Inert Gas/ Purification
Presentation Outline
1. Why is inert atmosphere needed?
a. As experimental control. Reactants and/or products may be
air (oxygen/water/nitrogen) sensitive. Experimental results
may be inaccurate due to air reaction. Researcher may need
to exclude air components from reaction. Exclusion of air
components leads to easier analysis/control of products.
Ex.: With out glove box: A + B + air (02 + H2O) = impure
products
With glove box: A + B (in inert atm) = AB
b. Reactants and/or products may be highly reactive with air
components, causing explosions, etc.
Ex.: A + B + air = AB + big bang (insert pwr/pt explosion)
Ex.: Na + H2O = 2NaOH = H2 + heat
2H2 + O2 + heat =2 H2O + “Big Bang”
c. Process may be air sensitive.
Ex.: Titanium welding.
Ex.: Ti + heat + O2 0r N2= Ti O2 + “Flare”
2.) Establishing/Maintaining Inert atmosphere.
a. Purge box: Positive pressure only, not pure enough, and too
expensive (with Argon).
b. Early purifiers:
1: “NaK” (Liquid Sodium/Potassium alloy) reactorextremely reactive-inherently dangerous (see table of
reactions)
2: Oxygen furnace, heated copper shot or copper tubing, not
efficient.
c.: Current generation- Regeneratable Oxygen reactant and
molecular sieve