Solvent drying agents: References

[Rhodium]

What are the best drying agents for liquids and gases?

The Rubber Handbook lists the traditional information on drying agents that involve on chemical action.  This lists phosphorus pentoxide and magnesium perchlorate as the most effective desiccants. However, later work by Burfield [1-9] has demonstrated that much of the traditional information is misleading. He found that the efficiency of the desiccant is strongly dependent upon the solvent. He also found that Drierite (anhydrous calcium sulphate) is only a moderately efficient desiccant for organic solvents [9], and that correctly prepared molecular sieves are often the preferred desiccant [2]. His publications are highly recommended.

[1]  Desiccant Efficiency in Solvent Drying. A Reappraisal by Application of a Novel Method for Solvent Water Assay.
     D.R.Burfield, K.H.Lee, R.H.Smithers.
     J.Org.Chem. v.42, p.3060-3065. (1977).

[2]  Molecular Sieves - Dessicants of Choice.
     D.R.Burfield, G.H.Gan, R.H.Smithers.
     J.appl.Chem.Biotech. v.28, p.23-30. (1978).

[3]  Desiccant Efficiency in Solvent Drying. 3. Dipolar Aprotic Solvents
     D.R.Burfield and R.H.Smithers
     J.Org.Chem. v.43, p.3966-3968 (1978).

[4]  Desiccant Efficiency in Solvent Drying. Applications of Cationic Exchange Resins.
     D.R.Burfield and R.H.Smithers
     J.Chem.Tech.Biotechnol. v.30, p.491-496 (1980)

[5]  Desiccant Efficiency in Solvent and Reagent Drying. 5. Amines
     D.R.Burfield, R.H.Smithers, and A.S.C.Tan
     J.Org.Chem. v.46, p.629-631 (1981).

[6]  Drying of Grossly Wet Ether Extracts
     D.R.Burfield, R.H.Smithers
     J.Chem.Ed. v.59, p.703-704 (1982)

[7]  Desiccant Efficiency in Solvent and Reagent Drying. 7. Alcohols.
     D.R.Burfield, R.H.Smithers
     J.Org.Chem. v.48, p.2420-2422 (1983)

[8]  Desiccant Efficiency in Solvent and Reagent Drying. 8. Molecular Sieve Column Drying of 95% Ethanol:
     D.R.Burfield, G.T.Hefter, and D.S.P.Koh
     J.Chem.Tech.Biotechnol. v.34A, p.187-194 (1984)

[9]  Desiccant Efficiency in Solvent and Reagent Drying. 9. A Reassessment of Calcium Sulfate as a Drying Agent.
     D.R.Burfield.
     J.Org.Chem. v.49, p.3852-3854 (1984)