[ifuller]

Hello all,

I am trying to find a way to separate a powdered combination of NaBH4 and MgO2. This is the products of a reaction I have been working with. Can anyone think of a way, either chemically or mechanically, to separate these two powders. I need something that will disolve only one of the two powders. I have tried some oils but have not found any that work. Any ideas would be very helpful. Thank you

[Ψ×Ψ]

NaBH₄ will dissolve (very sparingly and very stubbornly) in EtOH.  Don't know about MgO₂...

[billnotgatez]

MgO  or  MnO2

[enahs]

MgO  or  MnO2

That was going to be my question.

If it is MgO then water will work.

[ifuller]

I am sorry, I was talking about MgO not MgO2. I have thought about water but I do not want to lose the NaBH4, which would happen due to the evolution of hydrogen. Thanks and sorry about the mistype.

[billnotgatez]

So your goal would be to dissolve and decant off the Sodium borohydride leaving magnesium oxide. The Sodium borohydride would later be recovered from the solvent.
Would either of the below work?
Solvents
diglyme (51.5 g/L)
alkaline MeOH (130 g/L)

[ifuller]

Thank you for the information,
I will look into those two solvents. The other option that could work is finding a solvent that would disolve the magnesium oxide while leaving the Sodium Borohydride as powder. That way the solvent could be filtered off and the sodium borohydride be dried. Thanks

[billnotgatez]

It is my gut feeling that magnesium oxide is not as reactive as Sodium borohydride. What I am unsure of is that magnesium oxide is not soluble in the solvents I mentioned.

[ifuller]

Any idea on whether or not MgO would dissolve into any type of oil?

[Ψ×Ψ]

It seems like probably it would be insoluble at basic pH.  Just a guess, though.

[ifuller]

Anyone else have any other ideas?