Fluting a filter paper

Since filter funnels and filter papers come in different sizes, choose a filter paper of diameter just less than twice the diameter of the funnel. When fluted, the filter paper will be just below the rim of the funnel. There are many ways to fold (flute) a filter paper, but one of the simplest is shown in Box 5.1. 

Filter the solution through a fluted fast filter paper, covering the top of the funnel to prevent loss of solvent, and collect 200 ml of filtrate (measured at the temperature at which the original 300 ml of chloroform were measured). Transfer the solution to.a 500-ml flask, and evaporate to dryness. Dissolve the residue in 100 ml of a mixture of equal volumes of benzene and ether. 

The filtration of any solution through the ordinary conical funnel may be hastened considerably by the use of a fluted filter-paper, instead of one folded into quarters in the usual way. The folding of a fluted paper may be learnt far more readily by a demonstration in the laboratory than by any written description. 

Sometimes the crude substance may contain an insoluble impurity, and on cooling the solution it may be difficult to judge how much of the solid matter is merely undissolved impurity and how much is solute which has subsequently crystallised from solution. To avoid this difficulty, the hot solution should be filtered, and should thus always be absolutely clear before cooling is attempted. Therefore filter the hot solution into a clean tube through a very small fluted filter-paper contained in a correspondingly small glass funnel, which should have had its stem cut off as that shown in Fig. 6, p. 12 (and for the same reason). Unless the upper part of the filter is cut awav to reduce its size to a minimum, a large proportion of the solution will remain held mechanically in the pores of the paper itself and only a few drops of clear filtrate will be obtained. 

Now filter the ether through a fluted filter-paper directly into a 100 ml. distilling-flask, and then equip the latter with a 100° thermometer and a double-surface condenser to the end of the latter attach a receiver with a rubber delivery-tube precisely as before. Place the flask cautiously in a water-bath, the contents of which have previously been heated to about 60° at some distance from the apparatus arrange the depth of the flask in the water-bath so that the ether distils slowly over. Collect the fraction boiling between 34-39°. Yield, 25 g. (35 ml.). Not more than a verv small residue of etlianol should remain in the flask. 

Place 0 5 ml. of acetone, 20 ml. of 10% aqueous potassium iodide solution and 8 ml. of 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution in a 50 ml. conical flask, and then add 20 ml. of a freshly prepared molar solution of sodium hypochlorite. Well mix the contents of the flask, when the yellow iodoform will begin to separate almost immediately allow the mixture to stand at room temperature for 10 minutes, and then filter at the pump, wash with cold w ater, and drain thoroughly. Yield of Crude material, 1 4 g. Recrystallise the crude iodoform from methylated spirit. For this purpose, place the crude material in a 50 ml. round-bottomed flask fitted with a reflux water-condenser, add a small quantity of methylated spirit, and heat to boiling on a water-bath then add more methylated spirit cautiously down the condenser until all the iodoform has dissolved. Filter the hot solution through a fluted filter-paper directly into a small beaker or conical flask, and then cool in ice-water. The iodoform rapidly crystallises. Filter at the pump, drain thoroughly and dry. 

The oxime is freely soluble in water and in most organic liquids. Recrystallise the crude dry product from a minimum of 60-80 petrol or (less suitably) cyclohexane for this purpose first determine approximately, by means of a small-scale test-tube experiment, the minimum proportion of the hot solvent required to dissolve the oxime from about 0-5 g. of the crude material. Then place the bulk of the crude product in a small (100 ml.) round-bottomed or conical flask fitted with a reflux water-condenser, add the required amount of the solvent and boil the mixture on a water-bath. Then turn out the gas, and quickly filter the hot mixture through a fluted filter-paper into a conical flask the sodium chloride remains on the filter, whilst the filtrate on cooling in ice-water deposits the acetoxime as colourless crystals. These, when filtered anddried (either by pressing between drying-paper or by placing in an atmospheric desiccator) have m.p. 60 . Acetoxime sublimes rather readily when exposed to the air, and rapidly when warmed or when placed in a vacuum. Hence the necessity for an atmospheric desiccator for drying purposes. 

After about 20 minutes, when the liquid should be dry, filter it through a small fluted filter-paper into a 100 ml. distilling-flask attached to a water-condenser. Add some fragments of unglazed porcelain to the ethyl acetate, fit a 100° thermometer to the flask, and place the latter on a cold water-bath, which is then brought to the boil. Some ether is always formed as a by-product with the ethyl acetate, and by these means is carefully distilled off as a... 

In view of the small volume of nitromethane to be manipulated, the crude nitromethane may be extracted from the aqueous distillate with ether (30-40 ml.). Dry the ethereal extract over sodium sulphate, filter through a fluted filter-paper, and then distil off the ether on a water-bath with the usual precautions (Fig. 64, p. 163 Fig, 23(E), p. 45) finally distil the residual nitromethane. 

The benzene used in this preparation should be reasonably free from toluene therefore use a sample of benzene supplied by dealers as crystalUsable benzene, i.e.y one which crystallises readily when cooled in ice-water. It should preferably be dried over calcium chloride and, immediately before use, filtered through a fluted filter-paper. The pyridine should also preferably be dried over solid potassium hydroxide and redistilled. 

Dissolve 22-8 g. of ethyl crotonate in 40 ml. of dry carbon tetrachloride and add 35 6 g. of. V-bromosuccinimide. Heat the mixture under reflux for three hours. Cool to o and filter off the succinimide which is insoluble in cold carbon tetrachloride. Now shake the filtrate with water in a separating funnel, separate and dry the carbon tetrachloride layer with sodium sulphate. Filter through a fluted filter-paper into a Claisen flask and distil... 

To obtain the free acid, dissolve the potassium salt in 50 ml. of cold water, filter the solution if a small undissolved residue remains, and then boil the clear solution gently whilst dilute sulphuric acid is added until the separation of the acid is complete. Cool the solution and filter off the pale orange-coloured crystals of the benzilic acid wash the crystals on the filter with some hot distilled water, drain well, and then dry in a desiccator. Yield of crude acid, 4 g. Recrystallise from benzene (about 50 ml.) to which a small quantity of animal charcoal has been added, filtering the boiling solution through a preheated funnel fitted w ith a fluted filter-paper, as the benzilic acid readily crystallises as the solution cools alternatively, recrystallise from much hot water. The benzilic acid is obtained as colourless crystals, m.p. 150°. 

When the reaction has subsided, boil the reaction-mixture under reflux for 2 hours then make it alkaline with sodium hydroxide solution, and distil it in steam until oily drops no longer come over in the aqueous distillate (1 2 litres). Extract the distillate thoroughly with ether ca. 150 ml.), and dry the ethereal extract over powdered sodium hydroxide. Filter the dry extract through a fluted filter-paper moistened with ether into a 200 ml. flask. Fit the flask with a distillation-head, or a knee-tube , and distil off the ether. Now replace the distillation-head by a reflux water-condenser, add 10 ml. of acetic anhydride, and boil the mixture under reflux for 10 15 minutes. 

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