[krem1234]

Hi all - I'm working on setting up a simple setup for water distillation using a 5000 mL boiling flask, graham condenser, 5000 mL erlenmeyer flask, and glass tubing. I want everything to be totally non-leaching so wanted to use a wooden (cork) cork instead of rubber stoppers - just wanted to make sure that this is safe, as I was concerned that the cork in the boiling flask might expand enough to break the flask? I don't have much experience in chemistry so wasn't sure if this was plausible or not.

Thanks

[Arkcon]

Its possible, the cork could absorb steam and swell.  It might instead shrink if exposed to solvents.  Which brings up the question of why you thing cork has less extractables than a rubber stopper -- especially the clear silicone type.

[krem1234]

Re: leaching, mainly I'm going off what I've read about toxins leaching from rubber and plastic - honestly I don't know much about what might potentially leach out of wood. I'm guessing whatever may leach out would be less/non-toxic but I could be totally wrong there.

I'll take a look into silicone rubber stoppers.

Thanks