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Trouble finding "safe" non polar solvent

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dooby

dooby

Rising Star
Hello,

After making sure every piece of equipment I use is either glass or stainless steel, I fear that there is one possible source left for contamination of my yield...

Where I live it is proving next to impossible to find a non polar solvent (naphtha or toluene) that is not sold in plastic bottles...

I really envy those who live in countries where these products usually come in metal containers...

My research revealed two final possiblities, both of which would still need to undergo an evaporation test, either a 5 l. metal can of naphtha with boiling point 100-140 (°C) or convincing my pharmacist to sell me some pharmaceutical toluene (which comes in 250 ml. glass bottles and is used as a base for some ointments)...

I just found out that the naphtha I used for my extraction came in a PET-bottle and now I'm all paranoid about possible contamination from plastic (or it's breakdown products) and not knowing how to make sure there isn't any...

I have very little knowledge about plastics and their breakdown products, or their behaviour in strong acidic or basic solutions, or their solubility in different solvents... But just the idea of even the tiniest amount ending up in my final product makes me very reluctant to bio-assay the spice that's still trapped in vinegar after back-salting my naphtha due to not having a freezer and not wanting to evaporate that amount of naphtha...

So, the last hurdle to take before I'll ever be able to come up with a yield I can be truly proud of, is finding a non polar solvent that comes in metal or glass packaging (and evaps clean)...

PLUR
 
Not even zippo or an equivalent? Which country are you from?
Sometimes you have to look in places such as art stores (rubber cement remover) or stationary (glue remover).
Im sure many people use naptha from plastic bottles and have no problems..
 
cyb said:
^^ what he said...
I think you are worrying unessesarily about the solvent. Manufacturers won't release solvent that would dissolve plastic bottles.
Click to expand...
^ What he said... :p

Also do an evap test with the solvents sold in the plastic bottles:
Pour some of it in a clean pyrex dish and let it evaporate completely. If it is safe to use then it should leave a pyrex dish as clean as it was before. If, on the other hand, it leaves a layer of anything then it should not be used.


Kind regards,

The Traveler
 
The Traveler said:
cyb said:
^^ what he said...
I think you are worrying unessesarily about the solvent. Manufacturers won't release solvent that would dissolve plastic bottles.
Click to expand...
^ What he said... :p

Also do an evap test with the solvents sold in the plastic bottles:
Pour some of it in a clean pyrex dish and let it evaporate completely. If it is safe to use then it should leave a pyrex dish as clean as it was before. If, on the other hand, it leaves a layer of anything then it should not be used.


Kind regards,

The Traveler
Click to expand...

^^ What he said...

Sorry just wanted to get in on the fun. But ya dude if they are sold in plastic bottles it wouldn't make sense that the solvent would react with that plastic bottle. Who knows how long it will sit on the shelf, could you imagine bottles of solvent just self dissolving all over the store?

Plastic is not plastic. There are many different types of plastic and each type is resistant against different chemicals while reactive with others. The ones they used to contain that solvent is fine.
 
I disagree with all -

A solvent may not dissolve the plastic itself but will, in time, be impregnated with constituents of the plastic. Bisphenol A and phthalates (both hydrophobic molecules) leach out of polycarbonate bottles into the water contained in these bottles, given time. The effect is of course exponentially pronounced if a non-polar solvent like naphtha comes in contact with polycarbonate bottles.

PET bottles are considered much safer for storage of water but, there are little, if any research on what may impregnate a non-polar solvent with. For all we know so far is that endocrine disruptors do leach out of PET bottles in the water they contain and by extension this effect should be more pronounced if a NP solvent is used.
 
Thank you infundi, at least someone is on the same page as I am...

Of course, I perform evaporation tests on my solvents, but that provides an indication of purety, not a guarantee imho... Unless you have an electronmicroscope or something to check for any leftover impurities... We are talking about very minute amounts here - which is not to say they couldn't affect your health if they end up in your final product.

The solvents we use are generally not intended for human consumption so as long as the bottle doesn't dissolve on the shelf the manufacturer/shopkeeper are happy - why should they care about Bisphenol or other compounds leeching into the container's contents?

So unless someone can provide hard evidence of there not being any risk of plastic-related compounds being in my final product - or comes up with a way to clean/wash the solvent prior to being used for extraction/re-x purposes, it's on with the quest for a solvent that comes in a glass or metal container...

PLUR
 
... the quest for a solvent that comes in a glass or metal container...
Click to expand...
My Heptane comes in nice 'metallic' bottles (no idea what metal it is) and Heptane is a great solvent for you to use :thumb_up:
 

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dooby said:
Of course, I perform evaporation tests on my solvents, but that provides an indication of purety, not a guarantee imho...
Click to expand...
If it evaps without leaving a trace, then why would it leave a trace in your extraction if you give it enough time to evap as well?


Kind regards,

The Traveler
 
:D

Ive never seen xylene come in plastic bottles but you didnt say which country you were in so cant suggest a product. Maybe use sunf.oil and salt it out then water crystalise with sodium carbonate..
 
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