Magnesium sulphate anonyous and water recovery

Andy, Tue Mar 11 2014, 05:53AM

Hi
I'm trying to dry a compound mixed with water using magnesium sulphate, I would like to recover the MgSO4 but the particles are to fine for a filter to catch.
Does anyone have a idea how to recovery the MgSO4.

Cheers
Andy
Re: Magnesium sulphate anonyous and water recovery
Shrad, Tue Mar 11 2014, 08:12AM

centrifugation?
Re: Magnesium sulphate anonyous and water recovery
Andy, Tue Mar 11 2014, 08:35AM

Nice idea Shrad, can you explain more? I'm thinking get it spinning and collect it from the surface, but will lose to much acetone that way.
Re: Magnesium sulphate anonyous and water recovery
Sulaiman, Tue Mar 11 2014, 05:45PM

Could you distill off the (anhydrous) acetone
leaving the epsom salts (MgSO4.7H2O) which can be heated
(preferably with partial vacuum)
to recover anhydrous MgSO4.

(better check ... long time since I've done any chemistry)
Re: Magnesium sulphate anonyous and water recovery
Shrad, Tue Mar 11 2014, 08:32PM

Andy wrote ...

Nice idea Shrad, can you explain more? I'm thinking get it spinning and collect it from the surface, but will lose to much acetone that way.

like, well... centrifugation :) I don't think I could be more explicit than using that word

you centrifugate the mix and the heavier compound will accumulate at the bottom of the recipient

if the heavier compound stays compact enough you can remove a great amount of the lighter compound
Re: Magnesium sulphate anonyous and water recovery
Andy, Wed Mar 19 2014, 05:47AM

Thanks you two. I tried drying the MgSO4 but it caked. Doing some more research says that calcium chloride is the best to use for acetone, would calcium chloride be good for ethanol as-well?
Re: Magnesium sulphate anonyous and water recovery
Bored Chemist, Sat Mar 22 2014, 04:19PM

"would calcium chloride be good for ethanol as-well?"
No.
Re: Magnesium sulphate anonyous and water recovery
Andy, Mon Mar 24 2014, 02:10AM

Apart from CaO, would MgSO4 be alright(maybe not perfect)