Dehydrating Magnesium Sulfate

[@SensiStarToaster]

This method is not optimal for the preparation of anhydrous Mg.SO4 because in so rapidly drying you 1) create a product that clumps together instead of being a convenient loose powder and 2) you inadvertently create MgO (as evident by the darker burned areas at the base of your final product). A superior method is to simply reduce you rate of heating which prevents the mag sulfate from redissolving in its own water of crystallisation eg by i) heating to 100C for 1 hour ii) then at 150C for 1 hour then finally iii) heating at no more than 250C for an hour iv) mixing the mag sulfate at beginning of each step. This will yield a white granular product at the end without much clumping or burning. Thanks for the interesting videos, great channel.

[@savourymilkman8147]

Simon Spoor 3 hours though?? Fuck that!

[@jermainerace4156]

250C is 482F, he really didn't exceed your magic number by very much.

[@johnzarollin2749]

​@@savourymilkman8147 considering the time it takes to deal with finding a supplier, ordering, payment via a trackable transaction, tracking the shipment from a commercially available source etc. make 3 hours it takes to dehydrate a 3 lb bag of MaSo4 heptahydrate bath salts purchased at your local walmart well worth the effort. jeeez already

[@AnthonyHandcock]

@@johnzarollin2749 I'm with you and Simon on this. My method is one hour at 100c and then another at 150c, then 200c then a last hour at 230c with a good stir between each. It comes out light and fluffy and the total labour time is still only about five minutes. Something to do when you are doing something else. This method also lets me use my large and much loved glass roasting dish with no sticking.

[@history8192]

Thanks for the tip!

[@TheDuckofDoom.]

It is sticking and turning into hard rocks because you are initially heating it too fast. Heating slowly in a thin 2mm layer in the oven at about 95c(200f) will allow the water to evaporate faster than it is released. After a couple hours the color will be whiter and the mass will be noticeably lower, you can add a fresh layer about every two hours until you have a full batch. Finish the batch for at least 3-4 hours after the last layer was added. I get nice loose granules this way. After this pre-drying step you can heat it very hot and fast to drive off remaining moisture without it dumping so much water that it dissolves and clumps or sticks to the pan. **My ambient conditions are sealevel and a dew point of 12c/55f(abs humidity of 10.4g/m^3), lower dew points and higher elevation may increase the evaporation speed. My epsom crystals were exposed to high moisture.(bag had a tear and was damp from outdoor storage. Damage sale for me, 50lb/22Kg $9!) My oven is basic, no fans, small( 25mm/1" dia) vent tube for humid air to escape, inlet is just through the joints around the door, I'm sure the temperature fluctuates about 10c/20f as the thermostat turns on and off. **** I have found differing information on the precise temperatures needed for each hydrate level, it seems monohydrate can be had as below 150c/300f, true anhydrous requires temps somewhere between 250 and 350c (500-650f)(sources vary; may be time, pressure, or humidity dependent). The monohydrate is still a good desiccant. I'm sure the temperature ranges are wide because of the random distribution of kinetic and vibrational energies in the system at any one temperature.

[@philg4116]

With a well insulated baking chamber, and the temperature function optimized, one can have an industrial grade operation.

[@extracrazyguy]

Instructions unclear my ketamine evaporated.

[@kennymarshall3779]

Hello brother. Thanks for the information, very appreciated. Just wanted to share a small tip to make your job easier with that. Just pop a baking paper sheet on then pour the Epsom salt on to that. Makes the whole thing easier and you can use glass or anything that wil go in the oven safely.

[@philg4116]

And the energy put in to remove the water is recovered in the exothermic reaction when water is restored. Something around -79 kJ/mol, which gets the mixture really hot if not done gradually.

[@Slim-Pasty]

How would you rate the moisture absorption capability and the duration of use (in the same application/environment) before it needing to be reconditioned/heated, compared to (of the same weight) calcium chloride?

[@ppl_vultures]

Good info I surely will use this to dry federally legal fungus only!

[@theChaotiChemist]

The man himself is back!

[@Finnnicus]

Finally another video! Thanks Praxichys.

[@koningbolo4700]

Hello Doug, at what temperatures will Magnesium-sulphate break down into Magnesium-oxide and sulphur-trioxide ??

[@dudetapedtoafridge3073]

A bit over 1000 C definitely not anything to worry about when drying it in an oven if thats what your worried about

[@bpark10001]

Will MgSO4 pull the water off ethanol?

[@geraldineports6973]

Your voice sounds like Christopher Reeve from superman! Also great tutorial, thanks!

[@STROONZONY]

would drying be better on gas stove or bbq, to allow for water vapour to escape?? How does water vapour escape the closed oven? Or, is a fan forced oven better?

[@louistournas120]

ovens have a exit port, usually under one of the eyes.

[@akashsharma-ud8hw]

sir ,can we use Epsom salt in dehumidification of air

[@krisztianwirsz3612]

Does it really need 2 hours to dehydrate?

[@th3thin9]

Ive been able to "accidentally" dry MgSO4 by soaking a bit in ethanol and setting it on fire. The ethanol seems to somehow replace the water, and upon ignition, it seems to burn up.

[@jermainerace4156]

It "seems" to burn up?

[@Ryan-lc4bl]

@@jermainerace4156 He meant the water was boiled off/evaporated as the alcohol burned.

[@insertname290]

Love the meijer brand epsom salt. Grew up in Michigan going to that store.

[@arsalankhan9030]

Sir how to obtain magnesium sulfate using dry method, so that no dehydration is required...

[@TheArchea]

You can use a microwave to skip sections of the heating process, just be careful to use microwaveable glass. It looks like (so long as it has just lost water not done anything else) after 10min @ 700w I'm left with MgSO4.3H2O

[@ricbra33]

Interesting demonstration. Up to 500 degrees baking at least two hours seems too long.

[@bludeat7398]

I recrystalized the epsom salt first is that bad?

[@FutureAIDev2015]

What is the music you use for your intro, Doug?

[@michaelf7093]

450 F is way too hot. 300 F is more than enough. But 3 hrs is a good time. You can spray a bit of cobalt chloride solution on it before going in, to serve as an indicator.

[@mrfantasticguy6385]

But then it isn't recommended to use your cooking oven because cobalt salts are carcinogenic. The good thing about magnesium sulfate is that it is non toxic.

[@azimovwatts6425]

os what happens if it contacts your eyes?

[@fightocondria]

Meijer -- Making me miss Michigan.

[@Ny_babs]

This is also the steps to create a divorce!

[@jhyland87]

When you add the Magnesium Sulfate to the solution that you're trying to extract water from, what do you do then? Just filter it out?

[@LiborTinka]

Exactly.

[@joesnow9075]

i just used an air fryer, ain’t nobody got time for all that.

[@michaelsteinberg205]

can anhydrous MgSO4 be used to dehydrate H2SO4?

[@george.4474]

No. You need SO3 to dehydrate sulfuric acid.

[@okccitizen4400]

More!!!

[@goodsir2551]

Which is the best dehydrating agent? I mean which can absorb most of its own weight?

[@ivanpavlov1053]

+THE UNKNOWN phosphorus pentoxide

[@goodsir2551]

Ivan Pavlov Thank you for answering Ivan but do you know anything less harmful and legal to buy in Europe? My government are retards who are afraid of everything so alot of things are illegal. Which makes it hard to have fun as a hobbychemist

[@ivanpavlov1053]

I am curious about it too. As far as I know, anhydrous sulfuric acid, acetic anhydride and calcium chloride are very good dehydrating agents. But in some cases I don't think they can replace phosphorus pentoxide. Anhydrous copper sulfate is also very good dehydrating agent. Acetic anhydride is probably illegal chemical in your country, like in mine.

[@RutgerHaan]

just get some hydrochloric acid and CaCO3 (chalk) and make some CaCl2! you just have to boil off the water and the CaCl2 will eventually precipitate out,all that rests is dry the crystals in the oven and you've got your dessicant :)

[@RutgerHaan]

you could also get some sulfuric acid and react it with magnesium metal (firestarting sticks) and then you just boil the water off and snd shove it in the oven

[@stephenphilp1380]

Metal utensils on nonstick try? Naughty, naughty!!

[@94franz]

nice one:) butwith the increasing cost of energy i guess it becomes relevant to compare 2h of heating at 250º and the cost of buying it anhydrous straightaway...

[@adynbarker4691]

Bro why is this so hard I just want to dry my hash 😭

[@colin351]

sideburns detected

[@rajeshshahi1000]

*?

[@wiktorstankiewicz3568]

Why didn't u use drying agent for this are you a beginning chemist?

[@joshc8055]

Yeeaah this didn't work AT ALL.. 😠

[@rajeshshahi1000]

Are you an amateur chemist.

[@lickstoburn]

Hey brother can you give a tip why you did that? Is this good for coking and drink with water? I am taking some Epsom Salt in the Mourning but it gives me diarrhea , thanks!

[@louistournas120]

This is a chemistry channel. It isn't going to help you with the diarriah it causes. I also take mag sulfate, but a low dose, to deal with extrasystoles.

[@ZivTheWyrd]

MgSO4 is a laxative. It would say this on the packaging.