SWIM remembers how irritating it was to not have access to ether for extractions, so here is an easy way of extracting it from a readily available consumer product. Warning - This extraction is hazardous and not for amateurs.
It involves alittle distillation gear, proper safety awareness, laboratory skill, and automotive starting fluid. It must be automotive, starting fluid for your charcoal grill will not work lol. Most brands are 25% diethyl ether, but some can be as high as 50%. Hope this helps fellow mad scientists. :thumb_up:
Here is the write-up SWIM created:
Procedure:
Reagent diethyl ether may be prepared as follows. Construct an airtight distillation setup with a vacuum adapter going from a collection flask and hosing connecting from that to outdoors for proper ventilation. DANGER - Ether is extremely flammable and vapors must not be allowed to collect indoors or risk an explosion/fire. To a 1000ml round bottom flask add 500ml automotive lighting fluid (50% ether/50% heptane +CO2). Add a stir bar or boiling chips to prevent bumping. Fit the 1000ml flask to the distillation setup and attach a 250ml flask on the other end, cooled by an ice bath. Be sure to use a decent length condenser and ice cold water for the distillation, a super cooled acetone or IPA + water mix ideally. Begin heating mildly. Ether has a boiling point of only 34.6° C, so condensation will begin quickly. The diethyl ether that comes over should be quite pure enough for most uses. If storing for an extended period of time, the ether should be stabilized with BHT or solid KOH (in order to prevent explosive peroxides from forming) and put in an amber glass bottle. Yield is around 250ml diethyl ether.
It involves alittle distillation gear, proper safety awareness, laboratory skill, and automotive starting fluid. It must be automotive, starting fluid for your charcoal grill will not work lol. Most brands are 25% diethyl ether, but some can be as high as 50%. Hope this helps fellow mad scientists. :thumb_up:
Here is the write-up SWIM created:
Procedure:
Reagent diethyl ether may be prepared as follows. Construct an airtight distillation setup with a vacuum adapter going from a collection flask and hosing connecting from that to outdoors for proper ventilation. DANGER - Ether is extremely flammable and vapors must not be allowed to collect indoors or risk an explosion/fire. To a 1000ml round bottom flask add 500ml automotive lighting fluid (50% ether/50% heptane +CO2). Add a stir bar or boiling chips to prevent bumping. Fit the 1000ml flask to the distillation setup and attach a 250ml flask on the other end, cooled by an ice bath. Be sure to use a decent length condenser and ice cold water for the distillation, a super cooled acetone or IPA + water mix ideally. Begin heating mildly. Ether has a boiling point of only 34.6° C, so condensation will begin quickly. The diethyl ether that comes over should be quite pure enough for most uses. If storing for an extended period of time, the ether should be stabilized with BHT or solid KOH (in order to prevent explosive peroxides from forming) and put in an amber glass bottle. Yield is around 250ml diethyl ether.
