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March 1947 INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY 427

vcstigation. Their partial pressures of m t e r vapor over 5 and ACKNOULEDGXIEhT


1 0 7 solutions are considerably loJrer than those calculated by The authors acknowledge the assistance of John ;i.Brabson
Raoult'. law. They apparently did not attain saturation of the and .hits Darron-, v h o prepared the silica-free hydrofluoric acid
carrier g:is by passing i t over a static surface of solution. The used in the study.
numericd clata reported by t,hem give neither straight lines nor LITERATURE CITED
~ m o o t hcurves Trlien plotted as the logarithm of pressure against
(1) Berkeley, E a r l o f , a n d H a r t l e y , E. G. J., Proc. R o y . Soc. ( L o n d o n ) .
the reciprocal of absolute temperature. A77, 156-89 ( 1 9 0 6 ) .
The pirtial prchsures of hydrogen fluoride at 25' C. reported (2) B i c h o w s k y , F. R., and Rossini, F. D.. " T h e r m o c h e m i s t r y of The
by Frcdenhngen a n d Kellmnnn (4)are npprosimately tn-ice the C h e m i c a l S u b s t a n c e s " , Xew York, Reinhold P u b . Corp.. 1936.
(3) D a r i s , D. S.," E m p i r i c a l E q u a t i o n s a n d Somography", S e w
correspondiiig vnlues obtained in the present study. Fredenhagen I-ork, M c G r a w - H i l l Book Co., I n c . , 1043.
and Wcllrnann calculated, but did not measure, the partial prei- (4) F r e d e n h a g e n , K., and TT'ellmann, >I., Z. p h y s i k . C h e m . , A162,
,cures of water w p o r . Tht ilso passed a carrier gas over a atatic 451-66 ( 1 9 3 2 ) .
surface of solution; hence seems t h a t their rcxsults n-ould tend ( 5 ) G e n e r a l C h e m i c a l Co., Tech. Seraice BuU. 30A (1945).
(6)H o f f m a n , ,J. I., a n d L u n d e l l , G. E. F., Bur. Standaids J . Resecrrch,
t o 1)elow rather t h n high. They absorbed the hydrogen fluoride 3, 5s1-05 (1929).
from the carrier gns and dctermiiied the amount conductometri- ( 7 ) K h a i d u k o r , S . ,L i n e t s k a y a , Z., a n d Bognol-arov, d.,J . ilplili'erl
rally rather than by direct anal! Chem. ( U . S . S . R . ) , 9, 439-45 (1936)
In the short range of o v e i h p between the preeent dntn nnd the (S) L a n g e , S . A , . H a n d b o o k of C h e m i s t 4 t h Ed., Gandusky, Ohio,
H a n d b o o k P u h l i s h e r s , Inc., 1941.
vapor pwsiure t1:ita presented graphically by the General Chenii- (9) TYashburn, E. IT-.. and H e u s e , E. O., J . --im. C h r m . S u r . . 37, w -
cal Company (5),the trro s e t s of data are in fnir agreement. 21 (1915).

HYDROFLUORIC ACID-WATER
and
HYDROFLUORIC ACID-HY DROFLUOSlLlClC ACID-WATER *

Paul A. Munter, O t t o T. Aepli, and Ruth A. Kossatz


PENNSYLVANI4 S 4 L T hI4NUFACTURING CO., WVYNDVOOR, Pi.

I S TIIE course of assem-


Illing basic d a t a relative
to tlic industrial production of
THE liquid-yapor equilibria of the binar! system HF-Hz0
and of the ternary system HF-HZSiFa-II20 have been de-
termined a t atmospheric pressure over a considerable
OI'ERATIOY O F EQUILIB

The
RlC3I STILL
equilibrium still em-
pure arihydrous hydrofluoric range of composition. The azeotropic mixture of the ployed for the measurement?
acid, it was found t h a t only system HF-H20 was found to have a composition of 38.26% was constructed of pure silver
meager information on the hydrofluoric acid and a boiling point of 112.0" C . at 750.2 sheet (B. 8: S. gage 18) ami
\,oiling points and the related mm. pressure. A constant-boiling solution was found in tubing joined with "hard"
liquid and vapor composi- the ternary system HF-HaSiFs-HzO a t the composition silver solder (Figure 1). It
tions for the systems HF- 1Oc/c hydrofluoric acid, 36Yo hydrofluosilicic acid, 54$?'0 c o n s i s t e d e s s e n t i a i l y of :
H,O and HF-H2SiF6-H20 is water, which boiled a t 116.1" C. at 759.7 mm. pressure. boiler A with chnrging port
available in the literature. The all-silver equilibrium still employed for these deter- B and heater well C, whicli
For the system HF-H20, minations is described. was surrounded by bafflc
most of the reported data plate D to ensure good mixing
:ire for the constant-boiling of the return condensate witli
mixture and are summarized later in Table 11'. I n addition, the boiliiig solution : columri E supporting thermocoupit
Frederihagen and Wellmann (4)determined the boiling poiiit- well F , which extended to just below the surface of the boil-
liquid composition curve, a t atmospheric pressure, for the ing liquid; condenser G; and sampler H with auxiliary coil-
system HF-H?O over the composition rnnge from 0 to 100'; denser J , condensate return line K , and rotatable sampling
hydrofluoric acid. tube assembly L. T h e silver charging-port cover and the'
S o measurements have been reported on the liquid-vapor sampling tube assembly were sealed by clamping Tvith bras?
equi1ibri:i a t the normal boiling points for the ternary system unions. Figure 2 is a photograph of the still assembly.
tIF-II&F6-H20. Some Jvork was done on the binary system The heater unit vias constructed b y winding Sichrome wire
IIiSiF6-Hn0 by Baur ( I ) , Truchot ( I I ) , and Jacobson ( 6 ) . (Alloy V, B. 8: S.gage 12, 1 w/foot) on a porcelain thermocouplP
Beyolid indicating the dissociation of hydrofluosilicic acid in the n-ire insulntor (Std. 723, Leeds & Korthrup). The windings Irere
vapor phase and the probable existence of an azeotropic mixture insulated by covering with Insalute cement t o such a diameter ah
i l l the system H2SiFs-HQ0, these studies provide little information to permit the heater to slip readily into the heater vie11 of t h r
relative t o the liquid-vapor equilibria. still when required. The rate of heating rras regulated by :I
The present research was carried out to supplement these Variac transformer so t h a t not more than 1 to 2 grams of mate-
meager d a t a ; it covers measurements, over a wide range of coni- rial distilled over per minute.
positions, of the boiling points and related liquid and vapor com- The t,emperature of the boiling solution was measured t o
positions, at atmospheric pressure, on the binary system HF- * 0 . l o C. by a calibrated iron-constantan thermocouple which
H 2 0 and the ternary system HF-H2SiFsH20. extended t o the bottom of the thermocouple well. ,4 little
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY Vol. 39, No. 3

TABLE
I. (:.lLIRRATIOS O F h'1I.L THERMOCOUPLE
IS O f E R . A T I o N
Sorrnal Bailing P o i n t , ' C
Jtniidard Literature Observed (cor.)
Methanol 64.45 64.5
Benzene 80,09 80.1
\T-a t e r 100.0 100.3
Toluene 110.8 110.7

nnphthnleiie 01' toluene was Elaced in the bott'om of this well t o


improve thermal contact. The electromotive force of the ther-
mocouple ivaa measured to =t1 microvolt by a Rribicon Type €3
potentiometer and spotlight galvanometer. The behavior of
t,lie tliermocouple duririg operation was checked by determining
the boiling poiiits in tlie equilibrium still of tmice-distilled samples
of \\-:itcir, nictli:iiiol, lmizeiie, arid toluene: Table I gives results
Of t1iCSt t The condensers of t h e still assembly were cooled
I)?. forceti cii,culwtioii of either ice n-ater (0' C.) or R ~ a t e r - e t h y l -
m c gl?-col mixture (-20" C ) ,depending on the probable boiling
n t tlie coiideiisnte.
~ ~ i i i of
To :ivoid refliiziiig of tlir vapors in the upper boiler arid the
coluniri during opcxitiun, the still assembly, escept for the con-
denser and sampler, \vas enclosed in a transite air oveii (Figure 3).
The temperature of the oren was maintained at bevernl degrees
above tlie boiling point of the liquid in the boiler.
The still was charged with approsimately 175 grams of t'he
solution under test. After the charging port was sealed and the
I 1

IC 1
Figure 1. Diagram of Silver
sampling tube clamped in the u p position, which permitted the
condensate t o return t o the boiler and also vented the still to the
atmosphere, the heater \\-as inserted and the boiler heated gradu-
ally until t,lie temperature of the boiling solution became prac-
Equilibrium Still tically constant. The temperature of the transit'e air oven
surrounding the still was simultaneously raised to several de-
grees above the boiler temperature.
When constant temperature had been maintained for 15 t o 30

Figure 2. Silver Equilibrium Still Figure 3. Transite .4ir Oven and Still
'
March 1947

TABLE11. LIQUIDAND V A P O R COMPOSITIOSS

Liquid
5.47
10.1
20.6
POIKTSOF SYSTEM
Compn,, n-t,7o HF
Vapor
0.87
2.03
7.06
HF-H,O
Observed
Boiling
Barometric
Pressure,
.4ND

P o i n t , C. 1 I m . Hg (Cor.)
100.8
102.2
106 8
740.5
745.1
i59 7
BOILIXG

Sormal
Boiliy
Point, C.
101.6
102.8
106.8
-
I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N GI C H E M I S T R Y

0 inches
I 2 9
429

24.7 11.6 107 8 i47 2 108.4


30.1 19 4 110.1 i54.6 110.3
36.2 32 8 111.6 757.0 111.7
36.8 34.4 111 9 758.4 112 0
37.6 36.4 112.2 i62 i 112.1
38.22 38.15 112 1 i54.9 112.3
38.27 38.26 112 0 750.2 112 4
39.2 41.1 111 9 756.1 112,l
42.2 50.1 111 5 762.6 111.4
47.0 65.7 108 3 i51.7 108.7
49 2 ... 106 7 757.1 106.8
52.9 82.6 101 3 749.8 101.7
54.8 87.4 98 5 749.6 98.9
58.6 92.9 90 7 i54 4 90 9
60.7 97.3 86 1 747.1 86.6
64.1 99.0 78 5 748.4 79.0 Figure i. Diagram of Weighing
66.2 98.7 74 0 i45.9 74.6 Bottle Construction
72.0 98.8 61 6 i46.2 61.6
81.4 99.3 44 9 753.4 45.1
89.0 99 5 33 3 754.5 33.5

TABLE111. LIQUID
POI ST^
Liquid Compn , \\-t, e;
HF H ~ S I FHzO~
0.22 24.1 75.7 0 16 2 55 9i 3 104 4 749.3
0 76 29 7 69.5 0 16 5.33 94.5 107.3 758 9
0 85 3 3 . 2 65.9 0 17 9.75 RO 1 108.8 753.5
1 . 8 9 36 2 61.9 0.19 18.0 81.8 111.2 z53.9
2.69 38.3 59.0 0 27 2 5 . 9 i3.8 112., io0 2
4 . 4 0 26 0 69.6 3.32 1 3i 95.3 108 1 763 2
4 . 6 0 38 0 57.4 0 06 3 0 . , 69.2 114 3 757.2
5.60 3 3 . 7 60.7 5.19 12.3 82,s 113.1 753 1
6 33 37.9 55.8 0 98 3 9 . 1 59 ? 115 2 i55.8
6 . 5 1 38 5 55.0 0 24 4 6 . 3 53 o 115.5 758 4
7 . 5 6 37 3 55 1 3.61 39.3 57 1 115 3 747.0
i.3; ;;p
7 86 37 2 54.9
55.1
5 45
5.43
36 4
36 5
58 1
58 1
115.3
115.7 -748
- - i9
135
69 0 5.98 0.46 93.5 108.4 750.1
8.88 37.9 53.2 3 46 50.2 46.3 115.2 752 6
9.13 36.7 54 2 7 76 36 1 06 1 115.~ 752.2
9.28 38 1 52.6 3.65 51.8 44 5 115.2 744 1
9 83 25.8 64 4 8.55 0 40 01 0 113 5 744 4
10.1 36.0 53 9 9.84 36 0 54.2 116.1 759.7
10.8 :34 2 55 0 12.8 27.4 59.8 115.9 759 8 Figure 3. Photograph of U eiphing Bottle
12.5 33.0 54 5 18.3 23.3 58 4
12.9 34.4 02 7 16.7 35.4 4i 9
15.4 31.6 53 0 25.6 23.4 51 0
15.6 29 8 54 6 26.9 14.1 59 0
17.3 32.9 49 8 26.7 36.8 36 5
18.6 16.4 65 0 14.3 0.59 85 1
18.6 29.0 52 4 33.7 19.9 46 4
19.6 17.2 53 2 35.4 11.8 52 8
22.9 38.7 38 4 5.18 93.2 1 6
a3.9 24.5 51 6 44.8 12.0 43 2
25.3 5.25 69.4 17.3 0.11 82.6 110.0 757 3
26.1 32.4 41.5 37.3 58.2 4.5 100.9 755 9
26.7 14.9 58.4 36.4 1.21 62.4 113 2 762 1
27.6 15 3 57 1 40.4 1.63 58 0 113.2 761 0
28.3 ii.6 60.i 35.0 0.10 64.9 112.5 752 8
29.8 16.1 54.1 49.9 2.38 47.7 111.9 745 4
33.0 36.0 31.0 0.61 98.4 1.0 62.5 750 8
33 6 26.0 40.4 57.6 36.7 5.7 95.9 759 0
36.3 20.7 43.0 74.6 13.9 11.5 100 1 754 1
37.2 16.7 46.1 71.6 8.87 19.5 104.4 761 0
39.1 5.04 55.9 54 1 0 . 4 1 45 5 111 2 758.1
40 5 2 i 5 32 0 26 5 72.6 0 9 70 1 744.3
45.7 12.0 42.3 Si 7 3.98 8 3 94 0 758.3
49.2 18.6 32.2 66 6 32 2 1 1 76 2 757.5
53.1 25 3 21.6 0 92 96.0 J 1 33 7 749.6
54.1
60.0
60.7
16.5
17.1
8.96
29 4
22.9
30.3
63 0
26 3
92 2
35.1
73.0
2.10
A:
5 7
63 8
46 9
67 1
755 1
756.9
756.9
69.6 9.31 21.1 43.3 56 2 0 5 46 6 760.1
70.6 11.9 17.5 5 97 93.6 0 4 32 7 749.1
92.0 0.69 7.3 77 4 21.8 0 8 25 5 750.6

IV. AZEOTROPIC
TABLE HF-H,O
MIXTUREO F SYSTEM
Compn., Boiling Pressure,
W t . 70 HE' Point, ' C. M m . Hg Investigator
35.37 120 Atin. Bineau ( 2 )
37.0 120 Atm. Roscoe (8)
48.17 126 Atm.
43.2 iii 7 50 Deussen ( 3 ) Weight c6 of H F 111 Liquid ( I ) and Vapor ( 8 )
35.4 115.2 Atill. Fredenhagen ds Kellmann (4)
38.18 110.8 732 hIuehlberger ( ? ) Figure 6. Boiling Points and Liquid-
38.26 112.0 750 This investigation Vapor Compositions of the System
HF-HzO
430 INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY Vol. 39, No. 3

minute., the +,impling tube n as uiiclainpd a i d t r i i i i c d t o tlic Foi .,impliiig distillates high 111 acid content ( > 4 0 r c ) , the
don-n positioii for sampliiig the condensate. A conveiiieiit weight lid of the weighing bottle was modified by inserting through its
of condensate \vas collected for analysis after the first fen- drops center a tight-fitting silver tube which extended within 0.5 em.
vere discarded. T h e atmospheric pressure and temperature of the bottom of the weighing bottle. T h e internal diameter of
vere recorded :it the same time. Immediately after tlie condcii- tliis tube was such t h a t i t fitted snugly over the silver tubc of the
sate was sampled, t h e heaters were shut oft', thc btill n-ni diz- still sampling assembly; the result was an essentially closed
mounted and cooled in water, and a sample of the boilcr liquid path from condeiiser to sampling bottle. During the mighings,
was poured o u t through the charging port for arinl~ the silver tube of the sampling bottle was closed by a small silver
The condensate nnd boiler liquid were sampled in a double- plug. Figures 4 and 5 how details of the sampling hottlc c o n -
nalled weighing bottle of about 20 ml. capacity, fitted ~ i t ha struction.
ground stopper. T h e bottle and the stopper n-ere cast from As-
plit cement, a n acid-proof resin cement. A small amount of
crushed ice TTRS generally included in the n-eighing bottle t o avoid Tlie :ic.id boliitioiic w i ' e prepared when fensible, from 48%
\.apor losses during collection of thc sample. Tlic double- Ilytlrofluoi,ic :icicl (Ualtcr's xpecial, c.11. grade) and frunl 30Yc
n-all coiistruction prevented the condeiisatioii of Iiioiqture oil liydrofluo~ilicicacid ( l k k c r ' s :innlyzed, C . P . grade). Oiily lots of
tlie outsidc during weighing of the chillrti coiiteiit+. hydrofluoric ncid containing 1e:s than 0.05cc liydroflrio~ilicic

.it. Ternary constant boiling point


0 Liquid composition, weight 90'

---
+ Vapor composition, weight 70
Tie lines
Liquid isotherms
.....,.
Y
Vapor pressure trough
Constant boiling point of system HF-HzO
-1
- Approximate constant boiling point of system IIzSiF~-IlzO
March 1947 INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY 43 1

acid were used. T h e more concentrated acid solutions Tvere L3zeotropic mixture of HF-H20 to t h a t of H2SiF6-H&. as indi-
prepared in pure silver beakers from anhydrous hydrofluoric cated by the dotted line on Figure 7. The composit,ion ( 4 1 5
acid (Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.) b y dilution and by !iydrofluosilicic acid and 59% water) and the boiling point,
reaction with powdered silica (Baker's analyzed, C.P. grade). 111.5" C.) indicated for the aaeotropic mixture of the system
T h e hydrofluoric acid solutions were analyzed by titration HzSiF6-H20 are only approximate values; attempts t o deter-
with standard sodium hydroxide solutions (silica- and carbonate- mine these d a t a accurately were unsuccessful, because of the
free), using phenolphthalein as indicator. T h e hydrofluoric tendency of such solutions with lon- free hydrofluoric acid content
and hydrofluosilicic acid mixtures were analyzed by a method of to deposit silica in the boiler or in the condenser of the still d u r -
cold and hot titrations with standard sodium hydroxide, using ing distillation.
phenolphthalein as indicator, according to the procedure de- T h e boiling point ridge divides the phase diagram into two
scribed by Scott ( 0 ) and Sherry et al. ( 1 0 ) . regions so t h a t a solution of a composition lying in one region
cannot be distilled under normal pressure to yield ,z condensate
DISCUSSIOS OF RESCLTS having a composition lying in t h e other region.
T h e results secured for the liquid and vapor compositions of
Table I1 presents the liquid and vapor compositions and re- solutions in the more acid regions of the ternary system (that ib,
lated boiling points as determined for the 5ystem HF-HZO. T h e
for solutions containing over 60% free hydrofluoric acid or over
normal boiling points in column 5 were cnlculated from the ex-
30"' free hydrofluoric and 30% free hydrofluosilicic acids) are not
perimental d a t a on the assumption of a n average entropy of
equilibrium values since t h e still condenser did not condense
vaporization of 23 calories per degree-mole for these solutions. all the vapor phase. Severt'heless, since in t,he method of sam-
The liquid and vapor compositions, in veight per cent, and the
pling employed, practically all of the vapor and the eondensate
normal boiling points are plotted in Figure 6.
y e r e collected for analysis, it was concluded t h a t the composi-
Table 111 lists t h e boiling points and related liquid and vapor
tions found gave a reliable approximation of tlir liquid-vapor
compositions as determined for t h e ternary system HF-H2SiFs-
equilibria of such solutions.
Hs0. These data are plotted in Figure 7 along with the approsi-
mate liquid isotherms. .iCBSOW LEDGhI E S T
T h e constant-boiling mixture of the system HF-H20 T K I ~ The authors hereby express their thank5 to the PenwylvLtniu
found to have a composition of 3 8 . 2 6 5 hydrofluoric acid and a Salt llanufncturing Co. for permission t o puhlilh these esperi-
boiling point of 112.0" C. a t 750.2 mm. pressure. These values mental data. An nclinowledgmeiit is made of the :issistance of
are compared with previously published d a t a in Table IV and R.H. Rnlston in sume preliminary studies on the subject systems.
are in good agreement with results secured by Muehlberger ( 7 ) .
LlTERATURE CITED
T h e boiling point curve for the system HF-H,O as determined
in thi. work is a t considerable variance TTith t h a t determined hy Baur. E., Z . phuaik. Chem., 48, 453 (1904).
Fredenhagen and Wellmann ( d ) , except in the regions approach- Bineau, -L,Ann. chim. phys., [3] 7 , 257 (1843).
Deussen. E., 2.anorg. Chem., 49, 297 (1906).
ing the pure components. Lacking suitable corrohorntive dat:i, Fredenhagen, IC., and Wellmann, M., 2.p h y s i k . Cheni., A162,
i t is concluded t h a t the boiling point curve as determined in this 454 (1932).
work is the more reliable in view of: (a) the agreement secured ( 5 ) Gore, G., Landolt-Bornstein Tabellen, p. 273 (1905).
between the boiling points of the test liquids as determined in the (6) Jacobson, C. X., J . Phus. Chern., 27, 577, 761 (1923): 28, 506
(1942).
still (Table I) Kith the published values, ( b ) the good agreement (7) hluehlberger, C. IT., Ibid., 32, 1858 (1928).
of t h e d a t a for the constant-boiling mixture with those secured (8) Roscoe, H., J . Chem. SOC.,13, 162 (1860); - i n n . Chern. 1 1 .
b y Muehlberger, and (c) the smooth curve given b y the boiling Pharrn., 116, 218 (1860).
points and t h e close extrapolation of this curve t o the boiling (9) Scott, TI'. W,, "Standard Methods of Chemical .lnalysis", 5th
ed., Vol., 11, p. 2209, New York, D. Van Nostrand Co., 1939.
point of pure hydrofluoric acid. (10) Sherry, W.B., Swinehart, C. F., Dunphy, R. A., and Oghum
In the ternary system HF-H2SiF6-H20, a masimum boiling S. C., IXD. ENG.CHEM.,ANAL.ED.,16,483 (1044).
point was found having a cornposition of 10yc hydrofluoric acid, (11) Truchot, C., Compt. rend., 98, 821 (1884).
36% hydrofluosilicic acid, and 54% Kater, and a boiling point of PRESESTEO before the Symposium on Fluorine Cheniistry as paper 93.
116.1" C. a t 759.7 mm. pressure. This point lies in a vapor Division of Industrial a n d Engineering Chemistry, 110th Meeting of tlie
pressure trough which extends across the phase sy=tem from the .$\IEHIC.4\. C H E \ l I C h t SOCIETY, Chicago, 111.

HYDROGEN-FLUORINE TORCH
Homer F. Priest and Aristid V. Grossel
WAR R E S E i R C H LABORATORIES, COLU\IB14 U \ I \ ERSITY. A E W YORB, N. Y .

A S SOOK as the problem was solved of Dtoriiig fliiori:it=


under pressure ( 5 ) , the means was avrtilable for studying
fluorine flames and constructing a fluorine torch. Since fluorine
combustion ( f ) of one mole of hydrogen in fluorine and in oxygen,
as shon-n below:
H?+ F: +2HF(,,,) + 128.0 lig.-cd.
is the most reactive element known, we expected it t o produce (1)
the highest possible flame temperatures. This follows for two Hz + HnO(,ss, + 57.8 kg.-cal.
-t
1,1202 (2)
interdependent reasons: First,, reactions n.ith fluorine show the
highest molar heat evolution, and second, because of the high Thus, in the case of fluorine the heat generated, for the sam(>
strength of fluorine bonds, t h e dissociation of the reaction prod- volume of hydrogen, is 2.2 times greater than for oxygen. Simi-
ucts is curtailed. larly, tlie heats of combustion of methane or acetylene with
The first point is illustrated by a comparison of the heat of fluorine are tTTice :IS high as those with oxygen, for

1 Present address, Houdry Process Corporation, Marcus H o o k . Pa. CH4 + iF, --+ CF4 + 4 H F + 415 1rg.-cal. (3,

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