Sciencemadness Discussion Board

3A Molecular Sieve

Rainwater - 3-6-2023 at 05:48

I would like advice on testing the quality of 3A Molecular sieves.
Would these simple measurements accurately rate the product?

Code:
1) first observations Initial sample weight : Size : 2) after drying at 550c for 2 hours open air (per instructions) Weight after activation : 3) hydration test, add an equal mass of water Initial water mass : Initial water temperature : Initial sample mass : Peek temperature : Time to peek tempature : After 1 hour Final water mass : Final sample mass : 4) methanol drying test, add an equal mass of methanol previously dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate Initial CH₃OH mass : Initial CH₃OH temperature : Initial sample mass : Peek temperature : Time to peek tempature : After 1 hour Final CH₃OH mass : Final sample mass : 5) ethanol drying, add an equal mass of 96%/vol azeotropic ethanol tested with hydrometer (everclear) Initial CH₃CH₂OH mass : Initial CH₃CH₂OH temperature : Initial CH₃CH₂OH hydrometer reading : Initial sample mass : Peek temperature : Time to peek tempature : After 1 hour Final CH₃CH₂OH mass : Final sample mass : Final CH₃CH₂OH hydrometer reading :



Long version:
So i ordered an amazon "sponsored" product and Its my first time buying sieve. I plan of doing some simple solvent drying
The price is 1/16th what sigma aldrich is asking per gram.
I fully expect substandard performance

Exact item:
Wisesorb 6 LBS 3A Molecular Sieve Desiccant Beads, Dehumidifier Moisture Absorbers, 3 Pack of 2 LBS https://a.co/d/jbJlNX0

After watching/reading these I plan on filling out the above sheet. I think it covers most of what has been discussed in the links below.
https://youtu.be/HK5m2PDeyW0
https://youtu.be/MduzjhRHBFY
https://youtu.be/CmKGt92oMYU
https://www.sciencemadness.org/whisper/viewthread.php?tid=15...
https://www.sciencemadness.org/whisper/viewthread.php?tid=80...
https://www.sciencemadness.org/whisper/viewthread.php?tid=24...

Just a thought

Sulaiman - 3-6-2023 at 19:08

Based on my minimal experience,
quite a lot of liquid
(presumably dehydrated solvent)
is retained on the surface of sieves,
I personally have no remedy for this,
but if you could somehow centrifuge the wet sample
you may increase your measurement 'accuracy'
(and dried solvent recovery efficiency)

Rainwater - 7-6-2023 at 08:44

These things are on their way back.
Grossly false advertised
The biggest solvent I have is Carbon Tetrachloride (break cleaner) and it acts just like water.
Getting super hot upon contact and boils

What do yall think?

Edit: lmfao the methanol sample now has a ph of 10. Sweet. This crap is just soda clay. Not even ziolite
Fully explaines the 550c reactivation temperature, the hydroxides have to be decomposed to the oxides, that methanol burns with a nice sodium yellow flame.


20230607_143546.jpg - 2.2MB


[Edited on 8-6-2023 by Rainwater]