Sciencemadness Discussion Board
Not logged in [Login ]
Go To Bottom

Printable Version  
Author: Subject: Impressive cooling mixtures without dry ice
BASF
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 282
Registered: 5-11-2002
Member Is Offline

Mood: hydrophilic

thumbup.gif posted on 20-8-2003 at 07:32
Impressive cooling mixtures without dry ice


After that many useful organic reactions are requiring less than -10....-20°C, and i now have a little experience with non-dry-ice-cooling mixtures, i dare to make a little report about these:

Generally, dissolving inorganic salt-hydrates will always cool down to a certain extent. My theory about this is because the crystal cage of the salt is a system with a very low entropy. The driving force of the process(the destruction of the crystal-cage, which is endothermic) thus is the growing of the entropy.
This principle also explains why salts melt ice on contact, the vapor-pressure of the ice is higher than the ones of the salts, water-molecules are able to get on the surface of the salt-crystals, where the abovementioned process takes place.

1)The most simple cooling mixture is probably NaCl + crushed ice(-20°C).

It has to be mentioned that the parts of the ice are ideally not bigger than 0.5-1cm diameter, or a significant decrease of cooling-performance has to be accepted.

It is also important to weigh the mixing-portions of ice and salt, although a 50:50 ratio might be a good approximation.
The mixing-ratios can be found in various books about preparative chemistry, although i think the solubility at 0°C can be taken as a basis for calculation of the ratios.

2)The most cost-effective of the mixtures is the ammonium-nitrate-ice-bath. KAS 27-fertilizer is working well, although recrystallized ammonium nitrate is much better because there are no insoluble additives. So far i have not found the mix tabulated, but i think at least about -25°C are possible.
This one is a good choice for nitrations taking place at below +15°C, it allows an acceptable rate of addition of reactants.
A good idea is to take an aluminum container because of the good heat conduction...the work with thick-walled round-bottomed glass-flasks is frustating.

3)One of the best(in my opinion) cooling mixtures is 66% H2SO4 with crushed ice (55:45). The temp in the bath sinks to -37°C.
I am not sure if the conc. of industrial waste-sulfuric acid was about 60% or if it was 30%("Dünnsäure"; Ger).
A big advantage is the low viscousity of the mix. It can be stirred with a bigger magnetic stirring bar for faster heat exchange.

4)Calcium chloride hexahydrate(not to mistake with dehydrated CaCl2, which is used in drying columns) with crushed ice.
Temp: -40°C

5)Quite expensive, but impressive is hydrated KOH with crushed ice.
Although i never tried that myself, -60°C are tabulated.




View user's profile View All Posts By User
BASF
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 282
Registered: 5-11-2002
Member Is Offline

Mood: hydrophilic

[*] posted on 20-8-2003 at 07:53


https://www1.fishersci.com/education/resources/eqtip06.jsp

http://www.fisher.co.uk/techzone/tables/chemicals1.htm

Anybody´s got some more?

BTW, i would still love to use dry ice, but so far i wasn´t able to find a cheap source of it. I was asking myself wether super-markets could be a source, - sometimes dry ice is used in styrofoam-containers for transportation of (?) have to figure out....there is always something left.




View user's profile View All Posts By User
Nick F
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 439
Registered: 7-9-2002
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 20-8-2003 at 08:45


I don't know about supermarkets, but if you have a college/university or something like that, you could try asking. I get mine from a medical research place, it's used to keep stuff cool in transport. They even let me have the thick polystyrene box. This is good, because it allows me to keep it for days rather than hours.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
Haggis
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 238
Registered: 1-12-2002
Location: Mid-America.
Member Is Offline

Mood: Lacrymating

[*] posted on 20-8-2003 at 10:57


Around these parts in America, dry ice can be had for .99 cents per pound. They come in 2.5 pound increments if my memory serves right and most have a bag that is already open so you can take what you need. They also don't care much if you open a bag and take what you need.
View user's profile View All Posts By User This user has MSN Messenger
BASF
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 282
Registered: 5-11-2002
Member Is Offline

Mood: hydrophilic

[*] posted on 22-8-2003 at 05:28


I was hoping this would be the case...so, Haggis, this sounds like being quite uncomplicated and cost-effective...:)

Are these suppliers of dry-ice generally the same companies selling gases?

(maybe european "Linde"-suppliers??)

[Edited on 22-8-2003 by BASF]




View user's profile View All Posts By User
Mongo Blongo
Unregistered




Posts: N/A
Registered: N/A
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 3-9-2003 at 07:10


BASF- Do you have any quantitive information on that KOH/ice reaction? Sounds great for freezing HNO3.
Haggis
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 238
Registered: 1-12-2002
Location: Mid-America.
Member Is Offline

Mood: Lacrymating

[*] posted on 3-9-2003 at 07:38


Ol' buddy Haggis is back with a bit 'o info for you...

http://www.dryicedirectory.com
(Find out listed sellers of dry ice, however, there is probably more than listed)

http://www.dryiceinfo.com is another decent resource with some general information. On their selling page however, I was blankly skimming for useful info when I saw they sold to "Mad Science". Quick exploration proves that it is a demonstration/educational company. Their logo is the same as seen on that sticker that (IIRC) NERV found in his school. http://www.madscience.org I thought it was interesting because it all comes together oddly. BASF- I believe that gas companies often sell dry ice as well, but the price may be steeper.
Edit: I really want one of the lab coats that they have!

[Edited on 3-9-2003 by Haggis]

[Edited on 3-9-2003 by Haggis]




Great ideas often receive violent opposition from mediocre minds.
<b> <a href=\"http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0xEE41A2B1\">PGP Key</a> </b> 0C0A 7486 B97F 92EE AE50 A98C A4F3 087E 8CE9 A782
View user's profile View All Posts By User This user has MSN Messenger
madscientist
National Hazard
****




Posts: 962
Registered: 19-5-2002
Location: American Midwest
Member Is Offline

Mood: pyrophoric

[*] posted on 11-9-2003 at 12:40


On the off-topic subject of impressive cooling mixtures involving dry ice :P how about a slurry of crushed dry ice in liquid propane (allowing the propane to evaporate, of course, as that would contribute significantly to the mixture's ability to remove heat)?



I weep at the sight of flaming acetic anhydride.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
BASF
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 282
Registered: 5-11-2002
Member Is Offline

Mood: hydrophilic

[*] posted on 13-9-2003 at 07:38


Thanks for the link...it turned out Linde is really selling dry-ice.

Let´s get ready for a trip to Vienna....Arrgh

My only hope is they also deliver it per post, ideally in cheap styrofoam-boxes...




View user's profile View All Posts By User
BASF
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 282
Registered: 5-11-2002
Member Is Offline

Mood: hydrophilic

[*] posted on 16-9-2003 at 06:22


@mongo blongo

I have found the mixing-proportions of the KOH-ice mix here, along with another interesting one: etOH + ice

http://www.eis-winter.de/englisch/misch.htm

:D




View user's profile View All Posts By User
Mongo Blongo
Unregistered




Posts: N/A
Registered: N/A
Member Is Offline


thumbup.gif posted on 16-9-2003 at 10:44


Thanks BASF. I tried NaOH thinking I might get similar results to KOH but I only got down to -25 deg.
Anyway about the KOH, I take it that only hydrated KOH will work so I am not sure how to interpret the mixing proportions from your link.
Do you think it means 310 g of anhydrous KOH is to be hydrated then mixed with the ice or 310 g of hydrated KOH solution is to be mixed with the ice? Also does anyone know how much water is needed to "only just" hydrate KOH?
I will electrolyze some KCl solution soon to make me some KOH or maybe I will buy it as pH up from a hydroponics shop and give it a try.
BASF
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 282
Registered: 5-11-2002
Member Is Offline

Mood: hydrophilic

[*] posted on 17-9-2003 at 04:10


woops. I don´t know it myself...
I know that KOH is used (very effectively) as a drying agent, so it definitely has a high affinity for water...

http://www.fofweb.com/Subscription/Science/Helicon.asp?SID=2...

...so, according to this info, the needed hydrate would most likely be KOH*1 1/2 water.

Hope i could help.




View user's profile View All Posts By User
Mongo Blongo
Unregistered




Posts: N/A
Registered: N/A
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 19-9-2003 at 05:05


Thanks dude. I think I will add water to the anhydrous KOH until no more heat is evolved. I will post results when I get some KOH. If all goes well it would be great for freezing HNO3 ;)
BASF
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 282
Registered: 5-11-2002
Member Is Offline

Mood: hydrophilic

[*] posted on 19-9-2003 at 07:25


Maybe mixing by weight is better, because the second hydration-step might not yield so much heat, but this is just a suggestion.



View user's profile View All Posts By User
Mongo Blongo
Unregistered




Posts: N/A
Registered: N/A
Member Is Offline


sad.gif posted on 20-10-2003 at 10:40


Well the KOH/ice bath only went down to -30 deg after performing many experements with different concentrations/ice particle sizes. Shit!
BASF
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 282
Registered: 5-11-2002
Member Is Offline

Mood: hydrophilic

[*] posted on 21-10-2003 at 04:57


Maybe the bath was too small.
It makes the hell freeze, but it has, on the other side a low cooling-capacity, i suggest.
Maybe the room-temp was too high.
Maybe the insulation was bad.
Maybe the mixing was bad.
Maybe your KOH was not fully hydrated(use ice-water).
Maybe your KOH was hydrated, but it was too wet...
Maybe...

It´s always difficult, but -30°C are not bad tough.

[Edited on 21-10-2003 by BASF]

[Edited on 22-10-2003 by BASF]




View user's profile View All Posts By User
vulture
Forum Gatekeeper
*****




Posts: 3330
Registered: 25-5-2002
Location: France
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 8-2-2004 at 12:07


Try cooling the solid KOH to 0C before adding it to the ice.

Make sure it's fresh KOH, because K2CO3 is no good.

Also, gas expansion could be a feasible method for cooling down.

Deodorant spray get's stuff down to -20C in a matter of seconds. Pity that it's rather flammable and always comes with a smell.

Perhaps a fire extinguisher? :D

[Edited on 8-2-2004 by vulture]

[Edited on 8-2-2004 by vulture]




One shouldn't accept or resort to the mutilation of science to appease the mentally impaired.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
Organikum
resurrected
*****




Posts: 2339
Registered: 12-10-2002
Location: Europe
Member Is Offline

Mood: frustrated

[*] posted on 8-2-2004 at 13:52
Google machts moeglich!


http://www.trockeneisshop.de/

Motto:
Trockeneis fuer jedermann.

keine Ursache, gern geschehn..... LOL




Irgendwas is ja immer
View user's profile View All Posts By User
Mr. Wizard
International Hazard
*****




Posts: 1042
Registered: 30-3-2003
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 8-2-2004 at 14:59


Once I used lye NaOH pellets to clean the rust and crud out of a car radiator. The water dissolving the lye got so hot it was steaming. KOH would do the same thing I suspect. Maybe the cooling with ice could be enhanced by dissolving the KOH in water to saturation and then cooling it in a cool down bath, before mixing it with crushed ice?
View user's profile View All Posts By User
hodges
National Hazard
****




Posts: 525
Registered: 17-12-2003
Location: Midwest
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 8-2-2004 at 15:33


Quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Wizard
Once I used lye NaOH pellets to clean the rust and crud out of a car radiator. The water dissolving the lye got so hot it was steaming. KOH would do the same thing I suspect. Maybe the cooling with ice could be enhanced by dissolving the KOH in water to saturation and then cooling it in a cool down bath, before mixing it with crushed ice?


A bit off topic I guess but an interesting thing I found involved putting dry ice (not regular ice) in a strong NaOH solution. The CO2 neutralizes the NaOH, giving up much heat in the process. So (if strong enough) the solution actually gets hotter, not colder. This of course makes the dry ice react even faster, kind of a runaway reaction.

Hodges
View user's profile View All Posts By User
vulture
Forum Gatekeeper
*****




Posts: 3330
Registered: 25-5-2002
Location: France
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 9-2-2004 at 07:16


The water dissolving the lye got so hot it was steaming. KOH would do the same thing I suspect. Maybe the cooling with ice could be enhanced by dissolving the KOH in water to saturation and then cooling it in a cool down bath, before mixing it with crushed ice?

Quite on the contrary. The KOH has to be added to ice, because it's the energy needed to keep the water liquid at -60C that cools the mixture down.

Fusion enthalpy of H2O....




One shouldn't accept or resort to the mutilation of science to appease the mentally impaired.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
Mr. Wizard
International Hazard
*****




Posts: 1042
Registered: 30-3-2003
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 9-2-2004 at 10:03


So the cooling takes place between the solid ice and the solid KOH pellets? The equilibrium between the KOH solution and the solid ice isn't a factor? I guess I don't understand how the water is kept liquid at -60C. My error was thinking the solution of KOH with it's depressed freezing point was in equilibrium with the ice liquid interface.
View user's profile View All Posts By User

  Go To Top