
temperatures or at least higher pressures (higher pressures
tend to raise boiling points). the advantage is that you
could boil it off at room temperature!
DICHLOROMETHANE see methylene chloride
DIESEL FUEL (fuel oil #2)
composed of heavier hydrocarbons than gasoline
prop: bp higher than gasoline
dis: oils
tox: recognized carcinogen, see also petroleum distillates
DECANE (CH3(CH2)8CH3)
a minor component of kerosene, may be a minor component of gasoline
prop: mp aprox -29 C, bp aprox 174 C
dis: oils
tox: see petroleum distillates
otc: see kerosene, gasoline
caution: flamable
DIETHYL ETHER (C2H5-O-C2H5, ether, ethyl ether, anesthesia ether,
ethyl oxide)
prop: bp 35 C
dis: oils, etc. ??
tox: moderate oral toxicity, low inhalation toxicity, oral LD50
(rat) 1700 mg/kg, oral LD50 (human) 420 mg/kg
otc: found in starter fluid
caution: very flamable, can be explosive
note: this is the ether that was used extensively as an
anesthetic a few years back
ETHANOL see ethyl alcohol
ETHYL ALCOHOL (ethanol, methyl corbinol, spirit of wine, grain
alcohol)
prop: bp 78.32 C, dens 0.79
dis: water solubles, oils
tox: oral LD50 (rat) 21,000 mg/kg
otc: liquor store (Everclear, 95%)
uses: party, party, party!
caution: flamable, could get you drunk :-)
note: there have been reports of people using denatured alcohol as
a solvent. this may be ok if it is denatured only with
something that will be eliminated when the solvent is boiled
off (e.g. with methanol). if you don't think you can
eliminate the denaturant, then don't use denatured alcohol!
FUEL OIL (fuel oil #1 through fuel oil #6)
increasingly viscous petroleum distillates, generally with increasing
boiling fractions.
dis: oils
tox: see petroleum distillates
caution: flamable
note: fuel oil #1 is kerosene, fuel oil #2 is diesel oil
note: there are not many applications that could benefit from
using fuel oils as solvents
GASOLINE (petrol, gas, white gas)
composed of octanes, some heavier hydrocarbons (nonanes, etc.),
and some lighter hydrocarbons (heptanes, etc.)
prop: bp aprox 35-180 C (depending on what it contains)
dis: oils
tox: see petroleum distillates
otc: gas stations
uses: automobile, etc. fuel
caution: very flamable
note: gasoline for automobiles contains additives, better to use
white gas.
KEROSENE (fuel oil #1, ultrasene)
composed mostly of heavier hydrocarbons than gasoline (10 to 16 carbon
atoms per chain)
prop: bp 175-325
tox: oral LD50 (rat, rabbit) 28,000 mg/kg, oral toxicity is low,
see also petroleum distillates
otc: fuel distributors
caution: flamable
uses: stoves, heaters, lamps
note: ultrasene is deodorized kerosene
HEPTANE (C7H16)
a component of starter fluid, gasoline, and some petroleum ethers
prop: bp aprox 98 C
dis: oils
tox: see petroleum distillates
otc: found in starting fluid and some napthas
caution: highly flamable
HEXANE (C6H14)
a component of starter fluid, and some petroleum ethers
prop: bp aprox 69 C
dis: oils
tox: see petroleum distillates
otc: found in starting fluid and some napthas
caution: highly flamable
ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL (dimethyl alcohol, sec-propyl alcohol, isopropanol)
prop: mp -89 C, bp 80.3 C, dens 0.79
dis: water solubles, oils
tox: oral LD50 (rat) 5,840 mg/kg
otc: automotive stores (fuel dryer, 99.9%)
caution: flamable
note: rubbing alcohol is usually only 70% alcohol, and 30% water
METHANOL see methyl alcohol
METHYL ALCOHOL (methanol, wood alcohol)
prop: bp 64.8 C, dens 0.79
dis: water solubles, oils
tox: oral LD50 (rat) 13,000 mg/kg, eliminates slowly and can
build up with repeated exposure/ingestion. toxic metabolites
include formaldehyde and formic acid. damages optic nerve.
otc: automotive stores
uses: fuel dryer
otc: hardware and paint stores
uses: shellac thinner, alcohol stove fuel
caution: flamable
note: often mixed with paint removers or varnish removers
METHYLENE CHLORIDE (CH2Cl2, dichloromethane)
prop: bp 39.8
dis: oil, etc.?
tox: oral LD50 (rat) 2136 mg/kg, VERY dangerous to eyes,
produces highly toxic fumes when heated to decomposition
(e.g. by open flames, etc.), may be carcinogenic in rats
otc: paint and hardware stores (mixed with methyl alcohol)
uses: paint and varnish remover
note: fire hazard is low (by itself)
MINERAL SPIRITS see petroleum spirits
NAPTHA (see below for types)
dis: oils
tox: see petroleum distillates
otc: hardware and paint stores
uses: paint thinner, some lighter fluids, some spot removers
note: boiling fractions are similar to gasoline
NAPTHA (coal tar, naptha solvent)
prop: bp 149-216 C, dens 0.86-0.89
tox: see petroleum distillates
caution: flamable
NAPTHA, V.M. & P. (benzine, 76 degree naptha)
prop: bp 100-140 C, dens 0.67-0.80, flash point 20 F.
tox: see petroleum distillates
caution: flamable, autoignite 450 F
NAPTHA, V.M. & P., 50 degree flash
prop: bp 115-143 C, flash point 50 F
tox: see petroleum distillates
caution: flamable
NAPTHA, V.M. & P., high flash
prop: bp 138-165 C, flash point 50 F
tox: see petroleum distillates
caution: flamable
NONANE (C9H20, n-nonane)
a component of gasoline, a component of some napthas
prop: mp aprox -54 C, bp aprox 151 C
dis: oils
tox: see petroleum distillates
otc: see naptha, white gas, gasoline
caution: flamable
OCTANE (C8H18)
a major component of gasoline
prop: bp aprox 126 C
dis: oils
tox: see petroleum distillates
otc: hardware and paint stores (some napthas)
otc: sporting goods stores (white gas)
caution: highly flamable
PAINT THINNER see petroleum spirits, turpentine
PAINT and VARNISH REMOVER
usually composed of methylene chloride and methyl alcohol, may also
contain toluene, and/or other solvents
see individual components for more information
PENTANE (C5H12, n-pentane)
a component of some light petroleum ethers
prop: bp aprox 36 C
dis: oils
tox: see petroleum distillates
otc: see petroleum spirits
caution: highly flamable
PETROLEUM DISTILLATES (gasoline, naptha, petroleum ether, mineral
spirits, petroleum spirits, fuel oils, xylene, etc.)
dis: oils
tox: generally low to moderate toxicity, laboratory experiments
show a slight carcinogenic potential for most petroleum
distillates. higher boiling fractions may be more
carcinogenic.
caution: flamable to highly flamable
note: petroleum distillates do not dissolve most water-solubles
note: petroleum distillates include everything from pentane to
heavy tars
PETROLEUM ETHER see petroleum spirits, naptha, starter fluid
note: generally (but not always) refers to the lower boiling
fractions of petroleum distillates
PETROLEUM SPIRITS (petroleum benzine, petroleum naptha, light
ligroin, petroleum ether, mineral spirits)
prop: bp 35-180 C, dens .64-.66
dis: oils
tox: see petroleum distillates
otc: hardware and paint stores
uses: paint thinner
caution: flamable
note: "petroleum spirits" often refers to the lower boiling
fractions of petroleum distillates. However, one "odorless
paint thinner" claiming 100% mineral spirits had a boiling
point of 175 C.
STARTER FLUID
composed of hexane, diethyl ether, and heptane. see individual
components for more information.
otc: automotive stores
uses: starting stubborn automobiles on cold days
caution: very flamable
alpha-TRICHLOROETHANE (CH3CCl3, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, methyl
chloroform)
prop: bp 74.1 C, dens 1.3492
dis: probably almost anything ??
tox: oral LD50 (dog) 750 mg/kg, avoid fumes
otc: super markets, hardware stores, etc.
uses: spot remover (brand name: "Energine")
caution: can react violently with acetone
note: non-flamable!
TOLUENE (C6H5CH3, methylbenene, phenylmethane, toluol)
prop: mp -95 C to -94.5 C, bp 110.4 C
dis: probably oils, etc. ??
tox: oral LD50 (rat) 5000 mg/kg, oral toxicity is moderate,
inhalation of 100 ppm can cause psychotropic effects, 200 ppm
can produce CNS effects
otc: paint and hardware stores (mixed with methyl alcohol)
uses: furniture refinisher, liquid sandpaper, paint remover
note: low fire hazard (by itself)
TURPENTINE (spirit of turpentine, turpentine gum, turpentine oil)
prop: bp 154-170 C
dis: probably oils, etc. ??
tox: aspiration causes pheumonitis, oral ingestion causes damage
to GI tract an kidneys, inhalation toxicity is high
otc: paint and hardware stores
uses: thinning varnish, paint, & enamel; cleaning brushes
caution: moderately flamable
WATER (H2O)
prop: mp 0 C (32 F), bp 100 C (212 F), dens .99999 @ 4 C
dis: anything that is water soluble
tox: non-toxic unless contaminated with a toxic substance
otc: your kitchen sink
otc: grocery store (distilled water)
uses: drinking, washing, etc.
note: distilled water is better for most things (and it's cheap),
water is ofter used with petroleum ether to separate water-
solubles from non-water-solubles. i.e. combine and shake
vigorously until your arm falls off, then separate.
WHITE GAS (petrol, gasoline)
prop: see gasoline
otc: sporting goods stores
uses: fuel for camp stoves and camp heaters
caution: flamable
XYLENE (C6H4(CH3)2)
prop: (m-xylene) mp -47.9 C, bp 139 C
(o-xylene) bp 144.4 C
(p-xylene) bp 138.3 C
tox: oral LD50 (rat) 5000 mg/kg, see also petroleum distillates
otc: super markets, hardware stores
uses: some cleaners (e.g. for dissolving chewing gum,
brand name: "Goof-off"), some lighter fluids
caution: flamable
OTHER SUBSTANCES: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CANNABIDIOL (CBD)
found in marijuana, organicly converted to THC, can be isomerized
into THC with dilute acid
prop: mp 67 C, bp 187-190 C
sol: acetone, petroleum distillates, alcohols, etc.
note: this is an oily substance, not water soluble
CANNABINOL (CBN)
found in marijuana, a degradation product of THC
prop: mp 77 C, bp 185 C
sol: acetone, petroleum distillates, alcohols, etc.
note: this is an oily substance, not water soluble
HYDROCHLORIC ACID (HCl, muriatic acid, chlorohydric acid, hydrogen
chloride)
prop: mp -114.3 C, bp -84.8 C, dens 1.639 g/liter gas @ 0 C
tox: oral LD50 (rabbit) 900 mg/kg
otc: hardware stores (muriatic acid)
uses: cleaning calcium or lime deposits from cement, brick,
swimming pools, and ceramic tile.
caution: caustic
note: useful in isomerizing CBD to THC. HCl is found naturally
in low concentrations in the digestive juices of your stomach.
PARAQUAT
an herbicide used by Latin-American drug enforcers to kill marijuana
crops in bulk
tox: oral LD50 (rat) 57 mg/kg, dermal LD50 (rat) 80 mg/kg, can
cause severe damage to lungs (nasty stuff!)
note: avoid all marijuana that looks like it has any dye on it.
unfortunately, not all paraquat is used with dye.
TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (THC)
found in marijuana, the psychoactive stuff.
prop: bp somewhere between 185 C and 200 C (Occupational Health
Services, Inc.'s Material Safety Data Sheet lists bp at 200 C)
sol: acetone, petroleum distillates, alcohols, etc.
note: this is an oily substance, not water soluble
SODIUM SULFATE (Na2SO4)
By product of isomerization of CBD to THC when sulfuric acid is
neutralized with baking soda.
sol: water
note: insoluble in alcohol
note: can be removed by dissolving resin in petroleum ether
and shaking with water
SULFURIC ACID (H2SO4, oil of vitriol, dipping acid)
prop: mp 10.49 C, bp 330 C, dens 1.83
tox: oral LD50 (rat) 2,140 mg/kg
otc: plumming supply stores (plummers' sulfuric acid)
uses: unclogging drains
caution: caustic, use care when mixing with water as it heats
rapidly when dissolved and causes spattering (add slowly to
water drop by drop)
note: avoid battery acid as this has lead in it
note: useful in isomerizing CBD to THC
SUBSTITUTIONS: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
It is not always easy to come up with the exact solvent discussed in
any particular recipe. Consequently, it may be advantageous to
consider substituting an over-the-counter solvent for a hard-to-get
one. This can often be done successfully if you keep a few things in
mind. The main thing to look for is what the solvent dissolves.
e.g. If you are trying to dissolve an oily substance (such as
cannabinoids from pot or oil from lemon peels), look for solvents
that will dissolve oils. Be aware that some solvents may dissolve
more than you bargained for. e.g. Alcohols and acetone will dissolve
things that petroleum distillates won't, like sugars and chlorophyll.
Another thing to look for is boiling point. e.g. Naptha solvent
(coal tar naptha) has a boiling point so high that you wouldn't be
able to boil it off to separate it from THC (the THC would boil off
with it). Solvents with lower boiling points are easier to boil off,
and generally leave less residual solvent. Petroleum distillates are
usually a mixture of various hydrocarbons with a variety of boiling
points. The boiling fraction of any particular petroleum distillate
refers to the range of boiling points of its components.
PURITY: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
There are basically two ways that impurities can get into solvents,
etc. The first way is inherent in the manufacturing process. Very
few products are pure at the time of manufacture. The general idea
is to produce a product that meets certain minimum purity
requirements. The product is refined to remove contaminants until
the minimum purity level is reached. Most manufacturing methods
favor low cost production over purity of product. Industrial grade
products are used in applications that require only marginal purity.
With reagent grade chemicals, however, a high degree of purity is
required. Reagent grades are refined until they are ridiculously
pure (e.g. something like 99.999% pure). This additional refining is
costly, and as a result, reagent grades are usually many times the
price of industrial grades. Industrial grades are used in a lot of
commercial products, and are often available at hardware stores, etc.
Reagent grades are generally only available at chemical supply
stores. Unfortunately, most kitchen chemists would have a difficult
time bluffing their way in a chem shop without arousing suspicion.
Additionally, many reagent grade products are watched closely by
certain governent agencies, where the industrial grades are not.
(e.g. acetone)
The other way impurities can be introduced is when the manufacturer
intentionally places additives into a product to enhance its
performance (or appearance) or to dilute an expensive component.
Since the performance enhancing additives usually cost more, the
expensive, big brand names are the ones most likely to use them.
When performance enhancing additives are present, the product labels
often boast a lot of features. The less expensive, more generic
looking products are less likely to add performance enhancers but are
more likely to dilute their product. Some additives may actually be
useful, however. e.g. Paint and varnish removers often combine
methylene chloride with methyl alcohol, and furniture refinishers
often have toluene combined with methyl alcohol.
When dealing with industrial grades, always read the label carefully
to determine if it contains things you don't want. Unfortunately,
not all products list every component on their labels. Try calling
the emergency accidental poisoning numbers listed on the labels.
Tell them your dog ingested some of their product, and that the vet
asked you to call the number. Try to get as much information from
them as you can about what the product contains. Work up a likely
story (including symptoms) before you place the call. One crude
method of testing for contaminants in solvents would be to place a
few drops on some clean glass, and let it evaporate. The amount of
residue remaining gives a very rough idea of how much other crud is
in the solvent. Feed a generous amount of this residue to the
neighbor's cat, and if it dies, the product may be too toxic. :-)
Actually, the likelyhood that contaminants in an industrial grade
product are highly toxic or carcinogenic is probably much lower than
most people think. Relatively few substances are highly toxic and/or
significantly carcinogenic. Many things in our everyday environment
are carcinogenic if you are exposed to massive quantities, but potent
carcinogens are not all that common. Due to government regulations,
many (if not most) industrial grade products are not allowed to
contain significant amounts of dangerous substances, anyway. (Who
wants a cleaner or solvent that will leave a highly hazardous
residue?) Even with all of these assurances, there is always a
certain amount of risk associated with the use of industrial grade
products.
In order to reduce the risks associated with contaminants, the
following precautions are in order:
1) use reagent grades when possible
2) if reagent grades cannot be obtained, then make every effort
to acquire the purest product available (read labels, study
manufacturing methods, etc.)
3) purify the product (if you can) before using it
4) use minimal amounts of these products
Some people recommend purifying petroleum distillates by adding
water, shaking vigorously for a long time, and then discarding the
water. This will only help remove water soluble contaminants. A
better way to purify most liquids is to distill them. Unfortunately,
this is not always easy to do if you don't have the right equipment.
USEFUL HINTS: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Boiling off solvents with low boiling points (less than 100 C):
Place the solvent into a small pan or shallow, wide mouth jar.
Shallow containers with wide openings aid in allowing the vapors to
escape quickly. Place the container with the solvent into a larger
pan of simmering water. Don't allow the water to come to a full
boil. Boiling water is really no hotter than simmering water.
Rapidly boiling water can splash into your solvent, or cause the
solvent container to tip over. Watch the level of the solvent as it
boils away so that the container won't get too light, and tip over.
If the level of the solvent is too low (i.e. 1 cm below the level of
the water), then remove some of the water. Anchoring the solvent
container in place may help. Use hot pads to avoid burning yourself.
Remember to use good ventilation to avoid the build-up of toxic or
flamable fumes. If the boiling point of your solvent is too close to
100 C, you can add sugar or automobile antifreeze to the simmering
water to raise it's boiling point a little, or use the method below
for higher boiling point solvents.
Boiling off solvents with higher boiling points (greater than 100 C):
Follow the method and precautions for lower boiling point solvents
with the following differences: Use melted shortening (or vegetable
oil if you don't have shortening) instead of simmering water. If
your solvent container is glass, place it in the shortening as soon
as it is melted, and then heat it up from there. This will help keep
the jar from cracking. Elevate the solvent container slightly from
the bottom of the larger pan to aid in even heating. A few nails in
the bottom of the shortening works for me. Place a candy thermometer
in the shortening to measure it's temperature. Heat the shortening
until it is 20 or 30 degrees centigrade hotter than the highest
boiling point of your solvent or until the solvent begins to boil at
a comfortable rate. Always keep the temperature of the shortening
well below the boiling point of the dissolved product you are trying
to recover, or you may loose significant amounts of it to
evaporation. Be careful to not let solvent or water splash into the
hot shortening or you may get some spattering of hot grease. If your
solvent container is glass, allow it to cool slowly when you are done
to keep it from cracking. If you are extracting cannabinoids or
other oils of similar or higher boiling points, you may want to raise
the temperature of the shornening to about 170 C for a minute or two
to help eliminate solvent residue. (It can be tough to get rid of
all of it, though.)
Refluxing
Find a pan with a lid that can be put on upside down, and still
remain stable with a reasonable fit. Place your solvent, etc. into
the pan, and put the lid on upside down. Place ice in the lid. Heat
the solvent until it begins to boil gently. The heat may be applied
directly, or for better temperature control, you may use a method
similar to the ones listed above for boiling off solvents. If you
use hot shortening to apply heat, be careful to not let water from
melting ice or solvent condensing on the sides drip into the hot
grease. Tying a rag around the top of the solvent pan can help. As
the ice melts, scoop out the water and add more ice.
Getting rid of water in oil extracts
Sometimes water can get into an oil extract when it is purified by
dissolving in petroleum ether, and shaking with water. As the last
of the solvent boils off, the water forms beads in the bottom of the
extract. These beads of water begin to spatter when the extract gets
too hot. By adding a small amount of acetone or alcohol, the water
will tend to evaporate off as the acetone or alcohol is boiled off.
Make sure that the acetone or alcohol is not contaminated with large
amounts of water or this may be counterproductive. This process may
be repeated until all of the water is gone.
REFERENCES: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials, Litton Educational
Publishing, Inc. (got a lot of good information here)
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (a few tidbits, too hard to
read)
- Some dictionary of technical and scientific terms
- Things I remembered, but don't know where I read them
- My own ingenuity and experience (nothing illegal, of course!)
======================================================================
The Goose
--
.sig .not .necessary . . .