Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Toulene distillation

DrWhooo - 8-8-2015 at 11:08

Hi guys!

I cant seem to get toulene in my country...all i found was some thinner with toulene in it...it is listed as the first chemical so it seems to be the majority of the solution.

Now i am wondering if any of you have any experience with distilling toulene?
From what i have found on the web it seems to be very flamable and toxic...according to the datasheets i have found..is this some what exaggerated, or should i refrain from distilling it?

Any help is appreciated
Thx

[Edited on 8-8-2015 by DrWhooo]

Loptr - 8-8-2015 at 11:27

I have found it difficult to distill, or at least it takes a while. I usually end up pulling a vacuum on it to decrease its boiling point, which is around 110*C.

Just recently I cleaned up some hardware store toluene following a procedure in Vogel, and dried it over sodium metal.

Distill all to your hearts desire. I didn't have any real problems with it.

[Edited on 8-8-2015 by Loptr]

You could even distill it azeotropically with water.

[Edited on 8-8-2015 by Loptr]

Thx

DrWhooo - 8-8-2015 at 11:45

Nice, thx man...i will let you know how it went...

The chemicals components are as follows :

Toulene, isobutanol, acetone...

No fears here right?

Corrosive Joeseph - 8-8-2015 at 11:55

Toluene and isobutyl alcohol form an azeotrope....................

http://chestofbooks.com/science/chemistry/Distillation-Princ...

Nicodem - 8-8-2015 at 12:07

Quote: Originally posted by DrWhooo  
I cant seem to get toulene in my country...all i found was some thinner with toulene in it...it is listed as the first chemical so it seems to be the majority of the solution.

Of course you cannot find it. How could you find something that you know not the name of? There is no such thing as "toulene", it is called TOLUENE.

aga - 8-8-2015 at 12:54

Towelene is usually found in Towel shops.

I cannot remember which SM member told me when i asked this exact same question.

Perhaps you can enlighten me (UTFSE).

First extraction is to simply shake your paint thinners with Water.

Toluene is not soluble nor miscible with water, so it forms 2 layers.

Sep funnel, job done.

Distill if you distrust known science.

DrWhooo - 8-8-2015 at 13:13

Quote: Originally posted by Nicodem  
Quote: Originally posted by DrWhooo  
I cant seem to get toulene in my country...all i found was some thinner with toulene in it...it is listed as the first chemical so it seems to be the majority of the solution.

Of course you cannot find it. How could you find something that you know not the name of? There is no such thing as "toulene", it is called TOLUENE.


Hahaha well funny guy...in my country it is spelled TOULENE... but hey, up to you how you spell it, as long ass im understood! Thx for commenting though! ☺

DrWhooo - 8-8-2015 at 13:15

Quote: Originally posted by aga  
Towelene is usually found in Towel shops.

I cannot remember which SM member told me when i asked this exact same question.

Perhaps you can enlighten me (UTFSE).

First extraction is to simply shake your paint thinners with Water.

Toluene is not soluble nor miscible with water, so it forms 2 layers.

Sep funnel, job done.

Distill if you distrust known science.



Thanx man...very cool of you to point that out! A lot of time and nerves saved...
by the way...does it have to be dH2O, or would tap water work just as good...i know dH2O is the way to go for other processes...


[Edited on 8-8-2015 by DrWhooo]

aga - 8-8-2015 at 13:17

Oh, distill the result anyway.

No point stopping at a simple water separation.

May as well get as Pure as you can.

Edt :

Referring to a seriously well respected such as Nicodem as you did is simply not a good idea.

I doubt that you'll get any help from that quarter in the future, which will be entirely Your loss.

Further edit :

Praxichys was my orignal source of that knowledge.

I used the FSE and there it was.

Cheers Praxichys !

[Edited on 8-8-2015 by aga]

DrWhooo - 8-8-2015 at 13:28

Quote: Originally posted by aga  
Oh, distill the result anyway.

No point stopping at a simple water separation.

May as well get as Pure as you can.

Edt :

Referring to a seriously well respected such as Nicodem as you did is simply not a good idea.

I doubt that you'll get any help from that quarter in the future, which will be entirely Your loss.

[Edited on 8-8-2015 by aga]


Give me a break ma....im obviously no chemist and this is as far as i know the beginning section of the forum...how about Nicodem stops being rude to new members that just got started with chemistry..? I asked a simple question and instead of answering me he choose to belittle me...couldnt care less for his help...i bet there are thousands of cool people here that would gladely be helpfull!

aga - 8-8-2015 at 13:43

If you have a sensitive Ego, save yourself some Pain and Leave.

This is a Science forum (mostly chemistry).

Compared to many members You (and I) are Ants, as we know absolutely nothing.

If you want to Learn, try to be a little more Humble.

This is not a state-sponsored school.

Some people here, Nicodem included, know so much it is amazing that their heads do not explode.

Be even half an asshole and they will ignore you, which means you get useless crappy information from the Forum Drunkard, instead of really really good information from the real experts who visit here.

E.g. when you have your watery Toluene/Water Azeotrope from shaking it with water, how are you going to break that azeotrope ?

Oh look. All the Experts left the room due to ass-holery.

SM may be Virtual, but the Results are Real.

im here to learn

DrWhooo - 8-8-2015 at 13:56

Im here to learn but i dont need any lesson from someone who thinks he is better or smarter than an amateur...keep in mind that he had to learn chemistry as well and i dont think he joined this forum just to answer questions...he probably is asking someone something right now! So have a little understanding for us chumps who are facinated by chemistry and just want to learn...if you can accept that then any "dumb" thing i say or ask for should be respected given the lack of my knowledge of chemistry! I should not be criticized for asking and failing to formulate myself perfectly!

Take it as you wish...for i have no intentions to offend anyone!



[Edited on 8-8-2015 by DrWhooo]

[Edited on 8-8-2015 by DrWhooo]

aga - 8-8-2015 at 14:04

Learn how to Learn is a #1 thing to do.

You'll get criticised (just for fun at least on my part) a lot, so choose between Ego Boost and Actual Knowledge.

There's a shed load of Actual Knowledge to be had here.

All* of the SM members are actual people.

Some Deserve respect, others Expect it.

Either way you'll get nothing from them unless you treat them right.

If you choose to proceed in learning Chemistry, you'll see what i mean.

*a few may be space lizards. We are not sure.

DrWhooo - 8-8-2015 at 14:24

Quote: Originally posted by aga  
Learn how to Learn is a #1 thing to do.

You'll get criticised (just for fun at least on my part) a lot, so choose between Ego Boost and Actual Knowledge.

There's a shed load of Actual Knowledge to be had here.

All* of the SM members are actual people.

Some Deserve respect, others Expect it.

Either way you'll get nothing from them unless you treat them right.

If you choose to proceed in learning Chemistry, you'll see what i mean.

*a few may be space lizards. We are not sure.


Well my new Internet friend...you go right ahead and fake your way to free kowledge to those who expect respect from newbees...i for my self will respect those who know how to respect other just as much as they expect for themselves...

And how about Nicodem defend himself and maybe he can get some free time from you licking his a...

Loptr - 8-8-2015 at 16:00

DrWhooo,

I am glad to have been of some help, but one thing you will notice around here is that you need to let things roll off your back. We are a bunch of internet users behind a keyboard, which sometimes makes it easy to for us to not see the expressions of those we are talking to, in regards to what we say.

You can learn more from these guys/girls than you could pay for.

Take it easy and stay a while! ;-)

DrWhooo - 9-8-2015 at 03:47

Quote: Originally posted by Loptr  
DrWhooo,

I am glad to have been of some help, but one thing you will notice around here is that you need to let things roll off your back. We are a bunch of internet users behind a keyboard, which sometimes makes it easy to for us to not see the expressions of those we are talking to, in regards to what we say.

You can learn more from these guys/girls than you could pay for.

Take it easy and stay a while! ;-)


I guess you are right man...i do appreciate all the help one can find here but common decency is not something one should throw away...anyhow thx man. ☺

aga - 9-8-2015 at 06:29

It's a Zoo dude.

What's the toluene for ? Might not need to remove all the water.

Yes, Distilled water is always best, but if all you got is tap water, well, you gotta use that.

DrWhooo - 9-8-2015 at 06:45

I need it as a solvent...i have dcm as well...but its good to have a range too..

I guess i will distill more H2O as it probably is better to use that...thx for the tip.

aga - 9-8-2015 at 07:38

Distill it ?

Surely you can buy it somewhere locally.

They sell it for about €1.50 per 5L jug in supermarkets here.

I got thru about 6L today.

ELRIC - 9-8-2015 at 09:43

@ aga: you never fail to cause me to uncontrollably spit beer out! That was too funny.
I was under the impression you are located in the US. I found the mention of the euro to
be a little odd, as I thought you were south of me. Oh well, keep the laughs and Knowledge coming

DrWhooo - 9-8-2015 at 10:19

Quote: Originally posted by aga  
Distill it ?

Surely you can buy it somewhere locally.

They sell it for about €1.50 per 5L jug in supermarkets here.

I got thru about 6L today.


Well as long as it doesnt say distilled water i have refrained from buying it, but is battery water the same as distilled water?

aga - 9-8-2015 at 10:21

Yep

Edit:

Get some and stick 100ml in a pot and boil it dry.
If there are any bits left, then it was not pure water.

You could also test by adding a flake of Silver Nitrate- any milky colour means impure as well.

[Edited on 9-8-2015 by aga]

DrWhooo - 9-8-2015 at 11:30

Quote: Originally posted by aga  
Distill it ?

Surely you can buy it somewhere locally.

They sell it for about €1.50 per 5L jug in supermarkets here.

I got thru about 6L today.


Well as long as it doesnt say distilled water i have refrained from buying it, but is battery water the same as distilled water?

aga - 9-8-2015 at 11:36

Is it Groundhog Day ?

DrWhooo - 9-8-2015 at 11:52

Hehe dont get the reference..im in Europe ☺

Anyway thx for helping me out man..really appreciated

j_sum1 - 9-8-2015 at 14:17

Quote: Originally posted by DrWhooo  
Hehe dont get the reference..im in Europe ☺

Anyway thx for helping me out man..really appreciated

It's a movie.


It's a movie.

aga - 9-8-2015 at 14:35

Really ?

My agent never mentioned this !

What's our motivation fpr this scene ?

chemrox - 9-8-2015 at 20:47

I have several liters of used toluene waiting for some time to spend with the fractionating column. I'm going to run it on a Hempel column filled with beads and a partial takeoff head set to high reflux. Time consuming.

Camroc37 - 17-11-2015 at 17:17

Quote: Originally posted by aga  
It's a Zoo dude.

What's the toluene for ? Might not need to remove all the water.

Yes, Distilled water is always best, but if all you got is tap water, well, you gotta use that.

The only fun use for Toluene is Trinitrotoluene, but that's just me.