TheChemiKid - 4-3-2014 at 18:19
I have a moisturizing ointment called boroleum that contains Petrolatum, Camphor, Menthol, Eucalyptol, and Methyl Salicylate.
I was wondering of a way to separate these components.
I realize this is not cost efficient!
Electra - 4-3-2014 at 18:21
There are many ways to separate those things.... but it would help if you would say what specifically you are trying to isolate? Might be able to save
you some time.
TheChemiKid - 4-3-2014 at 18:26
I would be interested in everything but the Petrolatum, and if necessary, the Methyl Salicylate
Electra - 4-3-2014 at 18:28
Well seeing as those are organic compounds I would say your best, if not only bet, is to do a vacuum distillation, and you may need to use a
fractionating column depending on the BP's of some of the compounds. There could be other creative ways to do it, but good luck with that.
TheChemiKid - 4-3-2014 at 18:35
Eucalyptol and Methyl Salicylate could be distilled off first, but Menthol and Camphor have boiling points 8°C different. Possibly Camphor could then
be extracted with water.
What do you think of that?
Electra - 4-3-2014 at 18:45
Camphor has horrible solubility in water. Is there a reason you want to extract these instead of just buying them? All are commercially available.
You could Vac distill Menthol and Camphor with a fractionating column... I don't think they form an azeotrope... but have fun with that!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractional_distillation
TheChemiKid - 5-3-2014 at 03:47
I know they are all commercially available, but I want to do this for fun.