Thank you UC and Capita for replying , I did check the literature from http://www.orgsyn.org but the procedure was not exactly right we had to conduct many trials in order to synthesise the sticky mass after which i followed the same procedure to purify the product but in vain. i should agree that the stickyness did reduce but crystalization did not take place. some people advised me to use the roter but i don't have access to those instruments. please direct me to a valid procedure that can help me purify the m-nitroacetophenone.