Does the Buchner funnel have a better alternative with less loss?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effectiveness and efficiency of the Buchner funnel compared to alternative filtering methods, particularly sintered glass funnels and micropore PTFE filters. Participants explore the implications of transfer loss, convenience, cost, and application suitability in laboratory settings.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the transfer loss associated with filter paper in Buchner funnels and whether sintered glass funnels might offer a better alternative.
  • Others argue that sintered glass funnels are comparable to Buchner funnels with filter paper, noting their convenience due to the lack of need for filter paper.
  • Cost is highlighted as a significant factor, with some participants pointing out that Buchner funnels and filter paper are inexpensive compared to sintered glass funnels.
  • One participant mentions that the choice of filtering method may depend on the application, indicating that small samples can experience significant losses with larger filters.
  • Concerns are raised about the cleaning difficulty of sintered glass funnels and the challenge of ensuring they are thoroughly cleaned after use.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the effectiveness and practicality of different filtering methods, indicating that multiple competing views remain without a clear consensus on the best option.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the effectiveness of different funnels may depend on specific applications and sample sizes, and there are unresolved considerations regarding transfer loss and cleaning challenges.

Who May Find This Useful

Laboratory professionals, researchers in chemistry and materials science, and students involved in experimental work may find this discussion relevant.

Biochemgirl2002
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the Buchner funnel is used often in the lab, but i was wondering if there was a great enough transfer loss in the filter paper to switch to an alternate funnel for filtering by suction. I've looked into sintered glass funnels but i don't know if it would have the same transfer loss since the substance could get sucked through the holes as well.
 
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Sintered glass funnels come with different pore sizes (usually listed as fine, medium, coarse, or some variation thereof). They work about as well as a Buchner funnel with a piece of filter paper, but they're a bit more convenient in that you don't have to go begging for filter paper when you run out. That said, the Buchner funnel is usually fine as long as 1) you're crashing out decent sized crystals, and 2) you do the filtration slowly. You can always refilter if stuff pulls through.
 
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Consider cost. Buchner and paper are cheap, sintered glass is expensive.
 
It would depend on your application. Small samples can suffer serious losses when using large filters. The filters I have used with the smallest losses is micropore PTFE filters but they aren’t the best for all applications.
 
KevinMcHugh said:
Consider cost. Buchner and paper are cheap, sintered glass is expensive.

and isn't it more difficult to clean, and to know when you have sufficiently cleaned of stuff stuck in the glass afterwards?
 

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