Cl's new fraction cutter is a real delight. Nothing like having a 100 ml scale on your fraction so you can tell how much your getting. Pix may follow of the setup...however, there are a few points that will save folks some pain when using these goodies...
Whilest doing a fractional distillation w/ fraction cutter....
1.) Test system prior to adding essential oils/reagents. Press on valves and check the gauge...make sure it doesn't change pressures...
Aspirator is pulling 760-700mm = 60mm according to gauge.
2.) Don't try and make your system "more tight" by mucking with joints while fractionally distilling. The sudden increase in vacuum will cause all your goodies to blow through your column, into your condensor, into your receiving flask, and down your aspirator!
3.) Do NOT close off the top valve to the aspirator/vacuum source when changing fractions. This causes the the vapor to build up pressure, increasing temp in boiling flask. When you change flasks and then open the top valve, the sudden reduction in pressure causes all of your material to flash through your column, condensor, cutter, receiving flask and down the aspirator
4.) Do drain your fractions regularly. A little of the good stuff is better than dumping it in all over again...
5.) Pay attention to the pre-run... Pre-run's always exist, product greed is just contaminated fractions, and you get to do it all over again...
6.) Use lots of silicone vacuum grease on your valves! this made the difference between 645mm and 700mm in vacuum.
Nothing more disconcerting than to see a tiny stream of bubbles coming from your lower valve into your final product!
Well, lots of fun, took a long time to get right... but wow... what a nice tool...
Infinite Radiant Light - THKRA