MHRB D-Lemonine

[Fr0st.spekter]

Insights and Improvements

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share my experience with extraction using naphtha and D-Limonene and get some input on improving my process for next time.

Initial Extraction with Naphtha

I started with medical-grade naphtha for the initial pulls from (MHRB), and I had good results with this method. I performed multiple pulls (4), and each pull yielded effective results. And the resulting crystallizations were decreasing in size after each freeze. I only yielded 0.783g from 100mg bark (fine powdered) from a packet that I do not know how old it might be. I followed the same process with D-Limonene and had some struggles. I do have multiple sources of MHRB and will try with a shredded bark that I will powder myself. Total number of days for this process was 4.



Challenges with D-Limonene

I switched the method a bit and decided to use to D-Limonene as the non-polarsolvent for second extraction method. However, I ran into a few issues:

• Cloudiness: The D-Limonene layer became cloudy, which I suspect was due to dissolved alkaloids or some emulsification happening in the mixture.
• Low Yield: The first pull with D-Limonene yielded very little DMT. This could be because the ratio of bark to solvent was high or the extraction conditions weren't optimal.
• While decanting the nps I noticed that whatever crystals were on the Pyrex dish just dissolved and nothing was left during evaporation. Very strange

Suggested Improvements for Future Extractions

Looking ahead, I plan to make some adjustments to improve the D-Limonene extraction process:

1. Scaling Down: I'll use 50 g of MHRB in a 500 mL flask for better manageability. This should help with clearer observations and enhanced layer separation.
2. Alkaline Solution: I’ll ensure to prepare a sufficient alkaline solution using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and consider adding 5-10 g of salt dissolved in water to improve extraction efficiency. (Same as with the naphtha method)
3. I intend to warm the D-Limonene to about 40-60°C before adding it to the mixture. This should enhance solubility and extraction effectiveness.
4. Mixing and Settling: I’ll allow ample settling time for the D-Limonene to separate, while stirring gently to avoid emulsification. If cloudiness persists, I’ll let it settle longer.
5. I plan to perform multiple pulls with fresh D-Limonene to maximize yield.

I’m looking forward to trying these adjustments in my next extraction and would love any feedback or tips from others who've had experience with D-Limonene. Thanks for reading!

Thanks for your time!