Off Grid Extraction

[Cuzie]

I'm sure that someone out there has to have some experience with extractions having no power supply or heat source.

Currently looking at Cybs AB Salt Hybrid and have found that yes it can be done cold, although lower yields to be expected, and of course evaping the NPS is easy enough. So i know this is totally possible, I'm just trying to get the best results possible. My questions are as follows;

Would soaking MHRB in the vinegar solution for longer provide a better breakdown of cell structure as to improve results? Would a day soaking be = to 2 hours of warm bath or there abouts? Can it soak too long in the acid?

Would pulling while the aqueous solution is still warm from chemical reaction improve yield or is the time that the MHRB is in the solution a bigger factor than temperature?

I've seen that sunlight is OK for alkaloids from other posts, anyone have any opinions further on the matter? I'm thinking to avoid it.

I was thinking cooler with dry ice and wet ice to freeze precip, saving solvent. i have access to a pretty nice cooler. Read one case of a non-success but sounded like SWIM was having some other problems going on too, so can't truly isolate that as the cause. Anyone with any experience here?

If evap instead, once the NPS is close to being fully evaporated would it be OK for it to be in a hot structure, something like 90+ f? I know the crystals melt and goop is not what were after.

Any ideas on a screen type material to keep out bugs and other contaminants that will still let evaporation happen easily?

Thanks!

 

[null24]

The greatest concern with an "off grid" extraction is that if you don't have heat sources, etc. that probably means you don't have access to plumbing. Vinegar, lye and salt are harmless even beneficial forhome pipes but not so much nature.

Where do you plan to dispose of your waste materials?

 

[Cuzie]

I’m on a property that is in the middle of a mining waste clean up operation that has a huge pile of mine tailings which are toxic. I could very easily dump it in that huge pile of toxic waste. Otherwise I could pretty easily dump down friends drains nearby. Thanks for your concern about that.

I feel that heat is the main problem like you said. I’ll figure out something clever. It’s probably time to round up a generator.

I’m still wondering though how necessary heat is for the acid step, and if it can over soak in vinegar. Could I just soak longer to save resources, times free/illusionary

Also curious if pulls almost immediately after adding base will have a strong yield. Wondering if the heat from the reaction is more important to take advantage of while it’s there or the time to further breakdown plant materials.

 

[DoingKermit]

Yes, leaving the vinegar soak for 24 hours would be fine. Are you using powdered bark or shredded? Is it MHRB you are using? Lye is great at breaking down plant matter and does so fairly quickly. Since you have time, you could just leave everything to sit (after adding lye) and dissolve for a couple days and then pull with your solvent of choice.

Also, you could add some more lye towards the end to heat up your solvent for the last pull. No need to do it straight after adding it, but after about 15/20 mins the mix should still be warm.

 

[pete666]

Why not use STB? No heat necessary at all.

 

[downwardsfromzero]

OP - Here I was thinking you meant really off-grid. But you have access to lye. No need to mix up roasted snail-shells and wood ash, then. And no need to distil your own orange oil, either.

Lack of heat is easily overcome by using a fire (to heat up a water bath, if flammable solvents are being used). Solar furnaces are easily made using an umbrella and a space blanket.

 

[Cuzie]

I suppose I’m American off grid and I have a way to get around. No electricity or running water. I think I’ve found a generator to borrow so I’m going to get some heat Fire ban here right now, I could of course use a camp stove for now but it’s a pretty extreme fire danger situation so I’ll just avoid open flames altogether.

MHRB, shredded. Letting it sit sounds like the right move. 24 hours in vinegar in a hot space or do the solar oven, I like that idea!! Also adding extra lye is very clever. Or if the genny is running It’d be Too easy. It’d be funnier without I think.

This tek is essentially a STB, there’s 1 extra pre-step which helps to breakdown the plant material better. Even if doing an STB heat will still help extract the most out of your bark the fastest, unless I’ve misunderstood. You can do cybs ab salt tek cold, he says so in his tread. He said expect lower yields. I would think the same for a STB.

 

[fathomlessness]

I have done many extractions off grid before. I used a fire from surrounding trees and shrubs and put a three prong stand which held my pot. I gathered water from either the stream, lake or ocean. Ocean is a bit salty which is great when basified but less great in acid cook phase. It was nice spending the whole day watching the fire. Really though, you need heat to lyse those cells, if not perhaps a STB would work a bit better? I disposed of the waste in a chemical toilet as used the basified solution as bacteria control.

edit:just seen you have said fire ban. I have also used a barbecue gas bottle and stove, that is legal in fire ban and as long as it looks like you are camping and not cooking up drugs then no problems :thumb_up:

 

[Simply_Me]

I would like to add that I just followed cyb'S tek like you and after first pull really got very,very little and decided to "soak" the basified mixture overnight with the Naphtha in it, shaking the shit out of it twice, before bed and once in the morning. I separated the Naphtha into two containers and got real results with no added heat. I am going to go for it with the rest of the MHRB (about 40gm) by using no heat just time. I live in a drug/chemical free house and need to do this on the DL so I will use a neighbors garage. I am also concerned about not having a freezer as I do not think the Product will crystallize with Evaporation but I am not sure. I am evaping the left over Naphtha from the last pull first to see what I get if anything

 

[Simply_Me]

See the little tail in the top image? That is from the real first pull.

I thought I had blown it as I did break my glass container on the last heating step and used a sponge to pick up what I could. Decided to try to let time help!!

See the rest in both images? That is at room temp waiting overnight and then freezing for 18 hours

 

[Cuzie]

The fire ban here is the most intense I’ve ever seen. They closed down the national forest, which I didn’t think was possible. You can get a $5000 fine and jail time for going into the forest right now... so no open flames going on over here.

It seems logical that extra time would do the trick, as heat helps to catalyze reactions faster but maybe isn’t totally necessary for them to happen, just expedites the process. Not a but... seems like simply me is doing all right. Also the extra agitation would help I can only imagine.

Good ideas so far for heat;
Fire, looks fun too!
Camp stoves
Solar oven, also looks sweet
Generator, could use hot plate or bucket heater
Add extra lye at times
Geothermal, just take your jars for a soak at the local hot spring

Good ideas if you don’t have heat;
Soak longer
Agitate vigorously and often

As far as evaporation goes you will most certainly get crystals, and they’ll probably be beautiful!!!!

 

[Northerner]

I do cold extractions these days...

Acidify my source material, let sit a couple of days. (200g in a bottle totaling 1.8L solution)
Base it.
Add solvent, to fill the vessel to 2L.
Shake it every time I go past it for a week or two.
Pull and backsalt.
Precipitate. (you could just evaporate here)

It's not a rush job, but it works just fine.