Dry bromine is added to a C-22 reactor that contains sodium hydroxide in methanol. I'm sure there will be some water hanging around with the NaOH pellets. The reaction to the "bromine" species should be fast, so infact, I should have only very low concentrations of bromine in the reactor. However, it would be foolish of me to use this vessel if it was not compatible for liq bromine. Other data I've found for liq Chlorine, HBr gas and HBr liquid say it is OK with C-22. Shall I dare "assume" that bromine is OK? Thanks, Bob
bchoate
'Dry, liquid bromine is compatible with Hastelloy C-276. Small amounts of water make the bromine very corrosive to the Hastelloy. My experience is with liquid bromine in large scale batch brominations. Generally the reactors are glass lined for bromine service. Tantalum mass flow meters were used to meter the liquid bromine. The best rule with bromine is, "if in doubt, don't". If there is a possibility for water in the system, don't use the Hastelloy. Since you are dissolving NaOH in methanol, the chance for water is not insignificant. NaOH pellets are hygroscopic and if you have to handle them to make the methanol solution you will have water.
Bill Choate --bromination expert
