Is it possible to replace a chemical reactor or Round-bottom flask with a plastic bucket?

[chemistry.mob]

I would like to know if it is possible to replace a chemical reactor or Round-bottom flask with a plastic bucket or other material resistant to chemical reactions, when doing small-scale chemical synthesis.
Thank you all!!

 

[Frit Buchner]

In an extremely broad sense it can, IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES be possible. You could heat it wit a silicone belt, or an electric element you could stir it with a paint stirrer. In most cases you couldn't reflux or distill in it. You could do those in a carboy or glass jug though. Glass is impervious to most chemicals and plastic is not.

 

[bblanco]

you should read TTSII by strike...

 

[Zan444]

If no heat is involved yes.

 

[Latin King]

depends on what chemicals and heat. epoxy coating is also good

Epoxy - Chemical Resistance

Chemical resistance of Epoxy to common products like Acetic acid, Alcohol, Diesel oil and more.

www.engineeringtoolbox.com

 

[workworkwork]

I used a Polypropylene (PP) garbage bin to make mdma freebase at 20C, it worked but the garbage bin got deformed because the methylene chloride. But that is not a problem, the plastic didn't melt or break.
For Mephdrone in methylene chloride where is necessary heat the solution to 38C, would be impossible in plastic.

 

[antrax]

I used a Polypropylene (PP) garbage bin to make mdma freebase at 20C, it worked but the garbage bin got deformed because the methylene chloride. But that is not a problem, the plastic didn't melt or break.
For Mephdrone in methylene chloride where is necessary heat the solution to 38C, would be impossible in plastic.

workworkworkHave you ever manufactured MDMA?

 

[HerrHaber]

I highly recommend polyethylene (PE), speciffically HDPE (high density) in favor of LDPE but heat is a limit, so never use heating sources and the exothermic reactions must be tame (check out the melting point) so plastic buckets used for wallpaint should do as long as HDPE is the material. If warm solutions are involved poure them in while warm or warm with a water bath that is not on the heater anymore.

 

[Never to sleep]

Entirely depends on the reaction that you're doing. Many reactions can be done in plastic, many can't. I mean to be precise they can but it will leech into the plastic.

You know how there's like people discussing the issue of microplastics in the sea/ocean and water in general? These reactions are like the ultimate version of that. Seriously man you don't want to ingest or smoke anything that may even remotely contain polymers.

Yes it's possible but I'd always recommend glassware or only PTFE plastic over anything like a plastic bucket. Flasks are very cheap if you know where to look.

 

[bblanco]

Look at the synthesis video for mdma with this guy and his coloured lab coat wig and dildo apparatus … what is he using ?