mesanaw
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DOP Extraction and Base Hydrolysis to Phthalic Acid
Hello, I am trying to perform a base hydrolysis of DOP to synthesis phthalic acid.
For my first attempt, I used isopropanol for the extraction from vinyl gloves then added a NaOH/water solution to the extract, which formed a cloudy
aqueous bottom layer and an oily upper layer that I believe is the DOP.
After a 2 hour reflux, I ended up with yellow mixture that never separated. I believe the problem is that, without a stirbar, I am unable to provide
enough vigorous stirring to sufficiently react the two layers.
I am looking for an advice on how to circumvent this issue.
For this next attempt I am planning on switching to methanol for the extraction and then adding a methanol/NaOH solution for the hydrolysis of the
ester. By omitting water, I am hoping the DOP will be able to react with the NaOH during reflux.
Will this new method work? Any suggestions/advice would be appreciated.
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Tsjerk
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What is dop? And shouldn't you dissolve your dop, whatever it is, in a solvent which allows it to dissolve together with NaOH?
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mesanaw
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DOP is diethylhexyl phthalate(DEHP). I am hoping the methanol/NaOH solution will accomplish this, but I am not entirely certain.
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Tsjerk
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Why do you think your first try didn't work? Try to wash your reaction with for example petroleum ether (or gasoline), and evaporate a part of the
water before acidifying the mixture. If it is clean enough phthalic acid should crystalize.
The petroleum ether stap is to get rid of organic stuff that is most probably there (yellow colour). Disodium phthalate shouldn't dissolve. If there
is any isopropyl alcohol left in the reaction I would try to evaporate that before acidifying. Phthalic acid dissolves in water at about 1 gram / 160
ml water, I wouldn't use sulfuric acid as sodium sulfate is not that soluble. It is also possible to crystalize the sodium salt ofcourse but it is
about 10 times more soluble.
see 4.2.6 here for solubility
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/phthalic_acid#sect...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disodium_phosphate
[Edited on 10-1-2017 by Tsjerk]
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DFliyerz
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I always solve this non-layering issue by adding table salt to make the layers form, since it'll be a byproduct later in the reaction anyways.
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