Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Vapor adsorption with molecular sieves

Deathtillation - 22-8-2013 at 06:11

Dear readers,
Is it possible to replace the dry ice trap with an adsorption tube filled with , for example, 5A sieves when evaporating residual chloroform or dichloromethane from the organic solution, to protect the membrane vacuum pump from the corrosive vapor of these solvents?

Dr.Bob - 22-8-2013 at 11:21

Not really, a cold trap will work pretty well even at low pressures, but gases in sieves and other absorbents are in equilibrium, so under vacuum the gases tend to outgas. That is why you can dry Mol Sieves under vacuum (although applying heat makes it much quicker.) However, a membrane pump may not be damaged by traces of low MW solvents like an oil pump would be, so it may not need protectuino against solvent as much as it does from acid (and a basic trap WOULD work for removing certain acids.)

shagydeep - 26-8-2013 at 23:01

Hello,
It is possible to replace dry ice but if the vacuums are good and low absorbents then it create much better to suction for the gas...