Author Topic: NaOH question (don't have enough)  (Read 1291 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

TheHobbit

  • Guest
NaOH question (don't have enough)
« on: June 29, 2003, 09:23:00 AM »
Well, wasn't paying attention and swim ran short on NaOH. After the Al/Hg reaction swim found out that he only has enough lye to make a 20% NaOH (150g) solution instead of the needed 35%. This wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that swim's only local source for lye is closed today. Will swim be ok to use the 20% NaOH solution or should swim wait until he can get more.

hCiLdOdUeDn

  • Guest
yeap!
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2003, 10:52:00 AM »
Yeah its good to use as little NaOH as possible. Just enough for the pH of the solution to be around 11. Thats probably enough what you have, just slowly drip in the NaOH solution until the pH is 11.

hCiLdOdUeDn

  • Guest
Oh yeah...
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2003, 11:06:00 AM »
If you still have large particles of aluminum foil after the reduction, remove them by filtering -or- use more NaOH to eat away at the Al.

Good luck!~

TheHobbit

  • Guest
Ok, thanks. I knew it dissolved the Al but...
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2003, 11:44:00 AM »
Ok, thanks. I knew it dissolved the Al but didn't know if it was needed to extract the Hg. That was all I was worried about. I will just check the pH and see if it gets to 11.

hCiLdOdUeDn

  • Guest
After amalgamation Hg can be seen as little...
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2003, 11:52:00 AM »
After amalgamation Hg can be seen as little silver pellets at the bottom of the sol. These will not dissolve in a basic or acidic solution, you need to extract the solution with your non-polar after basification, then you have no worries about the Hg contaminating your product!  :)