"waste" products after the extraction

[OrionFyre]

So im in the process of finishing upan extraction on ACRB and I got to thinking. What does everyone else do with their waste?

My friend has raspberry bushes and will mix the leftover plant matter from an A/B extraction into some compost to spread under the bushes at the start of the season. He swears they love it. I have always just dumped it straight into the compost pile (an un maintained cold pile) im sure if you have a small enough hot pile the acidity might throw it off? Iwouldnt know, im a lazy gardener. :-D

Im wondering specifically what one could dowith the basic water after the non-polar wash? Is it best to nuetralize it first?

 

[Entheogenerator]

Plant matter can definitely be composted. It might not be a bad idea to neutralize acidic plant refuse, using calcium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate, especially if the compost will be used for plants that prefer slightly alkaline soil. If acetic or hydrochloric acid was used, then the acid could simply be evaporated out of the plant matter.

Basic water can be poured down a drain. It wouldn't hurt to neutralize it, but keep in mind that NaOH is primarily sold as a drain cleaner. So not only is it unlikely that it will damage your pipes, it might actually clear them out a bit!

Small volumes of solvents commonly used for extraction that cannot be used again (i.e. those used to defat an extraction) can be mixed with a small amount of an absorbent, I have heard of people using additive-free kitty litter, dried and then disposed of with household garbage.

Larger volumes of solvents, or halogenated solvents would have to be picked up by a local household hazardous waste collection program. Many recycling centers and garbage dumps also have the means to dispose of solvents and other household hazardous waste.

In the past I have evaporated solvents, then scraped up the oils/fats and anything else that was dissolved in the solvent and flushed it. But I have since been told that evaporating certain nonpolar solvents can have an impact on the environment. I'm not completely certain that it does, but better safe than sorry.

I have also heard of people flushing small amounts of solvents used in an extraction down the toilet. I am not positive, but I can see how this might be damaging to the environment as well.

 

[OrionFyre]

Plant matter can definitely be composted. It might not be a bad idea to neutralize acidic plant refuse, using calcium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate, especially if the compost will be used for plants that prefer slightly alkaline soil. If acetic or hydrochloric acid was used, then the acid could simply be evaporated out of the plant matter.

I discussed posting this with my friend and we got to talking hes been using the water as a Ph UP in his aquaponics.

Since the plant matter has been boiled for so long I wonder if neutralized our mycellia friends might like it...¿?¿? It did just spend nearly 8 hours boiling on the stove, should be pastuerized enough ;-)

As for spent solvents... ill throw mine out there. I save all my naphtha in my MSR fuel bottles for when I go camping. I use a whisperlite multi-fuel stove. (The advertising dept needs a new name, you can hear that thing firing up in the morning from the next campground)

Naphtha burns nice and hot in that, good boil times

 

[Entheogenerator]

As for spent solvents... ill throw mine out there. I save all my naphtha in my MSR fuel bottles for when I go camping. I use a whisperlite multi-fuel stove. (The advertising dept needs a new name, you can hear that thing firing up in the morning from the next campground

Good call! :thumb_up: