[Cgd1287]

Hello, I'm new on the forums and tried posting this question in the undergraduate general chemistry sub-forum, but I think it may be more appropriate here.

I'm trying to form a water(DTAB stabilized - Dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide)/chloroform emulsion, 1mL:1mL ratio, and then evaporate off the chloroform to transfer the material in the chloroform phase into DTAB micelles. When working with such a small volume (2mL), what is the best way to evaporate the chloroform? I would try blowing N₂ or Ar gas over the solution but with such a small volume I think it would splash everywhere. I'm considering heat treatment in the fume hood or just leaving the vial open in the fume hood and seeing if the chloroform may slowly evaporate off by being exposed to open air.

[AlphaScent]

Your best bet is to blow an inert gas over it.  Do you not have a needle valve to control the gas pressure?  Just do it slowly. 

[Cgd1287]

That's what I ended up doing, I used Argon gas delivered via a needle into the vial slowly, evaporated the chloroform after about 45 minutes. Thanks for the advice anyways!