User:Karlena L. Brown/Notebook/PVOH Research/2013/02/04

OBJECTIVES

ACCIDENTALLY PLACED THIS ENTRY ON THE FEBRUARY 4th; HOWEVER, THIS ENTRY SHOULD BE UNDER FEBRUARY 6th. THANK YOU.

• Begin preparing polyvinyl alcohol microsperes for experimental analysis
• Filter surfactant exchanged modified clays
• Complete freeze and thaw crosslinked clay cycle #1

90:10 PVOH Clay Microsphere Preparations

1. In 10mL beaker, weigh out ~ 0.9 grams PVOH (MW 146K)
2. Then, using a graduated cylinder add ~ 6 mL H₂O to the beaker
3. After adding and combining PVOH (MW 146K) in a small beaker with H₂O, add a stir bar to stir solution
4. On hot plate, stir and heat beaker solutions at 70-80°C for ~ 1 hour or until PVOH dissolves
5. Once PVOH solids thoroughly dissolve in solution, then add ~ 0.1 gram of clay to the solution
6. Continue stirring the solution until a homogenous mixture forms and the clay is equally distributed
7. Allow the solution to cool to 40-50°C, and then remove the stir bar from the solution
8. Then place the solution into the freezer at -20°C to freeze for ~ 24 hours
9. The next day, remove the hydrogels in the freezer in order that the substances can thaw for ~ 24 hours
10. Continue the crosslinking freezing and thawing method for ~ 3 days

Clay Exchanged Solutions & Vacuum Filtration Procedures

The clays being filtered are the clays that were prepared on 2/1/13

Setup of a vacuum filtration system:

  * Clean 250mL Erlenmeyer Filter Flask
  * Large Buchner Funnel
  * Whatman #42 Filter Paper
  * Long Secure Rubber Hose

1. Filter a clay solution selected using the vacuum filtration system setup
2. Attach all parts of the apparatus to the vacuum filtrator system
3. Place a piece of Whatman #42 filter paper in the Buchner Funnel
4. Turn on the vacuum filtrator system
5. Check the suction rate to ensure that enough pressure is applied
6. Pour an exchanged clay solution into the Buchner funnel
7. Allow vacuum filtration to continue until the clay is completely dry
8. Discard the aqueous filtrate solution and place it in a labeled waste container
9. Collect the soil filtrate on the filter paper and scrape it into a small labeled metal pan
10. Place metal pan with the soil filtrate in the oven to dry for ~ 2-3 days
11. Wash all glassware and equipment first with H₂O and then with acetone for later use

Notes

ACCIDENTALLY PLACED THIS ENTRY ON THE FEBRUARY 4th; HOWEVER, THIS ENTRY SHOULD BE UNDER FEBRUARY 6th. THANK YOU.

• Clays previously prepared on 2/1/13 only exchanged for ~ 5 days rather than a week.
• While attempting to filter the clays, due to vacuum filtration moving rather slowly during separation, clays only were filter for ~ 2.5 hours before actually being placed in the oven.
• The temperature of the oven when the clays were placed in was ~ 90°C.