Sodium equipment

The past year s operation of sodium equipment at ANL has demonstrated that sodium can be charged wherever we wish, pumped, and its flow, temperature, level, and oxide content measured. Even through abuse and formation of large quantities of sodium oxide, the sodium oxide can be removed and the mechanical gadgets function as designed. Workers in the reactor business are indeed fortunate that American industry, through applied chemical engineering, has made sodium available in quantity and inexpensively. 

Particular attention was paid to fire safety for the primary and secondary sodium equipment and pipelines. Technical measures are provided to limit the scope of sodium leaks and fires. Thus all reactor-related auxiliary sodium system pipes leaving the reactor vessel are jacketed up to a second isolation valve (including the valve casings) and are located in partially leak-tight rooms. 

In the late 1960s, China began SFR research activities. The initial studies focused on neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, sodium technology, material, sodium equipment and instruments, and small sodium facilities. Later on, approximately 12 experimental setups and one sodium loop were constracted, among which a 50-kg zero-power neutron setup reached criticality in June 1970 (Rouault et al., 2010). 

If preferred, the following alternative procedure may be adopted. The absolute alcohol is placed in a 1 5 or 2 litre three-necked flask equipped with a double surface reflux condenser and a mercury-sealed mechanical stirrqr the third neck is closed with a dry stopper. The sodium is introduced and, when it has reacted completely, the ester is added and the mixture is gently refluxed for 2 hours. The reflux condenser is then rapidly disconnected and arranged for downward distillation with the aid of a short still head or knee tube. The other experimental details are as above except that the mixture is stirred during the distillation bumping is thus reduced to a minimum. 

In a 500 ml. three-necked flask, equipped with a thermometer, a sealed Hershberg stirrer and a reflux condenser, place 32-5 g. of phosphoric oxide and add 115-5 g. (67-5 ml.) of 85 per cent, orthophosphoric acid (1). When the stirred mixture has cooled to room temperature, introduce 166 g. of potassium iodide and 22-5 g. of redistilled 1 4-butanediol (b.p. 228-230° or 133-135°/18 mm.). Heat the mixture with stirring at 100-120° for 4 hours. Cool the stirred mixture to room temperature and add 75 ml. of water and 125 ml. of ether. Separate the ethereal layer, decolourise it by shaking with 25 ml. of 10 per cent, sodium thiosulphate solution, wash with 100 ml. of cold, saturated sodium chloride solution, and dry with anhydrous magnesium sulphate. Remove the ether by flash distillation (Section 11,13 compare Fig. II, 13, 4) on a steam bath and distil the residue from a Claisen flask with fractionating side arm under diminished pressure. Collect the 1 4-diiodobutane at 110°/6 mm. the yield is 65 g. 

Equip a 1-litre three-necked flask with a powerful mechanical stirrer, a separatory funnel with stem extending to the bottom of the flask, and a thermometer. Cool the flask in a mixture of ice and salt. Place a solution of 95 g. of A.R. sodium nitrite in 375 ml. of water in the flask and stir. When the temperature has fallen to 0° (or slightly below) introduce slowly from the separatory funnel a mixture of 25 ml. of water, 62 5 g. (34 ml.) of concentrated sulphuric acid and 110 g. (135 ml.) of n-amyl alcohol, which has previously been cooled to 0°. The rate of addition must be controlled so that the temperature is maintained at 1° the addition takes 45-60 minutes. AUow the mixture to stand for 1 5 hours and then filter from the precipitated sodium sulphate (1). Separate the upper yellow n-amyl nitrite layer, wash it with a solution containing 1 g. of sodium bicarbonate and 12 5 g. of sodium chloride in 50 ml. of water, and dry it with 5-7 g. of anhydrous magnesium sulphate. The resulting crude n-amyl nitrite (107 g.) is satisfactory for many purposes (2). Upon distillation, it passes over largely at 104° with negligible decomposition. The b.p. under reduced pressure is 29°/40 mm. 

Equip a 1-litre three-necked flask with a mechanical stirrer, a separatory funnel and a thermometer. Place a solution of 47 g. of sodium cyanide (or 62 g. of potassium cyanide) in 200 ml. of water in the flask, and introduce 58 g. (73-5 ml.) of pure acetone. Add slowly from the separatory fumiel, with constant stirring, 334 g. (275 ml.) of 30 per cent, sulphuric acid by weight. Do not allow the temperature to rise above 15-20° add crushed ice, if necessary, to the mixture by momentarily removing the thermometer. After all the acid has been added continue the stirring for 15 minutes. Extract the reaction mixture with three 50 ml. portions of ether, dry the ethereal extracts with anhydrous sodium or magnesium sulphate, remove most of the ether on a water bath and distil the residue rapidly under diminished pressure. The acetone cyanohydrin passes over at 80-82°/15 mm. The yield is 62 g. 

Place a mixture of 25 5 g. of n-valerio acid (Sections 111,83 and 111,84), 30 g. (37 -5 ml.) of dry n-propyl alcohol, 50 ml. of sodium-dried benzene and 10 g. (5-5 ml.) of concentrated sulphuric acid in a 250 ml. round-bottomed flask equipped with a vertical condenser, and reflux for 36 hours. Pour into 250 ml. of water and separate the upper layer. Extract the aqueous layer with ether, and add the extract to the benzene solution. Wash the combined extracts with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution until effervescence ceases, then with water, and dry with anhydrous magnesium sulphate. Remove the low boiling point solvents by distillation (use the apparatus of Fig. II, 13,4 but with a Claisen flask replacing the distilling flask) the temperature will rise abruptly and the fi-propyl n-valerate will pass over at 163-164°. The yield is 28 g. 

To prepare methyl n-butyl ketone, add the crude ester (A) or the redistilled ethyl n-propylacetoacetate B) to 1500 ml. of a 5 per cent solution of sodium hydroxide contained in a 4-litre flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer. Continue the stirring at room temperature for... 

Pelargonic acid (n-Nonoic acid), CH3(CH2),COOH. Equip a 1-litre, three-necked flask with a reflux condenser, a mercury-sealed stirrer, a dropping funnel and a thermometer. Place 23 g. of sodium, cut in small pieces, in the flask, and add 500 ml. of anhydrous n-butyl alcohol (1) in two or three portions follow the experimental details given in Section 111,152 for the preparation of a solution of sodium ethoxide. When the sodium has reacted completely, allow the solution to cool to 70-80° and add 160 g. (152 ml.) of redistilled ethyl malonate rapidly and with stirring. Heat the solution to 80-90°, and place 182 5 g. (160 ml.) of n-heptyl bromide (compare experimental details in Section 111,37) in the dropping funnel. Add the bromide slowly at first until precipitation of sodium bromide commences, and subsequently at such a rate that the n-butyl alcohol refluxes gently. Reflux the mixture until it is neutral to moist litmus (about 1 hour). 

In a 2-litre round-bottomed flask, equipped with a double surface condenser, place 60 g. of triniethylene dicyanide (Section 111,114) and 900 g. of 50 per cent, sulphuric acid (by weight). Reflux the mixture for 10 hours and allow to cool. Saturate the solution with ammonium sul phate and extract wit-h four 150 ml. portions of ether dry the ethereal extracts with anhydrous sodium or magnesium sulphate. Distil off the ether on a water bath the residual glutaric acid (69 g.) crystallises on cooling and has m.p. 97-97-5°. Upon recrystalhsation from chloroform, or benzene, or benzene mixed with 10 per cent, by weight of ether, the m.p. is 97 -5-98°. 

Benzoyl piperidine. In a 1-litre three-necked flask, equipped with a mechanical stirrer, separatory funnel and a thermometer, place 85 g. (99 ml.) of redistilled piperidine (b.p. 105-108°) and a solution of 53 g. of sodium hydroxide in 400 ml. of water. Stir the mixture and introduce during the course of 1 hour 140 g. (115-5 ml.) of redistilled benzoyl chloride maintain the temperature at 35-40°, Cool to room temperature and extract the benzoyl piperidine with ether. Wash the ethereal solution with a little water to remove any dissolved sodium hydroxide, and dry with anhydrous potassium carbonate. Remove the ether on a water bath and distil the residue under diminished pressure (Fig. II, 20, 1). Collect the benzoyl piperidine at 184—186°/15 mm. it is an almost colourless viscous liquid and crystallises on standing in colourless needles m.p. 46°. The yield is 170 g. 

Place 56 g. of finely-powdered, anhydrous sodium sulphide ( fused sodium sulphide) and 100 ml. of rectified spirit in a 500 ml. round-bottomed flask equipped with a reflux condenser. To the boiling mixture... 

Use a 500 ml. three-necked flask equipped as in Section IV,19, but mounted on a water bath. Place 128 g. of naphthalene and 45 ml. of dry carbon tetrachloride in the flask, and 177 g. (55 ml.) of bromine in the separatory funnel. Heat the mixture to gentle boiling and run in the bromine at such a rate that little, if any, of it is carried over with the hydrogen bromide into the trap this requires about 3 hours. Warm gently, with stirring, for a further 2 hours or until the evolution of hydrogen bromide ceases. Replace the reflux condenser by a condenser set for downward distillation, stir, and distil off the carbon tetrachloride as completely as possible. Mix the residue with 8 g. of sodium... 

Cool the reaction mixture to room temperature and add gradually a solution of 75 g. of sodium hydroxide in 125 ml. of water if the mixture boils during the addition of the alkah, cool again. The hydroxide of tin which is flrst precipitated should all dissolve and the solution should be strongly alkahne the anihne separates as an oil. Equip the flask for steam distillation as in Fig. II, 40, 1, and pass steam into the warm... 

Place 84 g. of iron filings and 340 ml. of water in a 1 - 5 or 2-litre bolt-head flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer. Heat the mixture to boiling, stir mechanically, and add the sodium m-nitrobenzenesulphonate in small portions during 1 hour. After each addition the mixture foams extensively a wet cloth should be applied to the neck of the flask if the mixture tends to froth over the sides. Replace from time to time the water which has evaporated so that the volume is approximately constant. When all the sodium salt has been introduced, boU the mixture for 20 minutes. Place a small drop of the suspension upon filter paper and observe the colour of the spot it should be a pale brown but not deep brown or deep yellow. If it is not appreciably coloured, add anhydrous sodium carbonate cautiously, stirring the mixture, until red litmus paper is turned blue and a test drop upon filter paper is not blackened by sodium sulphide solution. Filter at the pump and wash well with hot water. Concentrate the filtrate to about 200 ml., acidify with concentrated hydrochloric acid to Congo red, and allow to cool. Filter off the metanilic acid and dry upon filter paper. A further small quantity may be obtained by concentrating the mother liquid. The yield is 55 g. 

Bromo-4-aminotoluene, Suspend the hydrochloride in 400 ml, of water in a 1-Utre beaker equipped with a mechanical stirrer. Add a solution of 70 g. of sodium hydroxide in 350 ml. of water. The free base separates as a dark heavy oil. After cooUng to 15-20°, transfer the mixture to a separatory funnel and run off the crude 3-bromo-4-amino-toluene. This weighs 125 g. and can be used directly in the next step (3). 

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