The quality of solvents

[sigma&pi]

Hello Everyone,

I was wondering where do You get Your solvents from. I mean acetone, toluene, naphta, methanol, chlorophorm, xylene, DCM etc. And what is their quality?

Some time ago I bought technical grade toluene and acetone and after I evaporated a little bit a milky residue was left on my evap glass. Obviously I couldn't use such solvents so I went to a chemical supply and bought a laboratory grade stuff. It wasn't much more expensive. But that's an effort, going through half of the city and then ordering them from some lady that may be suspicious and start to ask questions... When it comes to acetone and toluene it's legal to buy them anyway but it doesn't mean the lady won't ask You questions. Well, she didn't anyway so maybe I exaggerate a bit

If You're using technical grade stuff aren't You afraid that there may be traces of heavy metals or other unhealthy substances?

And one more thing. While reading some threads here on NEXUS I came across using anhydrous solvents. I’m not a chemist so can sbd explain what is the reason to prepare anhydrous solvents instead of using them as they are? And how one can do so? If one uses some salt for example, wont it dissolves in a solvent?

Thanks in advance for any answers and comments!

 

[DansMaTete]

And one more thing. While reading some threads here on NEXUS I came across using anhydrous solvents. I’m not a chemist so can sbd explain what is the reason to prepare anhydrous solvents instead of using them as they are? And how one can do so? If one uses some salt for example, wont it dissolves in a solvent?

The wiki is your friend :

Drying Solvents - DMT-Nexus Wiki

wiki.dmt-nexus.me

Dry Technique Extraction - DMT-Nexus Wiki

wiki.dmt-nexus.me

Rendering Anhydrous Acetone - DMT-Nexus Wiki

wiki.dmt-nexus.me

Anhydrous magnesium sulfate - DMT-Nexus Wiki

wiki.dmt-nexus.me

 

[expandaneum]

Acetone can be distilled with some potassium permanganate to clean it up.
The other can be distilled or bought from a chem supplier.
With almost al unclean solvents one can wash them with water and brine and with basic and acidic solutions. And then clean it up with distillation.

 

[pitubo]

If possible, distill any solvents that are not lab grade. I try to do this myself with all solvents that I buy over the counter. Almost always, I find that the product as purchased is far from pure, containing non-volatile and volatile impurities. The naphta that I buy in the supermarket happens to be quite clean as is.

For the purpose of distilling the types of solvents often used to extract spice or purify it or process it into changa, a ground glass destillation setup is not necessary, a decent steel or copper still will do fine and can be easily crafted from parts acquired over the counter.

Moonshining your own booze is considered "normal" in most parts of the world, so a copper still will likely not be associated with a drugs lab. Do read up on proper lab procedures and distillation safety precautions - you are heating flammable liquids.