.01 gram/liter is the same answer I got from a chemist at GE Infrastructure. My problem is that it differs from the answer I got from tech support at Fisher Scientific by a factor of 10 (.1 gram/liter). Also adding to the confusion is that I don't know if the tech support people at Fisher are talking about parts per unit volume or parts per unit weight. I assume your response of .01 grams/liter is parts per unit weight.
I need to clarify this for a client. Is there a publication where I can find this information in print?
My first thought was the MSDS BChoate referenced was indicating solubility of pentane in water. Really seems unclear what they mean when the way they state "Water Solubility" as opposed to their other value seems to imply pentane "solubility in other solvents".
Anyway, checking some other internet references, I found this which is no help but thought I list it anyway. At least it is clear as to whether it is water in pentane or pentane in water.
The MSDS shows the solubility of pentane in water. A question that comes up is why are we straining so hard to find an exact value for this solubility. It would depend on what one is planning to do with the pentane. Whether the solubility is 0.1 gm/l or 0.01gm/l the value is low. Water does not have any appreciable solubility in alkanes since they are do not afford appreciable hydrogen bonding.
If the purpose is to estimate the cost of drying the pentane, either solubility value can be used.
I've designed a variation of a Grubbs aparatus for removing water from various chemicals. We're testing with Pentane to determine the efficiency of the new design, so it's important to know where we're starting from. Organometalic chemists in need chemical devoid of water for some of their experiments. The difference between .01 g/l and .1 g/l is significant.
Well tdw if you're testing a new apparatus, you surely must have a way of measuring the water concentration after treatment (Karl Fisher, etc..). Just saturate some pentane and measure it before and after.
My previous comment that the saturation water concentration is low regardless of whether the magnitude is 0.1 or 0.1 gm/l did not imply that the value was unimportant to the end use. It simply meant that dehydration methods would be the same in either case.
I do have a better value for the saturation water level from a Burdick and Jackson (Honeywell) MSDS. It was clearly stated that the solubility of pentane in water at 68 F is 0.04%. That translates to 0.25 gm/liter.
Even with an issue of this low level of complexity, a persistent problem with posts on this forum is present. Data and information about the application are not given up front. Responders have to pull it out piece by piece. It would be amazing how much better responses could be if the problem were defined well up front.
Pentane is being prepared for use by organometallic chemists who likely need near anhydrous pentane. It seems that there is a new dehydration method to be tested. One post is right on target; why not just measure water by Karl Fischer. Water and pentane could be shaken together to a cloud point and allowed to settle. The pentane layer could be analyzed for water.
There are many ways to get 'dry' pentane. It can be distilled from 3A or 4A molecular sieves or pervaporation can be applied. Anhydrous pentane can be obtained from either Burdick & Jackson or Sigma Aldrich. That material will contain 0.006% water.