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Author: Subject: Clogged fritted funnel
mr.crow
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[*] posted on 18-5-2012 at 10:28
Clogged fritted funnel


So I bought a fritted buchner funnel on eBay and it appears to be clogged. It holds a vacuum but no liquid flows through it. The surface is white and smooth and doesn't look very porous. Maybe clogged with silica?

How would I best clean this?

Yes I searched the googles, but would still like a personal answer to my problem. Thanks!




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Mailinmypocket
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[*] posted on 18-5-2012 at 10:33


What about trying to run something more volatile through it like methanol just to see if that makes it through? Or perhaps trying to run something through in reverse to flush whatever is in there out the other way?
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mr.crow
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[*] posted on 18-5-2012 at 10:52


I tried using it with isopropanol when I discovered it was clogged. Really annoying because of the mechanical losses trying to get the wet crystals out.

I was thinking of soaking it in NaOH/ethanol for a few hours




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S.C. Wack
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[*] posted on 18-5-2012 at 11:42


(Di)chromate in sulfuric acid is wonderful for many purposes.
There should be some writing on it unless it's gone, but if it's smooth it's a fine filter. Which normally could require a little vacuum, and would hold some vacuum for some time.
And then, someone could have filtered (edit: or soaked it in) a very alkaline solution at some point, and that's that.

[Edited on 18-5-2012 by S.C. Wack]




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[*] posted on 18-5-2012 at 17:12


I would avoid the Chromic acid solution as much as possible. That solution is carciogenic, toxic, volitile, corosive, horible to human flesh, and very difficult to dispose of. I would first go with the NaOH and ethanol. Then wash if it still does not work use HCl.






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mr.crow
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[*] posted on 19-5-2012 at 11:38


It is indeed a Fine funnel. How much reduced pressure do I need? the pump does about 23 inHg (cheap gauge, goes up to 30).

Don't worry I wont be using chromic acid!

EDIT: Ok guys, false alarm! I tried it with a different filtering flask and it does indeed work! My 1L one doesn't make a good enough seal.


[Edited on 19-5-2012 by mr.crow]




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