Washing and drying of organic solution

-treatment before distillation-

 

After performing several liquid-liquid extractions using aqueous base or acid, the organic solution is contaminated with inorganic impurities (such as NaCl, NaOH or HCl), as well as "wet" with water.*

*Even though you use an organic solvent which is immiscible with water for extraction, the two phases dissolve in each other to some extent. (For example, 100 mL of dichloromethane can dissolve 1.32 g of water at 25^oC)

 

 

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You need to remove the inorganic impurities and water from the organic solution before distillation.

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Washing is the step of removing inorganic impurities.

 

Drying is the step of removing water.

Organic Web Chem University of Alberta