Ijo2
Harmless
Posts: 1
Registered: 17-1-2019
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Mood: Below Zero
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How to clean up Active Charcoal in the lab?
A short question: my concrete floor is black and covered with Norrit or activated fine carbon dust.
So far, I use fine sand/dust, detergent and much water to remove it. Because it sticks to your hands, shoes, clothes there was the first step: I
covered the whole floor with paper because the stronger adsorption it prevents me that other rooms get contaminated because it sticks to shoes...
This sounds like a problem: yesterday I spend 4 hours and the lab is still dirty: the floor is still black and I wonder what I can do?
A) Mix it with certain colloids ?
B) Where I can find theoretical data about adsorption to active carbon?
Note: if you think about it then it's graphite like in pencils: so if I can apply the eraser principle then I suppose that there is
no reason to get exhausted from this tuff task.
It really sucks: there is no fresh air but I have a strong vacuum pump.
SECOND DISCUSSION:
I was just looking for another more safe destination then a basement to continue with my hobby. However I live in a city and there is no better or
safer option then a own garage without neigbours or the appartement if I have more knowledge about how to make a DIY cheap fumehood.
But let's focus on the cleaning procedure first: any ideas or experience with this matter?Text
Head down, keep moving!!!
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Σldritch
Hazard to Others
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Registered: 22-3-2016
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Concrete floor you say? Why not just burn it if it is so fine?
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Sulaiman
International Hazard
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Registered: 8-2-2015
Location: 3rd rock from the sun
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Piranha Solution is the only thing that I've used to eat carbon,
but I certainly would not use it in bulk as this would require,
as it is reportedly very dangerous in contact with anything organic.
Detergent will help loosen some but I can't think of anything safe that would remove all.
Do a reasonable cleanup then paint everything ?
EDIT: A pressure washer !
I have a generic (cheap) one and it can take the surface off of concrete using a small jet.
If you do not have one then buy a cheap one - to save many hours of dirty work
Mask required.
_____________________________________________________
My 'Lab' is a well ventilated shed so the first thing that comes to my mind for a basement lab is ventilation,
probably best to plan for a fume cupboard with extractor and just install the extractor until funds and time permit ?
Ample or excessive fire prevention and extinguishing measures.
Regular deliberate evaluation of evacuation procedure and route.
[Edited on 17-1-2019 by Sulaiman]
CAUTION : Hobby Chemist, not Professional or even Amateur
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unionised
International Hazard
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Location: UK
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Paint.
Piranha soln will trash the concrete
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CharlieA
National Hazard
Posts: 645
Registered: 11-8-2015
Location: Missouri, USA
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Powdered charcoal? Can you vacuum it up? Wet vacuum it up?
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phlogiston
International Hazard
Posts: 1376
Registered: 26-4-2008
Location: Neon Thorium Erbium Lanthanum Neodymium Sulphur
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Mood: pyrophoric
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+1 on detergent solution.
just warm water with dishwasher soap is quite effective for cleaning charcoal-contaminated surfaces, with a a stiff brush (or a pressure washer) to
dislodge it from small holes/irregularities.
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"If a rocket goes up, who cares where it comes down, that's not my concern said Wernher von Braun" - Tom Lehrer |
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draculic acid69
International Hazard
Posts: 1371
Registered: 2-8-2018
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Ammonia/Windex gets rid of black fingerprint dust if that helps.fingerprint dust is carbon black right.
[Edited on 19-1-2019 by draculic acid69]
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