Biochemscientist
Harmless
Posts: 13
Registered: 18-8-2011
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
Reflux with Graham condenser?
Is it okay to perform a reflux with a Graham condenser? Are there any advantages of other condenser types over Graham condensers?
|
|
|
hkparker
National Hazard
Posts: 601
Registered: 15-10-2010
Location: California, United States
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
I don't think its recommended, as a reflux condenser will be more efficient and capable of handing large amounts of a liquid, while a graham condenser
might become dangerously clogged, but I have used one before for smaller scale reactions and with a lot of cooling it worked quite well.
My YouTube Channel
"Nothing is too wonderful to be true if it be consistent with the laws of nature." -Michael Faraday
|
|
|
starman
Hazard to Others
Posts: 318
Registered: 5-7-2008
Location: Western Australia
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
UTFSE this has been discussed at length.First of all there is often confusion over what constitutes a graham.In a graham the vapour passes through the
coil and water through the jacket.If you have one of these it is generally not suitable for reflux as it tends to flood and spit.Better an
ahlin,freidrichs or plain old leibig.
Chemistry- The journey from the end of physics to the beginning of life.(starman)
|
|
|
Bot0nist
International Hazard
Posts: 1559
Registered: 15-2-2011
Location: Right behind you.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Streching my cotyledons.
|
|
I prefer an ahlin for reflux. The graham can't handle enough condensate and spews it our of the top. An ahlin is efficient at condensing vapor and has
enough diameter to allow the liquid to drain back down without pushing it out the top.
U.T.F.S.E. and learn the joys of autodidacticism!
Don't judge each day only by the harvest you reap, but also by the seeds you sow.
|
|
|
Arthur Dent
National Hazard
Posts: 553
Registered: 22-10-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: entropic
|
|
As stated above, some condensers are better suited for reflux, your Graham condenser is unfortunately the worst choice for refluxing.
Among the best choices would be of course a Vigreux column, depending on the temperature and quantity of the solution you want to reflux, it's
basically its only purpose. The Allihn is an excellent choice, and can be used with or without water running through it, depending on what you're
refluxing.
My personal choice is the Friedrichs condenser, because of its particular shape, it's very well suited for refluxing, I actually use that type of
condenser on top of my soxhlet apparatus. Again, it could be used with or without water running through it, and it makes for a really cool looking
setup in a geeky sort of way.
Robert
[Edited on 19-8-2011 by Arthur Dent]
--- Art is making something out of nothing and selling it. - Frank Zappa ---
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xpblue/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
