Hodgkinson - the answer to your chemistry problem

[WotTheFook]

@ Hodgkinson

You could also use Sodium Carbonate (Soda Ash) as the drying agent, the anhydrous salt works just the same as Magnesium Sulphate. If I recall correctly, Soda Ash doesn't cake up as much as MgSO4.

I agree, a Buchner funnel or some sort of vacuum filtration like some Millipore kit would help things along nicely, it can get expensive though. For the vacuum side of things, get a venturi to fit onto the tap to generate the vacuum, it's cheaper than a pump and there are no parts to break.

I get the feeling your learning curve is going to get a lot steeper starting in September..... :-o  :-)

[Hodgkinson]

The supplier that has so far supplied all the equipment also supplies Buchner funnels, but none of the venturi's or flasks, unfortunately. I figure that I might be able to rig a Buchner-type apparatus with a normal conical flask, and simply arrange the vacuum port to also connect via the bung at the top (Hence I’m writing an email now inquiring about the size of the port on the funnels).

I've got a sort of bellows-type foot pump that I could use as the vacuum source. Since its not a *proper* vacuum pump, I guess I shouldn't have to contend with the issues that require the Buchner flasks to be stronger than normal flasks.

I filtered the alcohol (A 50ml sample) from earlier and that took long enough to do :crazy:

One of the things I’m trying to achieve with this project is to use equipment that can be bought without needing any kind of checks/licence/company (One company I contacted refuses to supply individuals - And probably for a good reason) or hit and miss Ebay auctions. That way, if I do a write-up some time, anyone can obtain the necessary gear (Errm, minus the condenser, that was a reject that was *acquired* and pressed into use for the job...)

Hodgkinson.

[WotTheFook]

:idea:

For the condenser, you could rig something up using microbore (10mm)copper central heating pipe, as long as you can connect it to the heated vessel. I am thinking along the lines of a strong metal container with a screw cap for filling, with the condenser tube silver soldered to the cap. Any DIY superstore will carry microbore central heating tubing and this can be easily coiled and put into a bucket of water for cooling.

Devices like this have been distilling "moonshine" for 100s of years....

 ;-)

[Hodgkinson]

That's the same kinda lines along which we were thinking originally, until a *cough* much more elegant and, errrm, originally many times more expensive solution to the problem turned up. Turned out cheaper (I.e. Free, since it was slightly defective for the original application) compared to the £20 or so of copper pipe that we would have needed for any decent size of condenser coil.

On that note, you have Pmail ;-)

Hodgkinson.

EDIT: Moonshine? Dukes of Hazzard :crazy:

[bloodline]

Damn, I hated my Chemistry degree... :-P

[Hodgkinson]

I was originally thinking of getting some sort of electronics degree (Well, as with most folks here its my hobby…); but looking at the worldwide concentration of job opportunities, and a case of oooooohhhhhh, that course looks interesting; I thought bah humbug and went for it.

Its also a case of that I've always learnt electronics in a hobby environment, tinkering with what interests me from time to time; which I therefore figured that taking a degree in it might not be my cup of tea.

As for chemistry and chemistry related subjects, its something i've only been able to learn at school, so im used to learning it in that environment. CPE is also one of the highest paid jobs and is one of the best ones to try and tackle climate change through. Besides, look around, what can you see that hasn't involved a chemist or plant engineer/designer at some point?

[WotTheFook]

@ bloodline and Hodgkinson

Science abuse it great as long as you know what you are doing, I love programmes like Brainiacs and Mythbusters for that reason.

Besides, once you have nailed the concept behind a process, you can adapt it, as you already have discovered...;-)

I blew a mate's kitchen to bits with a still once, he forgot to turn the condenser water on. His wife wasn't too impressed and neither were the Fire Brigade, mind you, the Fire Officer didn't figure out what was going on.... :-D  

[Hodgkinson]

:laughing:

[bloodline]

WotTheFook wrote:
@ bloodline and Hodgkinson

Science abuse it great as long as you know what you are doing, I love programmes like Brainiacs and Mythbusters for that reason.

Besides, once you have nailed the concept behind a process, you can adapt it, as you already have discovered...;-)
 

But stuff like this I find so boring... And I absolutely hated Organic Chemistry with a passion...

[Hodgkinson]

I made a hydrogen/oxygen mix via electrolysis a few years back. My Dad was there; we unscrewed the top and put a match near the bottle. Nothing happened. "Oh it hasn't worked"

***###***BANG***###***

That left my ears ringing for the next 5 minutes. Probably should of stood at a distance for that one, in hindsight.

I've considered trying to scale the process up since; and produce the gases separately (For lifting antennas on balloons for ham radio) but I've repeatedly discounted the idea as errrm, yeah, slightly risky.

For anyone reading this thread, we’re perfectly sane, safety minded people here on A.org.

[Hodgkinson]

Results:
Raw IPA (From the same source, but not from the batch that was distilled) = 21.74g per 25cm3 = 39% water*
Distilled IPA = 20.40g per 25cm3 = 14% water*
Distilled/Dried IPA = 20.11g per 25cm3 = 8% water*

* Assuming only water and IPA present

[bloodline]

Dude, you must what? 18 or 19... there is penty of time to worry about boring chemical stuff... lets talk about poon! :-D

[Hodgkinson]

 :-D Yup, 18 ;-)

WTF: 'Tension' would like access to the AmiBay recycle bin...

[bloodline]

Hodgkinson wrote:
 :-D Yup, 18 ;-)

WTF: 'Tension' would like access to the AmiBay recycle bin...

You weren't even born when I got my first Amiga!! So what's the poon like up your way?

[WotTheFook]

@ Hodgkinson

Tension's access has been granted.

@ bloodline

Poon, is that like Pr0n, only different, or do you mean poontang?

LOL

[Hodgkinson]

/Me thinking the same thing :-D