Chemguy5 - 20-11-2018 at 14:49
Will silicon dioxide used for roach killing work as non mobile in DIY TLC plates?
The process I read says to use silicon dioxide desiccant beads found in pill bottles or shoe boxes and grind them up with a mortar and pestle.
I have a bottle of silicon dioxide roach killer that is already extremely fine powdered and extremely light weight which feels strange as the bottle
is quite large yet can't weight for than around 50 grams including the bottle.
I'm wondering if I can use this instead of crushing the bead form but I wasn't sure if it is made different then the beads.
VSEPR_VOID - 20-11-2018 at 17:53
Have you tried purifying it? I imagine there are a bunch of things mixed with it.
How will you attach the silica to a glass slide for TLC plates?
battoussai114 - 20-11-2018 at 17:53
I don't see why not. These are usually made from ground Diatomaceous Earth, which can be used as stationary phase for TLC. Just ensure yours doesn't
contain additives to bait insects into eating it.
VSEPR_VOID - 20-11-2018 at 17:59
I wash it with boiling water and alcohol to be safe.
For affixing it you could try covering a glass slide in a slurry of silica and water, then baking it on
Chemguy5 - 20-11-2018 at 19:14
From my research they mix the silicon dioxide with plaster of Paris then they spread the slurry onto a glass or plastic slide and I believe dry in an
oven.
The silicon dioxide I have is "HOT SHOT BED BIG KILLER DUST WITH DIATOMACEOUS EARTH"
Ingredients: silicon dioxide......85%
Other ingredients..15%
I'll wash this with water and IPA or MeOH like VESPR said.
beerwiz - 21-11-2018 at 00:47
Diatomaceous Earth is CELITE and it has no adsorbent properties, most compounds will go straight through it, there's no retention. Your silicon
dioxide may work, but there's only one way to find out and that is to try it. There are Youtube videos on how to make your own TLC plates.
[Edited on 21-11-2018 by beerwiz]
mayko - 21-11-2018 at 06:18
Some products (cimexa, iirc) use fumed silica instead of diatomaceous earth, if that might work better