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Topic: How to lower oxygen content in air?  (Read 7270 times)

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Offline Erwtje

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How to lower oxygen content in air?
« on: September 15, 2011, 04:52:30 AM »
Hello,

I'm looking for a process that reduces the oxygen content from air in a container.
Requirements:
- final oxygen content below 5%
- slow continuous reaction
- non toxic reagents

Any suggestions?


Offline Fluoroantimonicacid

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Re: How to lower oxygen content in air?
« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2011, 05:46:05 AM »
I think you can use air in a hydrogen-oxygen fuel battery,it will spend the oxygen.

Offline Yakimikku

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Re: How to lower oxygen content in air?
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2011, 02:45:33 PM »
Do you need a 'slow continuous reaction' for a special reason or just to keep the oxygen content low for an extended period?

If the latter, I would say forget the 'process' and just use standard Schlenk line techniques to remove the oxygen. To give you the gist of what this means: You evacuate the container with a vacuum pump then refill with an inert gas (nitrogen or argon). Repetition of this process a few times should ensure the removal of oxygen. Keeping a positive pressure of inert gas into the system should prevent oxygen from entering provided you don't introduce oxygen when you add anything. If you give more details about what you want to do I think it would be easier to help you.

Offline Erwtje

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Re: How to lower oxygen content in air?
« Reply #3 on: September 15, 2011, 03:02:11 PM »
Yes, I want to keep the oxygen content low for an extended period.

Mechanical solutions are not what I'm looking for.

I'm looking either for a process which uses up almost all available oxygen, or a process which produces another gas, like CO2 or N2 to replace most of the air in the container. It has to be an ongoing process because the container will be opened and closed from time to time.
I also want the contents of the container to stay as dry as possible.

Offline thetada

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Re: How to lower oxygen content in air?
« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2011, 08:24:06 AM »
I might be stuck on the theme from a thread of my own that I've got going, and also not at all experienced at research chemistry, but could rust provide a suitable solution?

I think you'd be looking at 0.18 moles of oxygen from the air in a two-liter bell jar, which would require a modest mass of 1.36g of iron powder to be all used up. Of course, there'd likely be oxygen in the electrolyte solution which would have to be compensated for. Also the reaction might not be fast enough / convenient etc. This response is motivated more by enthusiasm than ability and might at best trigger a superior solution.  :)

Offline Dan

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Re: How to lower oxygen content in air?
« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2011, 08:32:14 AM »
What are you planning to use this container for?

Simplest solution is to use the atmospheric oxygen to oxidise something. This could be a low-tech as lighting a candle in the container.
My research: Google Scholar and Researchgate

Offline Fluoroantimonicacid

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Re: How to lower oxygen content in air?
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2011, 10:27:01 AM »
Use an active metal(like a Li sheet) to reduce O2.

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