Todd:Solvents

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Storage of Solvents in the Lab We must try to mimimize the level of flammable solvents we hold in the lab. Make use of the main store for this. Label our Winchesters with our group name. We are able to deposit and remove solvents between 9 and 3. In the lab, flammable solvents must be stored in the yellow flammable cabinets. The Winchesters must be standing upright, not on their sides. Keep flammable solvents separate from chlorinated solvents, and separate again from toxic solvents such as methanol. (note that flammable reagents are kept in other yellow flammables cabinets) Chlorinated solvents are usually kept under a hood, together. Solvent Distillation We usually distil hexane on Wednesdays. One group member is responsible for this each week. If you are that person, make sure that you accurately assess the likely amount of hexane needed for the coming week, and you distil enough hexane. Usually 6 Winchesters is OK but ask around and check the level of stock in the store (on the laminated paper sheet in the lab). Once this is done, store some of the bottles (usually 3) in the store. If it's your week to distil, you also need to bring up Winchesters of other solvents (usually 2 Winchesters of each). The person doing the hexane distillation also needs to book the distillation session for the following week. Solvent distillation rota: When Who Sep 15 Nilupa Sept 22 Michael Sept 29 Anthony Oct 6 Althea Oct 13 Fiona Oct 20 Swapnil Oct 27 Mingfeng Nov 3 Ahamed Nov 10 Soo Nov 17 Nilupa The further responsibilities of this person are to: ordering solvent on behalf of the group taking empty Winchesters down to the Main Store to swap with filled Winchesters and correctly labelling Winchesters with distilled solvent How to distill solvents Before distilling solvent, attach the appropriate laminated solvent label to each heating mantle. Carefully remove the fractionating column. Decant any remaining solvent from the flask into the appropriate waste container - try to retain the boiling chips. Don't worry about remaining solvent sticking to the insides of flasks - these will be removed in the distillation process. Pour the undistilled solvent into the flask (use a big funnel) and ensure that there are enough anti-bumping granules in the flask. Replace the fractionating column. Turn on the heating mantle (check the power point if the light doesn't turn up) to about 5 (for hexane), followed by water to the condenser. Ordering Solvents Go to the Main Store website http://trillian.chem.usyd.edu.au:591/Main%20Store%20on%20Trillian/MainStore.htm (accessible on the School of Chemistry intranet only) and click on the button "Decanted Solvents" to view and order our staple lab solvents. Print this form and take it with you to the Store (located behind the East Wing elevator, open 9-11 am and 2-3 pm weekdays). Taking empty Winchesters down to the Main Store to swap with filled Winchesters Empty bottles are stored on the Todd rack in the still room. Remove all "MHT Distilled" tags. All Winchesters must be transported to the store using an appropriate chemical carrier. For 1-2 Winchesters, hand held Winchester carriers may be used. They are located at the front of the Cornforth lab. For 2-8 Winchesters, they can go into milk crates, which are to be transported on trolley fitted with trays designed to hold spillages. Another trolley, fitted with large red plastic containers, may also be used. These trolleys are kept in front of the Level 5 service room. A maximum of 20 L (8 Winchesters) may be transported via the elevator at any one time. Safety glasses and ID cards are essential when visiting the Level 1 Main Store. Obtaining Other Solvents from Stills If we need small amounts of other solvents dried, we must use the stills operated by other groups. It is very important that you seek advice if you are uncertain of how to do this. You must use the stills carefully so as not to contaminate the solvent, and you must leave the stills in good condition. If you take a fair amount of solvent, you should ask whether you need to replenish the solvent, and where to get the solvent from. We'll soon have the solvent purification system, thankfully.