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Author: Subject: Soxhlet thimble help
majortom
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[*] posted on 22-10-2010 at 19:51
Soxhlet thimble help


I have a soxhlet extractor that I bought used off of ebay, the top joint on the extractor potion is 71/60. I stupidly did not look into this joint and just jumped on it when I saw the 24.40 bottom joint, large capacity, and low price. Only later did I find out that my real problem would be finding thimbles that can fit it. I saw a reference to using 55 mm diameter cellulose thimbles. The disposable cellulose ones are out of the question do to price considerations, I think I need a glass one. I have seen some with an outside diameter of 57mm.

Is there anything I could use that is a bit more common/cheaper. If not then what diameter thimble do you think would be best, I have looked all over but all I could find was the one reference in an aldrich catalogue.
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densest
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[*] posted on 22-10-2010 at 22:42


Cellulose thimbles are available on ebay, labx, etc. at 10-15% of list. You can make your own from filter paper. If you are willing to use less than the full capacity of the extraction area, simply fold a conical piece of filter paper and slide it in. Otherwise form or find a bottle neck or something similar with the appropriate outside diameter, make some paper mache' from sufficiently pure cellulose or glass fiber, and create your own thimbles. If this is too much trouble, then maybe paying for thimbles isn't that bad.
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Picric-A
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[*] posted on 23-10-2010 at 01:53


Simply fill the bottom with cotton wool, followed by your material to be extracted then put another thin layer of cotton wool on the top. Works every time.
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spirocycle
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[*] posted on 23-10-2010 at 05:46


would glass wool work for that too?
I'd imagine it would contaminate less
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majortom
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[*] posted on 25-10-2010 at 07:18


Wow this seems so obvious, why didn't I think of that? As for the trouble I am be willing to go through, I value the $90 + savings over 5 minutes of packing cotton. :)
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Picric-A
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[*] posted on 25-10-2010 at 10:39


Yes very fine glass wool works fine aswell! Nice trick of the trade ;)

[Edited on 25-10-2010 by Picric-A]
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[*] posted on 25-10-2010 at 20:22


Coffee filters "sealed" with twine or wire.

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[*] posted on 26-10-2010 at 14:33


Quote: Originally posted by Ozone  
Coffee filters "sealed" with twine or wire.

O3


Or, if your gonna spend money on it, "make your own teabags'" filled with whatever you want to extract, then sealed with heat.
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[*] posted on 27-10-2010 at 09:57


There was a method used for making DIY firework shell hemis using papier mache and a former made from some sieve mesh formed to shape -also used a vacuum pump for which a fridge compressor would work well.

If you make the mesh mould the shape of a soxlet thimble you could make thimbles out of your choice of shredded filter paper (Kitchen blender?!?)
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