Overkill or guarded? Simple storage question

[Säure]

I have always been very concerned about storing properly LSD, as I had some degradation problems on the past due to bad storage techniques. I used to store blotter for periods not superior to 6 months, but now I need to store it for 1-2 years, and if possible, manage to have 0 degradation.

I store blotter covering it with film paper, one or two layers, then put one layer of aluminium foil, make sure it fits perfectly the blotter's size, and then vacuum-seal it. This will prevent air, light and moist from degrading LSD, but then we have temperature... At this time of the year, temperature starts to rise, and I am not sure if putting this blotter on a box on a wardrobe is enough, and I have thought to put it in the freezer at -18ºC. What do you think about it?

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[Chan]

I think the freezer will definitely help, it's what I use for such stuff

BUT

Allow any sealed packages to return to room temperature before opening, to avoid condensation, which will accelerate deterioration. A desiccant sachet in with the blotter probably wouldn't do any harm, either.

I'm not going to pay you an income for this advice, Säure, but you're most welcome to my input

 

[Säure]

Thanks Chan! Do you mean putting the dessicant with the blotter, and then vacuum-seal it, or simply putting the vacuum-sealed blotter in a ziplock bag with dessicant?

PS Thanks for the input

 

[Chan]

The blotter and the desiccant should share the same air/sachet, but without directly touching.

My stuff has stayed good 4 yrs+ like this...

 

[LysergicBliss]

I store mine in the fridge (around 4 degrees Celsius) and it has lasted 3+ years without noticeable degradation. As Chan mentioned, allow the container to come to room temp before opening the sealed container.

My method of storage is to wrap my blotter tightly in aluminum foil, then put in small plastic ziplock baggie w/ Drierite brand desiccant and air evacuated. These bags go in a small plastic container flushed with N2 gas and containing desiccant. The small plastic container goes into a larger tupperware also flushed with N2 gas and containing desiccant, stored in the fridge. This provides several layers of protection from oxygen, moisture, and temperature fluctuations. Probably overkill.

I've also stored it for years successfully without storing it on an inert has such as N2.

Drierite is a nice desiccant because it changes color when it has absorbed its full capacity of moisture, so you know if moisture is getting to your sample or not.

I've read several claims of aluminum foil catalyzing degradation, but from my own experience I have not seen this to be true.

Just curious, how were you previously storing your blotter when you were having degradation problems?

 

[Swarupa]

I've also wondered where the line between preservation and overkill is. I've heard of people simply storing blotter between the pages of a book, with negligible potency loss after a few years. Dr. Nichols has also mentioned that room temperature is fine for many years, i tend to think that oxygen and light are more of a concern than a few degrees of temperature fluctuation.

Still, i prefer to vacuum seal blotter in separate batches and keep it in the freezer just in case, i don't use foil as the freezer's already dark and I've heard that aluminium foil may degrade the LSD. I read one account where the tabs changed colour from white to brown when stored in foil, although I'm not sure it was the foil. I've had a couple tabs change from white to grey and fairly sure it was due to oxygen or moisture. If i was looking for an extra layer of protection I'd go with wax paper.

I've had some 150mcg tabs vac sealed in the freezer for a year now, originally one was tested at 149mcg and recently had another tested at 140mcg, so seems to have lost a little potency over a year. I also had a freshly laid tab tested at 140mcg, so maybe there was no potency loss and it's due to slight variance in the test results and/or laying of the blotter.

I think overall LSD is more stable than many of us think it is.