The Vespiary

The Hive => Newbee Forum => Topic started by: runne on February 07, 2003, 04:46:00 PM

Title: Newbee advice from newbee - Suckback sucks.
Post by: runne on February 07, 2003, 04:46:00 PM

So.. SWIM is making a certain acid:

1) Things go well.. acid is produced.. starts condensing in product flask.
2) Suckback starts a little.. so increase heat a little since more acid needs to be produced.
3) 30 seconds later SWIM hears a slurping sound...
4) Within 5 secs.. like 300ml's of water is sucked back into the reactant flask. ARG!

So.. minor setback.. sets up for redistillation:
1) things go well.. acid is concentrating up.
2) 2 hours into it.. the guy takes a break for a glass of water..
3) Comes back to find most of the flask now filled with MORE suckback'd water.

So.. SWIM's Newbee experience has learned a lesson:

1) Suckback happens fast when it starts.
2) WATCH YOUR REACTION UNTIL COMPLETION. Maybe elder bees can leave for a sandwich or beer.. but get some experience before leaving any reaction on it's own.
3) Find a solution for suckback.. invest a few bucks in a oneway valve or something. Anybody have other simple ideas for this?

Hope this helps somebody else from making the same mistake  :( . *sigh* SWIM now has approx. 7 hours or so to finish the distill now.

Title: hahahaha... been there, done that, lol...
Post by: chiliuno on February 07, 2003, 09:14:00 PM

hahahaha...
been there, done that, lol...

Title: Sigh.,...
Post by: runne on February 08, 2003, 07:37:00 AM

:-[  Ahem... well.. yeah.. looks obvious NOW!

Thanks, SWIM will add that to his setup.