plastic syringe to suck up the naphta

[twofourtwo]

I did my first extraction a while ago, and unfortunately it failed, due to multiple errors I made. Luckily I had anticipated this and only used a small amount of MHRB, so this was a test run so to speak.

I was using Noman's tek that I had found on Erowid. I thought I could use my separatory funnel to drain the naphta but of course the lye/ MHRB sludge was too thick to fit through and the funnel was no good for my STB-purpose.

There's a pharmacy on the other side of the street from where I live, so I quickly went there and got me a couple of syringes. They were plastic syringes and I didn't think at the time of the solvent's effects on them.

Now I only used this to suck up the naphta, which I then immediately injected into a glass mason jar, so the stuff has been in contact with the plastics for only a couple of seconds. Would this be a hazard, toxically speaking?

It was a very temperary solution, born out of the situation so I'm looking for a glass pipet now anyway, but I was still wondering. TIA

 

[Infundibulum]

The main body of the syringe will be largely unaffected, but the rubber plunge will be seriously affected by solvents. In your case, none can guarantee you a toxic-free, hazard-free product, but if you further clean it with 2-3 recrystallisations in clean naphtha it should be fine enough. Many would also that reason the risk of a product with minor plastic contaminations is not as huge (just think of all the potentially unhealthy stuff people do...) but that doesn't mean that you should not strive for a cleaner product.

Also STB with sep funnel? that is a huge no-no, just for the reason you found out.

 

[twofourtwo]

The main body of the syringe will be largely unaffected, but the rubber plunge will be seriously affected by solvents.

The syringes I've got have plastic plunges, no rubber, so I might still be (relatively) good?

My first pull failed but the second one left me with some spice. Recrystallizing sounds easy enough so I'll give that a try. I dealt with some nasty materials in my profession and when I was younger, I didn't always use adequate protection so I guess a lot of damage has already been done, but to rule out anxiety during smoking alone (which I can imagine happening all too well) is worth it, I guess.

Also STB with sep funnel? that is a huge no-no, just for the reason you found out.

Yep that didn't work too well...
Looked really professional though

Thanks!

 

[Michal_R]

The syringes I've got have plastic plunges, no rubber

I have been using these syringes (without rubber) to work with Naphtha, Xylene, IPA and Acetone without any noticed problems. I always make sure, however, to use them "fast", so that the contact between the plastic material of the syringe and the solvent is as brief as possible.

 

[Infundibulum]

The syringes I've got have plastic plunges, no rubber

I have been using these syringes (without rubber) to work with Naphtha, Xylene, IPA and Acetone without any noticed problems. I always make sure, however, to use them "fast", so that the contact between the plastic material of the syringe and the solvent is as brief as possible.

This is bad practise and also very bad advice. Please consider yourself warned.

If you do not have the analytical equipment and skills to quantify how much (if any) plastic contaminants get in your end product then do not engage in such discussions. Some materials can be toxic in minuscule amounts and can also have cumulative effect. You can be "fast" and "careful" and whatnot but you can never guarantee yourself a contaminant-free extract. Anything less than glass is already sketchy.

For your information, please consult

Phthalates: Warning to those using plastic containers/instruments in extractions - Health & Safety - Welcome to the DMT-Nexus

 

[Michal_R]

OK, thanks for the input, Infundibulum.

I have not been giving advice to anyone, just stating how I do things. Maybe I should re-think it a little...

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EDIT: I did some reading and truly only glass seems to be safe

 

[foaf]

eBay sometimes lists larger ground glass syringes, like 30cc, pretty cheap. You have to wait around for the bigger ones to come up, but they are a good answer to this problem. I usually siphon with thin Teflon tubing, but that is more suited to larger volumes.

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=380533921088&index=23&nav=SEARCH&nid=85417850351

 

[Orion]

Again yes I have used the non rubber plunge type to great success. As for the longevity of the plastic in the naphtha, I have no idea. Never noticed a problem though.

But I am not suggesting you don't just use glass where possible.

I think Michal_R was just stating he does this too. Probably most basic level home extractors don't even have glass for this step at all unless they buy something online.

 

[MelCat]

This 100ml glass syringe is one of my favorite tools for extractions. It's shipped from China but it was the fastest delivery for anything I've ever received from Asia.

It's a beast but it handles large volumes way better than a turkey baster.

I also like the smaller 30ml that foaf posted for smaller pulls.

Glass is always the way to go if possible.

 

[twofourtwo]

Thanks for all the replies, and I will banish all plastics from my extractions from now on, but I had one more question; suppose some plastic was dissolved and contaminated the spice, wouldn't the relatively low temperatures involved in vaping leave most plastics unaffected? (I'm thinking mostly PE, PP and ABS)

Sorry if this question is particularly silly, I'm particularly uneducated in these matters :|

 

[lobo]

This glass syringe is good to suck up naphta???

 

[Ambivalent]

sure, i dont see why not..glass is even safer than plastic.