Forcing DMT Preciptation With Ether & Hexane

[Nathanial.Dread]

I was knocking around the Rhodium archives today, and came across this choice little quote. I won't post the link since synth talk is banned, but this could have applications for extraction procedures as well:

A [large quantity] of DMT freebase dissolved in x liters ether would crystallize when added to 4x liters hexane. Rhomboid crystals would spontaneously form in the resulting solution.

I removed the quantities but kept the ratios the same, since the person was talking about industrial synthesis, which we try to avoid.

Anyone know what's up with this? I know a lot of people don't extract with ether, but plenty of folks do with hexane and I'm wondering if the reverse might work (pull DMT into hexane, add ether, xtas crash out).

Blessings
~ND

 

[pitubo]

It's a standard recrystallization technique. Dissolve substance X up to saturation in a solvent A, then add solvent B that is miscible with A but has less solubility for X. The combined solvents can hold less of X in solution than A could, so the amount of X that cannot stay anymore in solution crystallizes out.

I guess that won't work to add ether to DMT dissolved in naphta, because I think that ether is a better solvent for DMT than naphta. The combination would also be a better solvent for DMT than naphta, so there will be no oversaturation and hence no precipitation.

 

[Nathanial.Dread]

It's a standard recrystallization technique. Dissolve substance X up to saturation in a solvent A, then add solvent B that is miscible with A but has less solubility for X. The combined solvents can hold less of X in solution than A could, so the amount of X that cannot stay anymore in solution crystallizes out.

I guess that won't work to add ether to DMT dissolved in naphta, because I think that ether is a better solvent for DMT than naphta. The combination would also be a better solvent for DMT than naphta, so there will be no oversaturation and hence no precipitation.

That makes total sense. It's such a pretty way of doing things.

I wonder what's miscible with naptha and doesn't take up DMT...

Thanks!

 

[pitubo]

Here's a link to a description on wikipedia: Recrystallization (chemistry) - Wikipedia

Attached is a solvent miscibility chart. Most solvents on it that are miscible with hexane and other aliphatic hydrocarbons are likely to be better solvents for DMT, so not what you are looking for. But that is just my guess (the solubilities of DMT).

 

[Nathanial.Dread]

Here's a link to a description on wikipedia: Recrystallization (chemistry) - Wikipedia

Attached is a solvent miscibility chart. Most solvents on it that are miscible with hexane and other aliphatic hydrocarbons are likely to be better solvents for DMT, so not what you are looking for. But that is just my guess (the solubilities of DMT).

So I imagine that if we were using DMT in ether w/ hexane, chilling the hexane might increase the amount of DMT that falls out of the ether?

Blessings
~ND

 

[pitubo]

If you are referring to the original example, then yes I guess that chilling the hexane would increase the amount of DMT precipitating. The change in solubility might not be as dramatic in a mixture of ether/hexane as it is in pure hexane. To be honest, I'm just guessing here.

It would be nice to have more data about solubilities of DMT freebase in various solvents and of various DMT salts in solvents.

 

[downwardsfromzero]

Temperature changes, as in extract warm and freeze precipitate, are simpler, cheaper, more effective and safer than having ether in one's home. Also, hexane is neurotoxic.

A peer reviewed study found that inhalation of n-hexane at 5000 ppm for 10 minutes produces marked vertigo; 2500-1000 ppm for 12 hours produces drowsiness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and paresthesia in the distal extremities; 2500-5000 ppm produces muscle weakness, cold pulsation in the extremities, blurred vision, headache and anorexia.

Use naphtha if you must use petrochemicals