The Vespiary

The Hive => Chemistry Discourse => Topic started by: pickler on January 01, 2002, 04:27:00 PM

Title: reflux condenser
Post by: pickler on January 01, 2002, 04:27:00 PM
just a simple question about reflux. does it really matter what kind of condenser is used for reflux?
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: terbium on January 01, 2002, 04:37:00 PM
No, most every type of condenser is suitable for use as a reflux condenser. Some may be better than others in holding back the large quantity of boiling solvent of a strongly exothermic reaction.
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: amanda on January 01, 2002, 04:56:00 PM
Hope this is appropriate here, but is a liebig condenser the same thing as a west condenser?

Help stamp out, abolish, and eliminate redundancy!
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: terbium on January 01, 2002, 05:06:00 PM
A Liebig and West look essentially the same with a straight glass inner tube that the vapour passes into. The West has an outer water jacket that is more tightly fitted to the inner tube so that the cooling water moves through more efficiently.
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: swordfish on January 02, 2002, 02:27:00 AM
how much is a reflux condenser in australia
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: amanda on January 02, 2002, 03:03:00 PM
Based on other posts I've read here, I'm thinking that for my distillation setup I'm going to purchase a west condenser.   I'm hoping that I can also use it as a reflux condenser so I was thinking of getting the 400mm model.  Is a longer condenser better (intuitively it seems like more surface area is the way to go), especially for projects involving distilling essential oils?

Thanks!

-a

Help stamp out, abolish, and eliminate redundancy!
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: PrimoPyro on January 02, 2002, 03:08:00 PM
For a reflux condenser, longer is better.

Vivent Longtemps la Ruche!
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: cheeseboy on January 03, 2002, 06:25:00 PM
Get both kinds, hell get all kinds!

May The Source Bee With You....Always.
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: foxy2 on January 03, 2002, 08:18:00 PM
"longer is better"

She said

;D

Foxy is doin just fine.
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: ThinEDrine on February 08, 2002, 03:17:00 PM
Refluxing is refluxing right?
so long as you dont lose the HI gas, any means of cyclic condensation will do, yes?

A Fella Thin knew, never ran any hose from his RXN vessel.
Instead he got his groove(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_docs/000251816-file_3mqo.gif)on with either a couple latex gloves or an industrial strength balloon atop his flask.



Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: Chromic on February 08, 2002, 04:03:00 PM
The best kind of condensers for reflux are proper "reflux condensers" or Friedrich condensers.

Graham condensers do NOT work as reflux condensers. Never use one.

A Liebig, Allihn or West is OK for small scale, but really a reflux condenser or Friedrich condenser are the most efficient and give the most surface area. A reflux condenser looks like a cross between a Friedrich and a Liebig. It's got the doubled coiled glass tube carrying the water, but is straight through like a Liebig. The water inlet and outlet are both at the top of the condenser.

Get one, I swear by mine.
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: Rhodium on February 08, 2002, 05:47:00 PM
What do you have against Graham condensers for reflux, they work great for me (the ones with the cooling water inside the spiral, not the other way around, they truly suck).
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: Chromic on February 08, 2002, 06:13:00 PM
Rhod, I thought Graham condensers were, by definition, the ones that the vapour travels through the coils. Anyways, the ones with the cooling water flowing through the jacket are the kind I refer to never, ever using. The other kind that you've mentioned are nearly as awesome as a reflux or friedrich condenser.
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: Rhodium on February 08, 2002, 06:18:00 PM
Okay... I an not sure on the nomeclature if a graham might be what you first said. I really wonder what kind of application it would be suitable for - I find it completely useless.
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: RoundBottom on February 08, 2002, 07:53:00 PM
the problem i find with the graham, is if the reflux is getting heavy, you can trap bubbles in the coil and they work their way up.  it's like the liquid can't make it down fast enough and traps vapour.  only when it's refluxing hard, baby.

i learned a thing or two from charlie dontcha know.
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: ThinEDrine on February 09, 2002, 11:50:00 AM
Why even bother to use a condenser? Yeild?
Alot of extra shit to go wrong as far as THIN got wit'em.

maybe if THIN  or anyone for that matter was doing (say)over
an ounce and 1/2, maybe then.....nawwww, THIN would apply da
Bucket'o'dirt/kitty-liter wit'a wet towel taped to the hose method(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_docs/000251816-file_jjno.gif).

Fuck spending at least $50 on any glass condenser!

THIN has broke so much glass ,it should be illegal.

Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: terbium on February 09, 2002, 12:45:00 PM
Why even bother to use a condenser?
Because, and I know that this will be a shock to you, some people are interested in performing reactions other than the rP/I reduction of pseudoephedrine.

You seem to be lost, the Crystal Meth forum is elsewhere.
Title: Re: reflux condenser
Post by: Psi_Locybe on February 10, 2002, 04:24:00 PM
I know that this will be a shock to you, some people are interested in performing reactions other than the rP/I reduction of pseudoephedrine.

8)  :)  ;D  ;)  :)  ;D  8)  ;)  ;D  ;)  :)  8)  ;)

  :)  Thank you.

Rev. Psi Locybe, insane alchemist.