SWIM is curious about this oven dried epsom salts. I know what epsom salt is of course but when it comes to oven dried I dont KNOW WHAT IT IS REFERING TO. Does this mean a handful or so of the epsom salt is placed on a cooking sheet and put in the oven for a short period of time or?? If so how long and at what temp? Thanks.

Yes and until it is a fused mass and stops bubbling.

What temperature and time are up to you as long as you heed the above advice.

hi kahim,,,tryps advice is always A1 and ive never found it lacking--yet sometimes he forgets that most here dont have a chem education and doesnt get down to explaining it in basic terms--or set out procedures for the novice---so here goes---get about a kilo of epsom salts--spread it evenly on a baking pan/dish and place in oven on about 250c for around 3 hours---allow to cool then take out of oven and tap out of baking pan/dish--crumble into knuckle size pieces and store in a airtight container---how much you use is a personal choice on the amount of solvent to be cleaned to the water content you fear is in there---but about a small handfull a litre ive found to be sufficient--just drop it in the solvent and reseal solvent lid---swirl around for 5 minutes and then let sit for a couple of hours--your solvent is now anhydrous and ready to use---some filter it before use for fear of epsom salts contaminating there pill mass---goodluck

Don't waste so much gas or electricity, dude. I believe optimum is 300C for 1 hour, but there are variations on every theme. Most regular ovens only go to 550F and thats about 287C. Shit, thats close enough. Anyway, an hour is plenty of time. When tryp says bubbling, he ain't kidding. It looks like molten lava if you turn the lights off in the kitchen just after you turn the oven off and before you open the door.(Well, sometimes we all just sit around thinkin' hmmm, I wonder.)

Guess what? The microwave works great for this. 15 minutes at 100% in a 1100 watt or higher microwave and the little granules will fuse into Mount St. Helens just like the oven.

I must include this disclaimer: The above statement is true, although no assessment has been done in regard to damage done to the microwave. That sucker gets so hot, you can feel the heat 3 feet from the door. Mine didn't blow up though. That makes it a good thing.

Hey tryp, how are you? You must be a busy man these days. Hadn't heard much from ya lately. Sure do miss your posts.

Thanks for the replys. SWIKB placed on foil and then on baking sheet as not wanting to ruin a baking sheet, cooked at 500 degrees (unfortunately max for oven) for 2 hours. When opened it was one solid mass but not any kind of molten lava or bubbling type sign. Hopefully the process worked but isnt sure since no type of bubbling was seen.

yeah it worked--just follow instructions

Remember the purpose of the salt. Epsoms salt molecules can hold several water molecules (I can't remember right now, maybe seven), but you need to make sure its as fully dehydrated as you possibly can to insure adequate efficiency. When you buy a box of epsom salt granules, its purpose is to be added to bath water for relaxation or to a glass of water to make you shit.

If you think about it, it doesn't really give the manufacturers too much reason to dehydrate it, does it?

You've done well. It will serve it's purpose, no problem.

Remember, filter acetone well. Alcohols are somewhat absorbed by MgSO4, magnesium sulfate, epsom salt, so use it sparingly if drying alcohols.