(how many pulls with) Magnetic stirer/hotplate

[wolf8312]

I got one of these bad boys recently and its one of those things that you will never do without again! Its my new toy at the moment and I just love it!

A question though if you don’t mind. I’ve heard people say that a MS/HP will increase efficiency meaning fewer pulls for less effort, but out of interest what do you people with magnetic stirers find to be the optimal amount of time/pulls?

One guy seemed to be saying that he just used only a MS for twelve hours and only did one pull with 4 times the normal yield! Can it really work like that?

In order to hopefully avoid a bit of trial and error, those of you who use a MS/HP, what do you find best?

I tend to think multiple albeit fewer extractions for shorter periods of time is the way to go but obviously have no way of knowing this for sure!

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Spaced Out 2]

Hello Wolf, it's hard to say, I use one myself but I don't have a strict method that I use only what time allows me to do. This is just in my case that is, others may have their system refined down much better than myself. I do use the heat but only minimally but the stirrer goes the whole time and if I have to leave it for awhile then the heat gets turned off. Too much heat does seem to bring about more goo and oils especially in ACRB, which is all that I've used.

Bark also varies so much in yield, my best to date was a little over 6g from 300g which took about a week from start to finish. As you see I don't get into a hurry. It was also done with 6 pulls, 3-100ml, and 3-50ml. Could I have used less, absolutely, but Im thorough about it and make absolutely sure my bark is exhausted before tossing soup. And I've also had better yields when using excess NPS and then reducing it down after all are collected. Solvent is cheap in my neck of the woods so using a little extra doesn't matter much. I'd say leave your solvent in your container with the stirrer turned on high for several hours, use heat if you prefer but I'd say a higher yield will be goo included in that, as it weighs more.

Other than that I'd say just experiment if you can, that's what's so fun about extracting in my opinion and in reality I'm not looking for super yields just enough to keep me busy for awhile

Good luck, safe and happy journeys :thumb_up:

Peace

 

[wolf8312]

ThanksI know what you mean about too much heat pulling more oil! Goanna be careful with that in future! Best to be closer to room temp than boiling. Don’t really care that much about yields either dude though I want enough to make recrystallization seem like a worthwhile endeavour.

With all this oil I've been pulling looks like I got no choice this time! Is it normal for a highly saturated solution to start precipitating out on the jar before doing a freeze precipitation or is that just indicative of a very impure product? Stinks of spice though.

 

[Spaced Out 2]

If it's highly saturated it can, especially if it sits there undisturbed for any length of time. Mine is usually saturated to the point any slight breeze will cloud it up and if it sits there I can see little needles form like beginnings of snowflakes. I should've mentioned that I do a mini a/b ala Earthwalkers method. It's just a little extra work but has always got rid of the oils/fats mostly and results in snow white fluff, very clean.

The heat bath I give my soup ranges from 100°-110°F, any higher and it pulls all kinds of oils and fats. Fats are only thing I'm really looking at getting rid of, that stuff looks disgusting during the mini a/b. The oils are super active and probably has spice and it's oxides mixed together.

Hope this helps!

 

[wolf8312]

Ah this extraction was a total disaster!

I pulled alot of brownish/yellow material which seemed about 3-4 grams. Then it started melting!

I knew it was in dire need of a RX. I used some questionable Naphtha that I bought online and arrived in a coke bottle so this could have been the problem as it may not have been naphtha.

Probably best that we assume it wasnt the naphtha however as I wont be using it in future. If I could go back I would have done a mini AB cause it was just to dirty.

I performed a RX with about 50 mls of said naphtha which I have since learned is far too little, but even so I should have pulled at least a gram of spice.

What I ended up with after a freeze was a yellowy tar that melted into an orangey goop when I scraped it up. Oil not solid.

I threw it away.

I am naturally now terrified of doing a RX ever again. My first extraction went great and I didnt even need a RX so in future I will follow a similar path!

Decant acid/water extractions (I didnt decant this time as I felt it was a waste of actives)
No more than 30 degrees heat (m tempted to not even use heat but it does help)

Any other tips as to what went wrong would be great!

So my beloved hotplate really actually only made life much more difficult. A lesson learned though about the heat! Best just to have a warm liquid.

 

[1ce]

Naptha in a coke bottle? XD! LOOOL

How many times I need to extract depends more on the solvent rather than heating. The trick would be to find a solvent dmt is more soluble in.

See if you can get heptane/hexane/ for re-x and extract with dcm or chloroform if you can find it. Toluene has worked alright. Extract with chloro or toluene, evap, and dissolve in a boiling re-x solvent. Decant solvent leaving goo behind and leave at room temp in a lidded container.

If naptha is unavailable see what other resources are available.

Equipment wise, a separatory funnel and filtration setup have always done me justice in the past, and allow me to wash/extract with ease. The hotplate/stirrer is a handy handy handy tool but perhaps not *as* useful.

 

[Spaced Out 2]

If you got it up near boiling temp or if you don't know how hot it was then that's where you went wrong, try slapping a thermometer in it. But why did you throw the oil away? I know it's a pain to mess with but it's so active you could've just enhanced some leaf with it. And like 1ce said another solvent, and less heat. Good luck friend

 

[wolf8312]

Ya I could have done something with it I suppose but honestly there was a miniscule amount and goo is such a pain in the arse! I was almost angry with the goo!

The problem was I think that I left most of it in the waste material and could have pulled more had I just done a few more pulls.

Well trying again, wont let the heat get above 30 degrees this time.

Gonna try to avoid even needing a RX in future! And if I do I will just stick to the lighter fluid!

Thanks guys!

 

[wolf8312]

You're not wrong about needing a better solvent Ice. Third extraction much better than the 2nd though I did get some yellow oil. I found smearing it all over a glass tray fan drying and scraping it up again seemed to do the trick though!

First time was much more successful no goo at all. I guess I will drop down to only 30 degrees next time.

How do you find cold extractions?

Seems to me that the solvent needs to be heated but by doing so you open the door to impurities that would not be present if the extration was done cold. The solvent doesent turn yellow (oil) at all when there is no heat but I am guessing that the yield will suffer this way?

Well I guess I've learned a few things along the way.