Heating solvent

[StrangeLoop]

Now I know the general procedure followed is to boil water and remove it from heat and place the solvent in a jar in the hot water bath. I was curious as to what the danger is of using an electric glasstop stove to directly heat the solvent? In lab we always use flameless heat sources because of the flammability danger but we will usually directly heat solvents even to boiling using a hot plate. So are we just overly cautious when it comes to home cookin?

 

[alert]

Does anyone think it would pose a safety issue evaporating solvent with something like this?

It is a 500 watt halogen work light. I have one nearly identical however mine doesn't have the metal safety grid but it does have safety glass. It is weatherproof/waterproof and has a 500 watt halogen bulb in it. It gets *hot*. That's why the safety grid is on the newer models in the first place, because if you hold you hand in front of the light for more than a few seconds it will burn you. Mine is adjustable so I could get it as close or as far from the solvent as I wanted.

This would be down outside with plenty of ventilation. I think that the fact it is weather/waterproof and has safety glass (all the electronics that could spark or whatever are behind rubber and glass) would make it safe enough for evaporating maybe 300ml or so of naphtha down to 100ml.

 

[Du57mi73]

Alert, if you look at my previous post I stated that I use a personal heater to heat my jars. I haven't had a single problem with it. No jar cracks, or anything. The halon lamp should work essentially the same, just try not to put the jars too close to itt or touching the saftey guard.

 

[steppa]

...or just use a hot water bath. We shouldn't promote any other method, imho.

 

[alert]

...or just use a hot water bath. We shouldn't promote any other method, imho.

I use a hot water bath to heat my solvent for pulls, however I combine all my pulls together and then evap them down before I freeze out the alks. Heating solvent in a hot water bath in fine, but evaporating solvent down it simply isn't that efficient. Nor is it easy for me to keep a hot water bath hot outside.

I don't feel I'm promoting the use of anything unsafe to anyone here; I was asking a safety question myself. Do you have any legitimate concerns why this set up wouldn't be safe? Just to be clear, I'm not promoting anyone do what I do. If you want a role model look elsewhere.

 

[Kerberos]

Agree on the hot water bath, i use this 1.5l slow cooker which costs £10.

http://www.wilko.com/slow-cookers/wilko-everyday-value-slow-cooker-15l/invt/0316165

It can also take a 2L kilner jar if you need to warm up an extraction or keep one warm. I use it to heat up my solvents in shot glasses covered in cling film to allow vapor expansion. Works great.

 

[Du57mi73]

I use a hot water bath to heat my solvent for pulls, however I combine all my pulls together and then evap them down before I freeze out the alks. Heating solvent in a hot water bath in fine, but evaporating solvent down it simply isn't that efficient. Nor is it easy for me to keep a hot water bath hot outside.

This is exactly why I started using the heater.

I don't feel I'm promoting the use of anything unsafe to anyone here; I was asking a safety question myself. Do you have any legitimate concerns why this set up wouldn't be safe? Just to be clear, I'm not promoting anyone do what I do. If you want a role model look elsewhere.

I agree. I create my own path of destruction and would rather no one follow. If you find it acceptable t do as I do then you are putting yourself to the same risks as I.