ATTAINING A STRICTLY ANAEROBIC AND ANHYDROUS ATMOSPHERE IN THE REACTION MEDIUM

Generating an oxygen-free atmosphere is crucial to certain reactions. Many oxygen-scavengers which remove low concentrations of oxygen in carrier gases (nitrogen, for example) are tested. An easy method of estimation of oxygen content in the reactions is also outlined. Of the many solid and solution scavengers tried, including a commercially available scavenger, MnO anchored on silica gel working at ambient conditions was found to be both efficient and economically viable.