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Preserving alkaloids with inert gas

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Luuk

Rising Star
I couldn't find a topic about preserving our precious alkaloids with inert gas. This seems to be the best way though. To prevent alkaloids from oxidation one could use oxigen absorbers, however I have a feeling inert gasses would work better. Especially for highly unstable alkaloids like bufotenine freebase or lsd a can with inert gas seems indispensable. People often recommend wine preserver spray like this one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000DCS18...e=asn&creative=395105&creativeASIN=B0000DCS18

This one contains nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide.
I would prefer a gas that is heavier than O2 and CO2. CO2 is pretty inert too, but 69ron hypothesized bufotenine freebase turning black was a result of carbonation. Because this is what I will be using it for soon I want to be on the safe side. Pure nitrogen could also be used but isn't preferred because it is, logically, miscable with air so more would be needed and it would be less efficient. Argon is lighter than CO2 so would also not be usable.
Of course expensive cilinders of pure inert gasses could be bought but this is above many people's (including my own) budget. I'm looking for a cheap solution, preferably one from Europe.
Could butane gas be used? This is cheaply and widely available as lighter gas, and heavier than O2 and CO2. If it doesn't react with any alkaloids it would be an awesome solution.
 
Butane would dissolve freebased alkaloids and hell, it's quite flammable. CO2 or nitrogen or the one you found from amazon sound fine. Oxygen absorbers are maybe better since they just mop whatever oxygen is around and you do not have to gas the container each time you open it. Elemental zinc or iron powders are good for this kind of job. However, all these are extreme measures. I think you are either afraid too much about oxidation (most likely), which is nothing to worry about or that you live in an unusually oxidative environment like underground hydrochloric acid caves with lakes of peroxide (far less likely).

Think is, airtight container in the freezer has sufficed for most and even the laziest (ziplock and in the drawer for 1+ years) have had little to complain about.
 
Okay thanks for your quick response Infundibulum.
I'm still concerned about freebase bufotenine though, as this is notorious for oxidating/carbonating (which one is it?) within mere hours. Is this particular compound safe in an airtight vial in a freezer?
 
Luuk said:
Okay thanks for your quick response Infundibulum.
I'm still concerned about freebase bufotenine though, as this is notorious for oxidating/carbonating (which one is it?) within mere hours. Is this particular compound safe in an airtight vial in a freezer?
Click to expand...
Is it really susceptible for oxidation? I do not know but on the other hand not much is known... It is well documented that psilocin is unstable but how about bufotenine? Also 69ron is notorious for making some wild claims....

Carbonation won't happen with the reaction of bufotenine or any freebase just with CO2 with any said freebase. Water must be present (i.e. moisture) into which CO2 can microdissolve to form carbonate and subsequently react with the freebase to give its respective carbonate salt. Theory says that freebases that happen to be more hydrophilic (such as bufotenine, psilocin, mescaline) are more prone to collect moisture and result in slow carbonation. from CO2, but of course the solution is a dry environment it that is a problem.

It is great to be cautious and preventive, but you may be looking for a solution to a problem you do not have. Should you have bufotenine going bad and you cannot rectify it by re-freebasing, then please report it back here and a more formal announcement will be made to those who keep theirs in non-oxygen-free containers. More importantly, ask people whether they ever had bufotenine going bad with storage and if yes, what might have been the suspected culprit. Will save you time, money and headaches!
 
Thanks, I guess I was being too cautious. For unstable compounds like psilocin/bufotenine oxygen/moisture absorbers should be enough because CO2 is most likely not a problem. My question is answered!
 
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