TEK Converting CBD to THC using only Zeolite and heat.

[Varallo]

I'm intrigued to try and pin down the somewhat variable results I'm seeing ( always good, sometimes literally stunningly good ) and have got hold of a pro test TLC kit, intending to investigate what ratios of cannabinoids I'm getting.

However the supplier of the kit was unable to send me the eluent (chloroform) as it's a controlled substance where I live.

So I'm here to ask TLC gurus, that might hang around here, whether there is an alternative eluent I could use that might be more readily available. I understand that the gauges and rulers supplied with the kit would probably be fairly useless, but I'm only after comparative results between my occasional zeolite bakings anyway.

Any ideas? I can get hold of normal household solvents such as isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, plus other lab and industrial solvents that aren't associated so much with abuse.

Thanks! Frac4

I’m not sure what country you’re in but most of the time small quantities of chloroform are usually not a problem and can sometimes be obtained from places where they manufacture plexiglass stands and such. The closest alternative would be DCM, it’s sold here by the liter in polyester and epoxy shops.
Other than that, if your a bit chemistry minded you could perhaps try the haloform reaction, it works well, don’t forget to stabilize it with ethanol and don’t breathe it in since it’s carcinogenic.

 

[fractals4life]

I'm in the UK and it seems chloroform is only available to educational establishments and legit businesses, of which I am neither, plus I want to try and fly a bit under the radar at least, so no setting up of legal entities just to obtain a few mil of something controlled

DCM does seem to be available as plastic cement. So I'll pursue that avenue, thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

 

[Transform]

Make chloroform from acetone or ethanol, plus sodium hypochlorite (bleach)? Videos exist online for this very simple reaction (keep it cold!)

[EDIT: I see this is what varallo said - namely the haloform reaction.]

 

[THanoC]

I'm intrigued to try and pin down the somewhat variable results I'm seeing ( always good, sometimes literally stunningly good ) and have got hold of a pro test TLC kit, intending to investigate what ratios of cannabinoids I'm getting.

However the supplier of the kit was unable to send me the eluent (chloroform) as it's a controlled substance where I live.

So I'm here to ask TLC gurus, that might hang around here, whether there is an alternative eluent I could use that might be more readily available. I understand that the gauges and rulers supplied with the kit would probably be fairly useless, but I'm only after comparative results between my occasional zeolite bakings anyway.

Any ideas? I can get hold of normal household solvents such as isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, plus other lab and industrial solvents that aren't associated so much with abuse.

Thanks! Frac4

i wonder why they use Chloroform as an Eluent..
chloroform's eluting power is nothing special.


Now for cannabinoids specifically, the better option for TLC would be a mixture of Hexane and Diethyl Ether, which even allows for separation between carboxylated and decarboxylated cannabinoids, But the simplest and widely used in literature alternative would be methanol.

However, my suggestion would be to test your sample using the kykeon analytics mail-in lab testing for drugs service, which would cost you pretty much the same as these Test kits of unknown Quality.

stay safe and DYOR.

 

[Transform]

i wonder why they use Chloroform as an Eluent..
chloroform's eluting power is nothing special.
View attachment 101806

Now for cannabinoids specifically, the better option for TLC would be a mixture of Hexane and Diethyl Ether, which even allows for separation between carboxylated and decarboxylated cannabinoids, But the simplest and widely used in literature alternative would be methanol.

However, my suggestion would be to test your sample using the kykeon analytics mail-in lab testing for drugs service, which would cost you pretty much the same as these Test kits of unknown Quality.

stay safe and DYOR.

Wouldn't chloroform have a similar resolving power to ether+hexane, since it lies between the two on the chart.

 

[fractals4life]

i wonder why they use Chloroform as an Eluent..
chloroform's eluting power is nothing special.
View attachment 101806

Now for cannabinoids specifically, the better option for TLC would be a mixture of Hexane and Diethyl Ether, which even allows for separation between carboxylated and decarboxylated cannabinoids, But the simplest and widely used in literature alternative would be methanol.

However, my suggestion would be to test your sample using the kykeon analytics mail-in lab testing for drugs service, which would cost you pretty much the same as these Test kits of unknown Quality.

stay safe and DYOR.

Great info, thanks!

I just realised I have ethanol already, in the form of "polish spirit" at 96.5% absolute ... worth a go, do you think?

Also am I right in assuming greater "eluting power" means the fractions travel further and get separated by larger distances?

Happy new circumsolar revolution everyone

 

[Transform]

Also am I right in assuming greater "eluting power" means the fractions travel further and get separated by larger distances?

Not quite - if the solvent power is too great, all the Rf's of interest risk getting squashed together, making for a less satisfactory separation. Hence, a mediocre solvent like chloroform may be favorable under some circumstances. Solvent mixtures are often used to optimise separation, since there's not really one single magically optimal solvent.