Low yield first STB

[Wax]

Well I've been putting this off for as long as possible but I've checked the wiki and read lots of posts but I still can't figure out what is going on with this extraction.

Nomans tek with 50g RB, 750ml water and 75g lye.

The first couple pulls I used about 30ml naphtha but for some dumb reason I only let it sit for about 5 minutes before pulling. Needless to say that didn't work out so I heated up 30ml and let it sit for about 12 hours. Ended up with yellow naphtha, repeated a few more pulls the same way and freeze preciped them all for about 24 hours.

When I pulled them out they had more yellow goop than crystals, the first pull yielded less than 10mg, I'm guessing 3mg maybe and the others didn't have much more than some tiny specks that I couldn't even scrape out.

I dried the yellow goo and it was even less, maybe 2mg. I'm currently evapping the leftover naphtha but have little faith in it. I also have about 50ml soaking which I will pull tomorrow ( 2 days in the jar).

Is there something I missed or did I just get bad bark?

 

[EzekielCain]

Could be the bark if its old but try the lye with just a little more water and boost up the pH and if all else fails add a bit more bark. Don't toss anything!!

 

[Wax]

I will try that, the bark is new unless the vendor had it sitting around for a while which I doubt it just came into stock. One question, can I add lye to the mix even if there is still some NP left on the top? I assume I can since it can be used to break emulsions.

 

[Noman]

You don't need to add any more lye.
The problem has something to do with your NP extraction or the freeze precip.
More lye won't do a damn thing.

 

[shutyomouf]

Same symptoms and outcome here. Its oily and very low yield. Theres a jar that has been upside down for a day after pouring naptha off waiting for scraping. Frozen streaks down the jar and yellow goo frozen on the bottom.

 

[Wax]

I figured more lye wouldn't do anything I already went a little overboard with it. What could be wrong with the NP pull? I tried everything from 25-50ml and agitated thoroughly let some sit for a few hours others for up to 48 hours. The only time I actually got a few decent xtals I let room temp NP sit for 24 hours, all the other times I mostly got fats.

Also for the freeze precip I had my freezer maxed out and let them sit for up to 48 hours. Even after I air dryed all the NP I got super low yield. The only thing I can think of is my NP may be too old? I mean it pulled some so why wouldn't it pull the rest?

 

[elphologist1]

Well I'm no expert, but it sounds to me like it might be a bad batch of bark? Especially if both archaic_architect and shutyomouf used the same vendor? If it just came back into stock maybe the batch is no good. Might not be an intentional ripoff or anything - maybe the vendor just got a bad batch.

 

[*oneironaut*]

Same symptoms and outcome here. Its oily and very low yield. Theres a jar that has been upside down for a day after pouring naptha off waiting for scraping. Frozen streaks down the jar and yellow goo frozen on the bottom.

Was the bark u guys got a little on the purple side? Mine was more than usual and was sold as Superior Quality MHRB... i'm suspecting the bark..

 

[shutyomouf]

archaic_architect and I received our bark from the same supplier. I'm a newb so i'm not sure what it should look like. Seems to be a decent vendor from posts on here and reviews from the site. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a deliberate rip-off, just the luck of the draw.

 

[Wax]

Mine was a little more brown than usual but I'm not sure if the color is an indicator of potency. Although it seems to have worked out that way.

 

[bluefuzz]

Yea... I got my bark from the same place and seem to be having the same problem with q21's AB tek 2. The bark was very brown. Looks like cocoa powder. This was my first try so.. I dunno what the deal is. I'll be trying again.

What I read from q21 seemed to say that you only need to let the naphtha soak in for 5-10 minutes in a hot water bath. He even went so far as to say 5 minutes should be plenty and he may try leaving it for only 2 or 3 minutes. This leaving the np soaking in the mimosa mixture for hours seems strange. I thought it only sucked up the good stuff if it was hot. What good would it be to let it sit at room temp?

 

[Dan]

By HP do you mean H*****ly-Pr*****s?

the finely shredded p/p they are selling that is more purple color than normal is bunk. its the bark man if you got that stuff, you did nothing wrong.

the other p/p stuff he sells is legit, but that fine shredded/powdered NE brazil stuff he is selling and is the only bark left on his site is completely bunk.

just gotta eat the loss buddy and find a better vendor, thats what i did.

 

[Wax]

Ya I'm sure it was the bark, oh well good thing I didn't get more like I planned

HP is a GREAT vendor though just the luck of the draw this time.

 

[spada1150]

Thanks to this website. The information and knowledge. And shared many experiences. :d :d

 

[motiv311]

I feel like a lot of people let it sit way to long, use way to much water, and way to much naptha.

I use quart jars, add 650-700ml of distilled water, mix in 80g food grade NaOh, wait for it to be warm to the touch not hot. then add 80g of (powdered)root bark, shake every now and then for 30-45 min. It should still be warm, add 60-70ml or naptha(less the better,you want it super saturated) Turn and roll the jars for a few minutes 3X (with these ratios i can shake the shit out of it and have no emulsions)
remove naptha and repeat. Combine all naptha pulls and toss in a freezer over night.

If you follow that word for word and dont get maximum yields and white spice i dont know what to tell ya.


I think a lot of people use to much water and let the lye and RB sit way to long. Using distilled water and the purest chemicals help too i think.

right on^ this guy knows whats up...

what i'm wondering is once you got your naptha sealed inside the fridge .. is it better to use a mason jar, or a pyrex pan with a glass lid?

 

[Psyren]

I feel like a lot of people let it sit way to long, use way to much water, and way to much naptha.

I use quart jars, add 650-700ml of distilled water, mix in 80g food grade NaOh, wait for it to be warm to the touch not hot. then add 80g of (powdered)root bark, shake every now and then for 30-45 min. It should still be warm, add 60-70ml or naptha(less the better,you want it super saturated) Turn and roll the jars for a few minutes 3X (with these ratios i can shake the shit out of it and have no emulsions)
remove naptha and repeat. Combine all naptha pulls and toss in a freezer over night.

If you follow that word for word and dont get maximum yields and white spice i dont know what to tell ya.


I think a lot of people use to much water and let the lye and RB sit way to long. Using distilled water and the purest chemicals help too i think.

right on^ this guy knows whats up...

what i'm wondering is once you got your naptha sealed inside the fridge .. is it better to use a mason jar, or a pyrex pan with a glass lid?

Pyrex is nice because you can use a blade and easily scape it up, its a bit messy draining the solvent off tho.