Hi:

My newest researcher will be using a column purification system to purify his suite of solvents for organic synthesis.  One of those is DMSO.  It freezes at about room temperature.  He wishes to use a heating tape to keep it gooey enough to go through the column.  Here's what he's proposing to use:  http://bit.ly/1WyMYFX

I'm inclined to say go ahead, so long as he installs this column at the end of the rack and in proximity to the least flammable of the other solvents.  I'm also wondering if he should just have it on at low temperature all the time or wait until they have a problem and then thaw it using a heat gun.  I don't like the heat gun idea, particularly, but there are also risks associated with having something heating all the time.

What do ya'll think?

Thanks,

Debbie

Debbie M. Decker, CCHO, ACS Fellow

Chair, Division of Chemical Health and Safety

University of California, Davis

(530)754-7964

(530)304-6728

dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu

Birkett's hypothesis: "Any chemical reaction

that proceeds smoothly under normal conditions,

can proceed violently in the presence of an idiot."