Sciencemadness Discussion Board

oily magnesium turnings

skip - 18-6-2016 at 15:58

I have some Mg turnings and they are coated with an oily type substance. I tried to clean some with diethyl E, but that didn't seam to work all that great and when used didn't do too well. Could I use a hydrocarbon to wash them, then ether wash? Suggestions welcome and thank you.

[Edited on 18-6-2016 by skip]

Eddygp - 19-6-2016 at 01:24

Light petroleum distillate should be able to take the oily substance off (hopefully). Since it is fairly volatile it won't leave a slick coating on them after cleaning.

zed - 23-6-2016 at 12:59

Ether didn't work well? Might try Acetone, or the cheapest of all common non-polar solvents...Gasoline! Seems like those turnings must be coated with something that is either too polar, is too non-polar, or is polymerized.

Next up, Methylene Chloride!

Ether dissolves most things, but a gummy drying-oil might resist it.

[Edited on 23-6-2016 by zed]

Cleaning Mg turnings

Dwarvensilver - 23-6-2016 at 19:15

Greets,
Have you thought about trisodium phosphate?
We use it to clean metals that will see O2. They have to be really clean
Cheers

Heavy Walter - 24-6-2016 at 05:10

Hi Dwarvensilver
Please, comment on that cleaning.
Molten salt?