Magpie
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phosphate polymer
A byproduct of the production of HI(aq) using the method of Argox (Rhodium archive) is a phosphate polymer. Using his method I have produced this
polymer as shown in the picture below. Argox says that it is insoluble in water and non-polar solvents. I don't have any reason to not believe this
but I'm hoping that someone here can suggest a successful solvent. I really would like to recover my 100mL flask. Thanks in advance.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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Vargouille
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Well, he says that mechanical action is required, but you might be able to solvate some of it by using hot 38-50% sulfuric acid.
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DraconicAcid
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Strong base should hydrolyze/depolymerize the phosphates.
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kristofvagyok
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Potassium hydroxide in isopropyl alcohol for one night? We clean almost everything with that mixture and it usually works(:
I have a blog where I post my pictures from my work: http://labphoto.tumblr.com/
-Pictures from chemistry, check it out(:
"You can’t become a chemist and expect to live forever." |
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Magpie
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This is working and has turned the top 6mm into a liquid gel! For the first 2 days it appeared to do nothing but now today there is clearly
degradation of the polymer. I used a 20% KOH in IPA solution.
Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions. I was going to try them all. I just picked kristo's first.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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elementcollector1
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Try heating to speed things up?
Elements Collected:52/87
Latest Acquired: Cl
Next in Line: Nd
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BromicAcid
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KOH / IPA for two days, of course it's coming off. You just removed the layer of glass around it 
In terms of mechanical action give this a go, fill flask 1/2 full of methanol, add some rock salt, swirl and shake the crap out of it. This can work
surprisingly well and is easy enough to try. So long as the salt is largely insoluble you can pick your solvent of choice.
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Magpie
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Heating might well speed things up, especially as it is sitting in my cold garage. But it is making good progress and I'm not in a hurry.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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Magpie
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Victory was prematurely declared.  It seems the gel was just precipitated KOH.
Back to the drawing board.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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Organikum
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For speeding up hydrolysis of the polyphosphates - and thats the stuff what else might it be?- you need acidic conditions so the base treatment will
have actually hardened the polymer (and eaten some glass). Give it heat an acid and lots of time. And there is no risk you loose your flask to the
cure.... 
/ORG
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unionised
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Quote: Originally posted by Magpie  |
This is working and has turned the top 6mm into a liquid gel! For the first 2 days it appeared to do nothing but now today there is clearly
degradation of the polymer. I used a 20% KOH in IPA solution.
Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions. I was going to try them all. I just picked kristo's first. |
Why use IPA rather than water?
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Magpie
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| Quote: Originally posted by Vargouille | | Well, he says that mechanical action is required, but you might be able to solvate some of it by using hot 38-50% sulfuric acid.
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| Quote: Originally posted by Organikum | | For speeding up hydrolysis of the polyphosphates - and thats the stuff what else might it be?- you need acidic conditions so the base treatment will
have actually hardened the polymer (and eaten some glass). Give it heat an acid and lots of time. And there is no risk you loose your flask to the
cure.... |
Yes! Here's the results after a few hours heating with con sulfuric acid:
I even recovered an iodine colored working stir bar, which BTW was completely worthless in this application.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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![[*]](images/xpblue/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
