Lab Report.
When producing the aspirin, first, equipment being used to store the aspirin had to be weighed this
is so that when the final mass of aspirin is measured on the balance, it will be inside a petri dish
containing filter paper which adds to the mass of the aspirin crystals. The masses of the filter paper
and petri dish will be subtracted so that we can find out the final mass of the aspirin crystals
produced. Next, the chemicals being used had to be measured specifically before being combined.
Then the chemicals were put into a beaker and heated in a hot water bath. After being cooled in an
ice water bath, the aspirin was then swirled until crystals appeared. Next, the aspirin had to be
recrystallised – this was done through using a vacuum to remove the moisture from the crystals.
Filter paper is applied to a Buchner funnel and sealed with water, then attached to a Buchner flask. A
pump is then connected to the flask and when turned on, a suction vacuum is created, forcing the
water out of the solid aspirin, dehydrating it. After dry aspirin is left on the filter paper, it is
transferred to a petri dish and weighed on a balance for its final mass, discounting the masses of the
petri dish and filter paper. Finally, the purity of the aspirin must be determined which is done by
measuring the melting point of a sample from the final product. This is done by using a melting point
apparatus. Small samples are taken with capillary tubes and put into a melting point apparatus, the
initial melting point temperature is recorded first then another reading is taken when the crystals
are fully melted and a midway point between these 2 measurements is then calculated. This is
repeated 6 more times to ensure accuracy and a range of results. Since pure aspirin has a melting
point of 135 degrees Celsius, the results of the aspirin produced is compared to pure aspirin and its
level of purity is then determined by how close it is to the melting point of pure aspirin.
Furthermore, safety measures had to be followed throughout, such as wearing the correct PPE and
removing any safety obstructions such as long hair. Certain equipment, such as a mercury
thermometer which is primarily not permitted for use in the uk, were also replaced to prevent any
hazards when working with hot temperatures.
I can confidently determine that the aspirin I had produced in this practical was impure as the melting
point was far lower than pure aspirin of 135 degrees Celsius. Although the ethanol thermometer has
limited accuracy, it could not have an inaccuracy level of over 10 degrees Celsius as my sample had
shown an average melting point of 129.16 degrees Celsius.
In the industry, over 18 million kg of aspirin is produced each year. This is the equivalent to around
300 tablets for every person in the world each year. The way this drug is produced varies from in a
college laboratory. Firstly, salicylic acid and acetic anhydride are reacted in glass lined vessels. The
liquid is then sent to be cooled down in a crystalliser and filtered to remove any moisture. The filtrate
can then be recycled if possible. After the dry crystals remain, they are then sent through a sieve to
filter any irregularities and then become tableted. Once the tablets are made, they go through several
stages of tests to ensure their quality is up to standard. This is so the tablets do not break or
disintegrate under normal conditions. They are tested using a Roche friabilator machine where the
aspirin capsules are tested for brittleness by being tumbled and observing its resistance to abrasion
and shock, then a Vanderkamp test where the aspirin is tested on how easily it disintegrates.
In the industry, the way that Aspirin is produced and tested differs highly from a college lab.
Raw materials:
The raw materials involved in the production of aspirin are salicylic acid reacted with acetic
anhydride. The salicylic acid is acquired from the bark of willow trees or synthesised from phenol.
1
, The acetic anhydride is synthesised from acetic acid. This differs from a lab where raw materials are
obtained on a smaller scale.
Scale:
In the pharmaceutical industry the production of aspirin takes place on a large scale. This can range
from about hundreds to several tons of aspirin per year, depending on the demand for this drug. In a
lab the scale in which aspirin is produced is much smaller as it is mainly required for practicals which
are carried out by students.
Equipment:
The aspirin production process utilizes a range of equipment, including reactors, centrifuges, filters,
dryers, and packaging machines. Reactors are used in synthesizing salicylic acid and acetic anhydride,
the key components for aspirin. Centrifuges and filters separate and purify the reaction mixture,
while dryers remove moisture from the purified aspirin. Packaging machines are then used to
package the final product. In contrast, in a lab, the synthesis of aspirin is done on a small scale where
laboratory standard equipment is used such as glassware rather than quality efficient and digital
materials.
Testing:
The quality of aspirin is checked using different methods like high-performance liquid
chromatography, gas chromatography, and infrared spectroscopy (IR). These methods help
determine how pure, authentic, and concentrated the aspirin is in the final product. Additionally,
friability tests are done on the tablets to ensure they do not disintegrate easily. In a lab, the aspirin is
tested on a small scale and the testing methods tend to be more manual. For example, glass
thermometers rather than digital thermometers which may affect the level of accuracy when
measuring the melting point as they have larger uncertainties which can cause the temperature to
be read incorrectly.
When it comes to producing aspirin in a science lab of Nottingham college, the certain procedures
followed were carried out intricately and precisely. First, the equipment and materials had to be
gathered. These were:
- 5g Salicylic acid
- 7ml acetic anhydride
- 8 drops concentrated sulphuric acid
- 15ml IMS
- 600ml beaker
- 100ml conical flask
- Venturi pump
- Large watch glass
- Balance
- Ice
- Clamp stand.
- Bunsen burner + heat proof mat
- Buchner flask
- Funnel
- Filter paper
- 10 and 15ml measuring cylinder
2
When producing the aspirin, first, equipment being used to store the aspirin had to be weighed this
is so that when the final mass of aspirin is measured on the balance, it will be inside a petri dish
containing filter paper which adds to the mass of the aspirin crystals. The masses of the filter paper
and petri dish will be subtracted so that we can find out the final mass of the aspirin crystals
produced. Next, the chemicals being used had to be measured specifically before being combined.
Then the chemicals were put into a beaker and heated in a hot water bath. After being cooled in an
ice water bath, the aspirin was then swirled until crystals appeared. Next, the aspirin had to be
recrystallised – this was done through using a vacuum to remove the moisture from the crystals.
Filter paper is applied to a Buchner funnel and sealed with water, then attached to a Buchner flask. A
pump is then connected to the flask and when turned on, a suction vacuum is created, forcing the
water out of the solid aspirin, dehydrating it. After dry aspirin is left on the filter paper, it is
transferred to a petri dish and weighed on a balance for its final mass, discounting the masses of the
petri dish and filter paper. Finally, the purity of the aspirin must be determined which is done by
measuring the melting point of a sample from the final product. This is done by using a melting point
apparatus. Small samples are taken with capillary tubes and put into a melting point apparatus, the
initial melting point temperature is recorded first then another reading is taken when the crystals
are fully melted and a midway point between these 2 measurements is then calculated. This is
repeated 6 more times to ensure accuracy and a range of results. Since pure aspirin has a melting
point of 135 degrees Celsius, the results of the aspirin produced is compared to pure aspirin and its
level of purity is then determined by how close it is to the melting point of pure aspirin.
Furthermore, safety measures had to be followed throughout, such as wearing the correct PPE and
removing any safety obstructions such as long hair. Certain equipment, such as a mercury
thermometer which is primarily not permitted for use in the uk, were also replaced to prevent any
hazards when working with hot temperatures.
I can confidently determine that the aspirin I had produced in this practical was impure as the melting
point was far lower than pure aspirin of 135 degrees Celsius. Although the ethanol thermometer has
limited accuracy, it could not have an inaccuracy level of over 10 degrees Celsius as my sample had
shown an average melting point of 129.16 degrees Celsius.
In the industry, over 18 million kg of aspirin is produced each year. This is the equivalent to around
300 tablets for every person in the world each year. The way this drug is produced varies from in a
college laboratory. Firstly, salicylic acid and acetic anhydride are reacted in glass lined vessels. The
liquid is then sent to be cooled down in a crystalliser and filtered to remove any moisture. The filtrate
can then be recycled if possible. After the dry crystals remain, they are then sent through a sieve to
filter any irregularities and then become tableted. Once the tablets are made, they go through several
stages of tests to ensure their quality is up to standard. This is so the tablets do not break or
disintegrate under normal conditions. They are tested using a Roche friabilator machine where the
aspirin capsules are tested for brittleness by being tumbled and observing its resistance to abrasion
and shock, then a Vanderkamp test where the aspirin is tested on how easily it disintegrates.
In the industry, the way that Aspirin is produced and tested differs highly from a college lab.
Raw materials:
The raw materials involved in the production of aspirin are salicylic acid reacted with acetic
anhydride. The salicylic acid is acquired from the bark of willow trees or synthesised from phenol.
1
, The acetic anhydride is synthesised from acetic acid. This differs from a lab where raw materials are
obtained on a smaller scale.
Scale:
In the pharmaceutical industry the production of aspirin takes place on a large scale. This can range
from about hundreds to several tons of aspirin per year, depending on the demand for this drug. In a
lab the scale in which aspirin is produced is much smaller as it is mainly required for practicals which
are carried out by students.
Equipment:
The aspirin production process utilizes a range of equipment, including reactors, centrifuges, filters,
dryers, and packaging machines. Reactors are used in synthesizing salicylic acid and acetic anhydride,
the key components for aspirin. Centrifuges and filters separate and purify the reaction mixture,
while dryers remove moisture from the purified aspirin. Packaging machines are then used to
package the final product. In contrast, in a lab, the synthesis of aspirin is done on a small scale where
laboratory standard equipment is used such as glassware rather than quality efficient and digital
materials.
Testing:
The quality of aspirin is checked using different methods like high-performance liquid
chromatography, gas chromatography, and infrared spectroscopy (IR). These methods help
determine how pure, authentic, and concentrated the aspirin is in the final product. Additionally,
friability tests are done on the tablets to ensure they do not disintegrate easily. In a lab, the aspirin is
tested on a small scale and the testing methods tend to be more manual. For example, glass
thermometers rather than digital thermometers which may affect the level of accuracy when
measuring the melting point as they have larger uncertainties which can cause the temperature to
be read incorrectly.
When it comes to producing aspirin in a science lab of Nottingham college, the certain procedures
followed were carried out intricately and precisely. First, the equipment and materials had to be
gathered. These were:
- 5g Salicylic acid
- 7ml acetic anhydride
- 8 drops concentrated sulphuric acid
- 15ml IMS
- 600ml beaker
- 100ml conical flask
- Venturi pump
- Large watch glass
- Balance
- Ice
- Clamp stand.
- Bunsen burner + heat proof mat
- Buchner flask
- Funnel
- Filter paper
- 10 and 15ml measuring cylinder
2
