I'm going to use P4O10 or P2O5 (Phosphorus Pentoxide) to dry my samples rather than using silica gel as usual. However, I am not sure how to regenerate it (in case of water or solvent absorption) and any points need to be careful. Anyone has the information or idea? Thanks!
In my experience as electron microscopist, many many yers ago we used phosphorus pentoxide for dehydration of photographic plates (emulsion) in order to have the best high vacuum into the column of the microscope. After 2-5 days (depending on the number of plate changes) the powder of phosphorus pentoxide appeared wet, no more useful, without any possibility of regeneration.
As Alberto hints, this is a one way reaction:
2P2O5 + 6H2O → 4H3PO4
You can't easily go back from the generated phosphoric acid to the phosphorus pentoxide. The latter is made by burning phosphorus in air. Be careful with P2O5 (or P4O10 if you prefer) - it can cause nasty burns.
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