isopropyl alcohol filter

hillegom · #1 02-23-2010, 02:53 AM

We have some man made fiber "mats" at work that will pick up oil and not water. Made for oil spills to clean up the environment. I don't know what it would do with the alcohol, but maybe persue something along those lines.
I have one of those mats at home, but do not have isopropanol. Otherwise I would test it out for you

sphelps · #2 02-23-2010, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hillegom

We have some man made fiber "mats" at work that will pick up oil and not water. Made for oil spills to clean up the environment. I don't know what it would do with the alcohol, but maybe persue something along those lines.
I have one of those mats at home, but do not have isopropanol. Otherwise I would test it out for you

Similar to "adsorb-it"? Do you know where you source it? I'd be interested in trying it but yeah I'm uncertain how it will work with the alcohol since it actually dissolves the oil unlike water.

Buzz · #3 02-23-2010, 03:27 AM

For the mats you can get them at CE franklin, Midfield or and oilfield supply store there are mats that will only adhere to hydrocarbons so it will strip the oil out. There a also socks that do the same thing they only absorb oil water will pass right through.

sphelps · #4 02-23-2010, 03:31 AM

Cool! I'll source some tomorrow and try them out. In the mean time more ideas please

I've heard of people using sand filters to remove oil efficiently, any experience?

superduperwesman · #5 02-23-2010, 03:39 AM

Build a separator. As long as the particles are heavier then the alcohol they should drop out given the right conditions to do so. No mechanical filtration needed. Just let gravity do it's job and all you need is 2 baffles. Just have to size in correctly?

sphelps · #6 02-23-2010, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superduperwesman

Build a separator. As long as the particles are heavier then the alcohol they should drop out given the right conditions to do so. No mechanical filtration needed. Just let gravity do it's job and all you need is 2 baffles. Just have to size in correctly?

Will that work if the oil is dissolved? Doesn't this only work for sediment?

vic622 · #7 02-23-2010, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphelps

Will that work if the oil is dissolved? Doesn't this only work for sediment?

I'd have to ask my mgr, who's a solvent extraction specialist, but I suspect you're going to need to do some sort of solvent extraction or use a special media bed (same principle as in DI media).

I don't think you'll be able to just do a mass separation as you're having an attraction between the functional groups in the oil & alcohol.

You might contact Dow, Fisher or Anachemia to see what media they have that might be appropriate for your application.

superduperwesman · #8 02-23-2010, 04:27 AM

I never saw the oil part just the small particle part. So the oil will actually dissolve into the alcohol?

sphelps · #9 02-23-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superduperwesman

I never saw the oil part just the small particle part. So the oil will actually dissolve into the alcohol?

Yeap which is why it's used as a solvent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vic622

I'd have to ask my mgr, who's a solvent extraction specialist, but I suspect you're going to need to do some sort of solvent extraction or use a special media bed (same principle as in DI media).

I don't think you'll be able to just do a mass separation as you're having an attraction between the functional groups in the oil & alcohol.

You might contact Dow, Fisher or Anachemia to see what media they have that might be appropriate for your application.

Good info, thanks