Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Nitromethane vacuum distillation

DrWhooo - 9-8-2015 at 13:07

Hi.

I was wondering if anybody knew if vacuum distilling Nitromethane would in any way diminish the risk? My vacuu pump can pull 10 pascal (0.07 torr) but with my lekage i am pulling 0.6 torr.

Would i just get a worse experience or would the pressure be to much?

Thx for any comments

Loptr - 9-8-2015 at 16:44

Don't be afraid to experiment. Loss is a given in this hobby.

If it's too precious to lose some, then it shouldn't be used at all.

Just ask some of the 150 grams of silver nitrate in solution that I spilled. I made it myself from silver bullion, so didn't pay retail prices for it. Sucks just the same. I moved on.

Nitromethane isn't as expensive as AgNO3! Lol

[Edited on 10-8-2015 by Loptr]

chemrox - 9-8-2015 at 20:31

In answer to your question, the lower the temperature to which you have to raise the material the less the risk of detonation. Some people use oil baths for heating sensitive reagents. It is thought that heating mantles focus heat unevenly making hot spots which could be an issue with EtNO2.

DrWhooo - 10-8-2015 at 05:04

So i would be better off vacuum distilling it? But seeing as i can pull 0.6torr, maybe i dont even need a heat source..?
Thx

Metacelsus - 10-8-2015 at 05:56

Make sure you can condense it at whatever pressure you choose.

Loptr - 10-8-2015 at 07:30

Is there really an actual risk of detonation of nitromethane by atmospheric distillation?

The following preparation tells me that a vacuum isn't needed to distill it. It says "heat is applied cautiously until the temperature reaches 110*C".

http://www.orgsyn.org/Content/pdfs/procedures/cv1p0401.pdf

[Edited on 10-8-2015 by Loptr]

(by the way, I swear I read "diminish the yield" in the OP)

[Edited on 10-8-2015 by Loptr]

PHILOU Zrealone - 10-8-2015 at 08:50

Nitromethane is relatively safe to distill
-if no overheating under
-if you are well refering to CH3-NO2 (and not to CH3-ONO2 (methyl nitrate or nitromethyl) what is sensitive high explosive nitric ester).
-if there is no dangerously activating polluant (bases, amines) makes sensitive detonating nitronates colourising the NM yellow, orange or brown-black depending on the concentration.

You may reduce pressure, slow distil at lower heat or blow warm air (low temp hair dryer) on one side and collect vapours in a long cold condenser. NM is about as volatile as water. Better distill in a closed recipient with as sole exhaust the cold condenser because NM vapours are flamable and are explosive when subjected to a flame or spark (motor engine booster).

chemrox - 10-8-2015 at 09:53

Woops! I got confused while looking at my bottle of nitroethane. I have rather a lot of the stuff. My little tome on purification of lab chems cites several purification techniques for CH3-NO2. It recommends fractional freezing at -60 which you could do with a dry ice bath. This obviates any perceived risk involved in distillation.

Loptr - 10-8-2015 at 11:40

Quote: Originally posted by chemrox  
Woops! I got confused while looking at my bottle of nitroethane. I have rather a lot of the stuff. My little tome on purification of lab chems cites several purification techniques for CH3-NO2. It recommends fractional freezing at -60 which you could do with a dry ice bath. This obviates any perceived risk involved in distillation.


If only we were all so lucky--a bottle of nitroethane! ;)

DrWhooo - 11-8-2015 at 06:22

Quote: Originally posted by Loptr  
Don't be afraid to experiment. Loss is a given in this hobby.

[Edited on 10-8-2015 by Loptr]


I dont want to loose anything my friend hehe...but speaking of loss...

After looking thru the old hive archives related to nitromethane iv seen that they talk about relieving the RC fuel of the methanol by washing with water, since methanol is miscible with water...what i am wondering is could i after distill that water/methanol to obtain pure methanol?

Would love to have methanol handy seeing as it is illegal in my country. ..and yeah i bought Nitromethane in another country. ..

Thx again..peace ☺

Corrosive Joeseph - 11-8-2015 at 07:11

Methanol and nitromethane form an azeotrope but methanol and water do not.....................

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azeotrope_tables

Loptr - 11-8-2015 at 07:43

Quote: Originally posted by DrWhooo  
Quote: Originally posted by Loptr  
Don't be afraid to experiment. Loss is a given in this hobby.

[Edited on 10-8-2015 by Loptr]


I dont want to loose anything my friend hehe...but speaking of loss...

After looking thru the old hive archives related to nitromethane iv seen that they talk about relieving the RC fuel of the methanol by washing with water, since methanol is miscible with water...what i am wondering is could i after distill that water/methanol to obtain pure methanol?

Would love to have methanol handy seeing as it is illegal in my country. ..and yeah i bought Nitromethane in another country. ..

Thx again..peace ☺


Methanol is illegal in your country? Really? Is it considered a poison or something?

DrWhooo - 11-8-2015 at 09:33

Quote:


Methanol is illegal in your country? Really? Is it considered a poison or something?[/rquote]

Yeah ome scmuch sold it as ethanol/driking alkahol to kids a couple of years ago resulting in deaths and ever since that shits bee crazy aroud here...yeah and a terrorist made bombs from OTC chemicls so a lot of chemicals that were OTC are now OTW (WHATYOUGONNADOWITHTHIS)..so yeah.very sad for chemists