This may seem like a silly question, since store sand can be purified with acid/base washed, and optionally aqua regia, but if purified sand could be
purchased, this could save valuable reagents.
Is there any place I can buy purified silicon dioxide like this. I see Sigma sells it, however I can't purchase from them right now, and that is a
very expensive source anyhow. Is there perhaps granular glass-blowing substrate, or something along those lines? I've googled but am having little
luck.Deathunter88 - 27-8-2018 at 10:35
Silica gel desiccant? Sidmadra - 27-8-2018 at 11:31
Isn't Silca Gel typically made from alkyl silyl chlorides, and not as inert as straight Silicone Dioxide? In any case, Silca Gel would be undesirable
in a filter due to its ability to adsorb organic compounds. MrHomeScientist - 27-8-2018 at 12:02
What's the application? Glass bead abrasive might be an option.
Assay silica, used in precious metal smelting, is another one - this one claims 99.4% purity. I imagine it would have to be pretty pure to not contaminate valuable metals.
Or you can make your own pure silica by reacting water glass and an acid, then dehydrating the resulting orthosilicic acid gel. There's quite a few
videos on it; here's mine from seven(!) years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6sxdejGOqwelementcollector1 - 27-8-2018 at 12:21
'Florida white sand' is the stuff I plan to use. Color is generally good enough indicator of purity when it comes to silica and quartz - unless you
need semiconductor-grade, it will be good enough.andy1988 - 27-8-2018 at 12:22
[Edited on 27-8-2018 by andy1988]Sidmadra - 27-8-2018 at 14:50
I'm mainly wanting it for filtration, but also need it pure enough in the cases where I can't adequately separate it from my filtered compound and
need to have it inside the reaction. While the trace minerals in natural sand might not pose any threat, I suppose there is no telling what sort of
catalytic decomposition could happen as a result of some of those trace minerals. It's probably a pointless worry but, if avoidable, then that is
most.
I've thought about getting glass and just crushing it, but I don't think that would be granular enough, as it might become too powdery (or too sharp
if I don't crush it enough). elementcollector1 - 27-8-2018 at 16:16
If you were feeling particularly adventurous, you could always 'polish' the glass bits in the equivalent of a rock tumbler to smooth them out a bit.
Ironically, ordinary sand would probably be a pretty good polishing medium in that case. All you'd have to do is use a lower particle size for the
polishing medium, and strain out the polished glass granules after a while.
[Edited on 8/28/2018 by elementcollector1]Dr.Bob - 27-8-2018 at 17:17
You can get cleaned sand, which is what many labs use for filtrations. Celite also works fine as well for filtering things, and can be bought as
diatomaceous earth on the web, without issues. Various grades of and or silica are not too hard to find, the silica gel used for chromatography
would not work well for filtrations unless pressurized. You can buy various grades of sand at many hardware stores for sand blasting or masonry.Magpie - 27-8-2018 at 18:37
I have use fine sand used for lizard/snakes at a pet store.JScott - 29-8-2018 at 14:27
Just purchased from them.RogueRose - 30-8-2018 at 01:56
Look at pottery stores for flints - there is a brand called SILCOSIL and it is available in 50, 200 and 325 mesh. Prices are good at about $1/lb or
about $20-25/50lbs. From the site it says "99.5% Si02."
it says .022% Fe2O3, so a light wash of HCl would clean it up possibly if it hasn't already been washed which I kind of doubt it has been.
You can also look for domestic (not salt water) diatomaceous earth, which is the whitest and purest form of DE. I'd wash it with HCl and you can
seperate the sizes by shaking in a bottle of water and allowing to settle, the larger sizes obviously settle first.
You can get this clean DE at many pool stores to refill filters, they also have some really pure sand there as well.
[Edited on 8-30-2018 by RogueRose]
[Edited on 8-30-2018 by RogueRose]
[Edited on 8-30-2018 by RogueRose]Fluorite - 5-1-2021 at 17:15
If you bubble carbon dioxide through sodium silicate you'll get silicon dioxide
[Edited on 6-1-2021 by Fluorite]Dr.Bob - 6-1-2021 at 16:49
I still have some flash chromatography grade silica gel (Merck type) which I have a few containers (~250 - 500 g each) of which I am happy to throw in
for free with any order (and postage) for the asking. This is quite fine, so may not be ideal for simple filtrations (celite is better for that),
but is great for running columns and as a solid support for some reagents. I also have a few prepacked plastic columns (mostly empty syringes) which
are filled with silica gel for mini columns, I throw in one or two as free samples with most orders (until I run out). macckone - 9-1-2021 at 21:07
Diatomaceous earth washed with acid to remove any calcium carbonate is sold as a filter aid under the trade name celite.
Pool filter diatomaceous earth is similar and some brands are acid washed.
If you are looking for something coarser, check pottery supply places.
They often sell silica in various mesh sizes as well as 'sand' which comes in various grades.
You can also use glass beads for sand blasting. They also come in various sizes.SWIM - 11-1-2021 at 17:00
How fine do you want?
I believe I've got some for making ceramics with which is pretty pure.
If its what you want I could send you a pound or so.
Will check my stockpile in the morning.SWIM - 13-1-2021 at 06:30
What I've got is 5 micron silicon dioxide powder. 99.5%
There is a lot number listed on the container, but no other information about impurities.
It's Apha Aesar and I've got no use for it, so you can have it for the postage if its what you need.
