My cleaning solution changes color when I distill it

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the unexpected color change and properties of a homemade cleaning solution after distillation. Participants explore the chemical interactions between the components of the solution, including bleach, isopropyl alcohol, ammonia, and other additives. The conversation touches on the implications of these reactions and the safety concerns associated with the resulting mixture.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the initial composition of the cleaning solution and its transformation into a clear orange liquid after distillation, noting its strong smell and ability to dissolve isopropyl palmitate.
  • Another participant suggests that the incompatibility of the components led to reactions, raising the possibility of chloramine formation and questioning the safety of the mixture.
  • A third participant explains the Haloform Reaction between bleach and isopropyl alcohol, proposing that chloroform and acetic acid may have formed, and discusses the role of ammonia in neutralizing the acid.
  • Concerns are raised about the presence of sodium hydroxide in bleach and its potential contribution to the color change, with references to similar discussions on other forums.
  • One participant expresses amusement at the reactions and acknowledges the dangers involved, while emphasizing the practical need for effective cleaning solutions in specific situations.
  • Another participant shares their experience with alternative cleaning methods, suggesting that the orange solution might be related to an aldol product and reflecting on the safety of various cleaning agents.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the chemical processes involved and the safety implications of the cleaning solution. There is no consensus on the exact reactions that occurred or the best practices for cleaning, indicating ongoing debate and uncertainty.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the potential for dangerous reactions and the importance of safety measures, such as working in a fume hood. The discussion includes references to specific chemical reactions and compounds, but lacks definitive conclusions about the outcomes of the distillation process.

ShawnD
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I made a cleaning solution that could clean anything. It was made from:
-1L of 5% bleach (normal stuff at any store)
-3L of 70% isopropyl alcohol
-1/2 cup of dish soap
-a dash of Comet
-1 tablespoon of concentrated ammonia

The solution would settle out as a cloudy yellow mixture. When stirred, it would turn green (because Comet is blue).

Eventually my cleaning solution became saturated, so I decided I would recycle it by distilling it. The mixture I got back is totally different from what went in. The new cleaning solution...
-Is clear orange
-Has a very strong smell (I smelled some 99% IPA for comparison, and this stuff is quite a bit stronger than IPA)
-Feels like IPA. It doesn't dry the way acetone does, but it doesn't bead like water.
-It instantly dissolves isopropyl palmitate, which is a good thing.


Any idea what happened here?
 
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You put a bunch of things together that aren't compatible, they reacted with each other, you cleaned some unknown (to us) materials in it, you removed the most volatile organic fraction by distillation and sniffed it.

I'd call that a major screwup all around...

Do you know what chloramines are?
 
The major reactants are bleach and isopropyl alcohol, which undergo the Haloform Reaction to create chloroform and acetic acid (we don't buy these because they're extremely expensive). Ammonia neutralizes the acid. This is why the solution had no smell before distilling it. The solution was yellow because of the dish soap, which would mix with comet and make a green color when stirred (change back to yellow when settled).

The wiki entry for Chloramine states "NH2Cl is a highly unstable compound in concentrated form". Distillation would certainly fit the definition of concentrated since chloramine would boil off before anything else present in the mixture.

Chloramine is green. My solution is orange.I'm thinking sodium hydroxide might have something to do with this. When buying more bleach, I noticed that Javex brand bleach also contains sodium hydroxide. Most brands do not contain sodium hydroxide, so I never really thought about what it could do.
 
All of the sodium hypochlorite you can get your hands on has NaOH in it to some degree. I read a similar post over http://chemknowhow.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=875. There the poster didn't use the ammonia for obvious reasons.
I think that if you add NaOH to acetone you will get something orange.

I wouldn't want to make chloroform, chloramines seasoned with glove-killing acetone and IPA just to clean glassware. Sounds like a dangerous waste of time to me.
 
Thanks for the link and narrowing down the reaction. I'm actually amused at how the other guy came to the same conclusion about the cleaning power of this orange solution :biggrin:

You're right about this being dangerous and somewhat a waste of time, but it's done in a fume hood and it's not for analytical purposes. Most of the cleaning around here is with soap and grease cleaner you can get at a local store, but certain (rare) jobs just don't clean very well, and that's where bucket chemistry comes in handy.
 
Good for you its in a hood! I used to waste time* soaking all my glassware in KOH/IPA but found that soap worked as well for most things anyway. For nasties I would just fill the glassware with enough of a strong solvent or caustic or acid depending on the situation. For some reason I found that citric acid and Palmolive will remove almost anything I generated overnight.

* Not really a waste of time, just a waste of safety. KOH was pretty nasty. I also used to use Chromix but abandoned that pretty quickly. Also, the orange stuff might be related to an aldol product that is being produced.
 
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