High vacuum distillation of Diglyme (Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether)

[windyweather88]

What kind of vacuum regulator are you using? I'd like to purchase one for our lab, but all I can find are costly digital regulators.

[axchem22]

@windyweather88

Sorry for late answer. I wasn't able to find out the exact brand and model of our regulator. it's an old one. I am sure there many non-digital regulators are around as I was checking the internet. try ebay!

[ivanvackinof]

The distillation apparatus where the, what I think is a sand bath, looks as though it has a piece of cloth on it to hold the sand, or whatever it is. Could you explain what that is?

[axchem22]

@ivanvackinof

That is called heating mantle which is a heating element wrapped in a heat / fire resistant cotton fabric. it usually connects to a voltage controller to adjust the heat level. To have a better surface contact, I filled the mantle with sand to transfer heat faster to flask.

Since this is reflux and higher temperature is required, I used this heater instead of oil bath. The fact is at elevated temperatures there is a higher chance that oil catches fire and not a safe idea!

[selaginellaapoda]

@ivanvackinof it's called a heating mantle, and uses an electric heating element enclosed in fabric that fits snugly around the round bottom flask. there's a page for them on wikipedia!