Removal of oxygen on Boron powders

[woodyanderson]

Have read that methanol reacts with B2O3 to produce Boron esters which volatilize during evaporation. Does this work? If so how?:!)

 

[Gokul43201]

Looks like enolate formation and breakdown. You should find something about it in an organic chemistry text, under the aldol reaction. Can't say I know very much about it, but there may be some organic chemists here that can do better.

 

[Bystander]

If you're pressing and sintering powders, find another supplier and keep the stuff under argon. If you're messsing around with other uses, you can try a hot hydrogen stream --- you'll probably get enough H dissolved in the B to screw you up, though. Wet methods? Forget it.