| MadSci Network: Chemistry |
"Bumping" occurs when a liquid you distilling "superheats". This means a
small localised section of the liquid heats to its boiling point and turns
to gas, this causes a rapidly expanding bubble to occur in your liquid
which then "explodes" out of the solution which in turn causes your liquid
to fly up into the condenser.
One way to stop bumping is to try and stop superheating from occuring you
can do this by evenly heating the whole flask and making sure the liquid
in the flask is thoroughly mixed during the heating. This is usually done
by using a stirring device, which is commonly a magnetic stirrer, this
heats the liquid evenly and reduces bumping.
Another way to stop bumping is by adding anti-bump granules, these are
small pieces of porous clays that stop superheating from occuring and
thereby stop the bumping. You should be able to get these from anywhere
that sells distillation equipment. If you cant find anywhere to buy them
you can make your own by breaking up a non-glazed porous clay plant pot.
Make sure the pot is made of porous clay (your standard clay plant pot is)
and the pot should be non glazed and make sure its clean of course.
Well good luck with your isolation of the essential oils,
Regards
David Barker
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