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| darmic |
 Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:30 am Post subject: Separation techniques.... aluminium from dust etc. |
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Forum Freshman
Joined: 03 Feb 2008
Posts: 15
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Hi,
I've just got some aluminium filings from a friend of mine, whose work is in aluminium. Now, these filings contain dust etc. as they were collected from the floor.
Can anyone tell me a convenient way how to separate the aluminium filings from the dust etc?
thanks in advance
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Darren |
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| rancidchickn |
| Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:46 am Post subject: |
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Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Posts: 71
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| Perhaps you could burn the dust. |
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| SteveF |
| Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:30 am Post subject: |
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Forum Senior
Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 367
Location: NC USA
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You don't know the composition of the dust, so no separation technique will be perfect and there are no guarantees.
Start by removing any iron or steel particles by using a magnet. Then wash the dust, removing any sawdust or other light particles by flotation. Wash again with alcohol, then drain and dry. Consider the job done.
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| darmic |
| Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:26 am Post subject: |
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Joined: 03 Feb 2008
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| SteveF wrote: |
Start by removing any iron or steel particles by using a magnet. Then wash the dust, removing any sawdust or other light particles by flotation. Wash again with alcohol, then drain and dry. Consider the job done.
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may i ask why to wash with alcohol?
Is Methanol good for washing with?
thanks
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Darren |
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| SteveF |
| Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:27 am Post subject: |
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Location: NC USA
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The alcohol wash serves two purposes. First, it may dissolve and remove organic or oily residues that were not washed away by the water. Then it will help in the drying process. The alcohol rinses away the all of the water from the previous wash step, then it evaporates from the sample more readily than a water residue.
Methanol will work.
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| Bunbury |
| Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:31 am Post subject: |
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Forum Masters Degree
Joined: 26 Sep 2007
Posts: 531
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| Quote: |
| may i ask why to wash with alcohol? |
Here's what I think. Being fully miscible with water the alcohol would remove traces of water left over from the first washing, so when you dry it there's no solid residue from contaminants dissolved in the water. The alcohol might also dissolve some organic contaminants that water wouldn't affect.
Methanol is toxic. It might be better to use ethanol or IPA.
Edit: oops Steve F posted first. |
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| SteveF |
| Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:36 am Post subject: |
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Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 367
Location: NC USA
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Yeah, but I didn't beat you by very much.
And your idea of reving contaminated water shows very good technique.
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