I think i need to make a still to make distilled water as well as maybe ammonia and other things.
I hate to say it but paying nearly $100 for an ebay glass item i my use once or twice is pretty steep.
AND MAKING THINGS IS BETTER!!
I was thinking of using either copper tubing for the condenser inside another piece of copper. Could this cause issues with reactions?
or maybe just straight glass in a copper or PVC sheath?
anyone see and problems here?Corrosive Joeseph - 7-8-2017 at 02:30
there is a thing called material compatibility charts
In google type in say What is copper resistant to, or material compatibility to copper, try a few.
Next there is a thing called ions, you end up with them with any thing you distill through a metal may not be much but if sensitive can be enough to
seriously toss a wrench in any thing down stream.
Now how much is your life/effort worth? for me 1,000 is a drip in the ocean as far as reliable clean results is worth! and the safety to my health it
is a pittance.
With a proper still and condenser it is safe and reliable and you'll get predictable results, and once you use it you'll find you'll be using it allot
more.
I distill my solvents as I get them over the counter after cleaning them up, you'd be amazed at the gunk in OTC Acetone for example, and separating
gas to get petroleum ether and other such things.
So if you don't plan on doing any thing accurate sure whip one up with copper but it will be limited in what chems you can do with it (Look up its
material compatibility data)
Every ones first lab glass purchase should be a good distillation apparatus IMO as to get good results it is vital to start with good clean reagents
and for a beginner using otc sources they need a distillation unit to get that. Distillations teach patience and temp control too.
FYI: There is a serious incompatibility with copper to one of your planned chemicals, I won't say which as I want you to do the research as this is a
learning step!
[Edited on 7-8-2017 by XeonTheMGPony]Sulaiman - 7-8-2017 at 05:40
consider the cost of, and potential comntminants from, joints etc. and copper may not be that attractive.
Copper is quite a good choice for many distilates,
but I would not use it for distilled water,
and being able to see what is going on, by using glass, is really useful.
I have made my own distilled water but I now buy it,
diy is not that cheap (depending upon your fuel costs),
and it is very time consuming.
plus, a copper still = moonshine in most peoples mind. XeonTheMGPony - 7-8-2017 at 07:32
That's what I used my copper / stainless steel stills for ;) Only I called it fuel/solvent, friends called it moon shine!
For water I used a ss keg and a 8 foot fluorescent tube in a pvc jacket as the condenser, good for just water / Alcohol. After cleaning the phosphers
off and acid washing it.
[Edited on 7-8-2017 by XeonTheMGPony]Chemetix - 7-8-2017 at 14:09
@ the Stock...if you are in Melb. drop in and see me. I have a lot of odds and ends glassware and second hand stuff that will get you something cheap.
