WASHING: sodium carbonate/epsom salt?

[Digest Yourself]

I understand a sodium carb water solution is good for washing. Just a pinch of s. carb regulating to pH around what? I've heard 9-11. What is optimal?

Also, I saw someone bake epsom slats in the microwave until it turned into a fluffy looking solid salt. They chipped off a chunk and dropped that in the solvent. Shook it around a bit and filtered. What about this?

 

[Thre365ive]

Both of those are a good idea, especially in combination with each other.

You want pH 11. I saturate my wash solution.

 

[Digest Yourself]

What do you mean by saturate? percentage wise for S. carb/h2o(SC) vs. Solvent(S)? Like say, for 100ml of S use 200ml of SC?

or do you mean in the SC solution itself. From the research I've done it says a 5% mix and that too much S. carb can lower the yield.

Also.
I Assume the SC will be clear as water. Will the SC gain color as it pulls impurities out? I wont see the remaining lye obviously, but should I do this more times until it stays clear after the solutions separate, if gaining color.

I really want to keep my tek as simple as possible. I've read a lot of posts and simplicity is key. One kids got snow white crystal with no wash using normans STB tek.

 

[Thre365ive]

I mean to saturate the solution. I use tap water as hot as it will go.

I've never seen any loss of yield by using a saturated solution.

It will be clear once you stir it enough. Once you wash your solvent, yes, it will pick up color. I wouldn't do multiple washes except in cases where things are extremely wrong.

 

[starchaser]

so I just did my first sodium carb wash with 4g in 80ml naphtha about 25ml distilled h2o with two pinches SC. ended up with the yellow goo at the bottom. separated. then washed with water naphtha still faintly yellow. is the yellow still impure spice? I'm doing the freeze now but should I wash again and how?

 

[clockworktemple]

ive got snow white from nomans in the past a few years ago in that particular batch i got a bad emulsion and mixed alot of salt in with the mash to dispel the emulsion, later i found out about how salt can boost yields theres a thread here called salt infact where sumone has done quite alot of experiments with it.

 

[Ancotar]

Hello!

Have you tried evapping?

IMHO, evapping is best as it helps contain some of the other psychoactive alkaloids in the product where washing may strip these promising alkaloids out.

If washing is still the most desired method for you, then your sodium carb wash is a good solution. You may, however, have to do more than one wash to get the purity you are looking for (e.g. clear naphtha). I wouldn't do anymore than two washings, but that's just personal preference.

Just follow the 5% formula you have read about and you should be okay.

Good luck!