Zinc Reduction & STB (plus other questions)

[Xt]

A few simple questions regarding STB Nomans tek.

*Is doubling the water necessary for powdered bark? 15ml/30ml per gram

*Is HDPE ok for basifying the water? (adding lye to water in HDPE Bottle)

*Which solvent is best for a recrystallization / is naptha ok?

*How is a Zinc reduction done to minimize DMT oxide before doing a STB with naptha?

*Is a Sodium Carbonate wash best done with the Naptha before freeze precip or, done by redissolving in solvent then washing?

 

[shoe]

Ok:

1) In general the volume of water just needs to be enough to mobilise your alkaloids. People are working on 'dryteks' which use almost no water whatsoever. So, aslong as it is somekind of density of sludge that'll be fine. However, you can't go wrong by making your sludge too thin, just make sure you shake the solvent through it good.
2) HDPE is fine for lye solution as far as I know. SWIM used 3L pepsi bottles for a while, then 5L water bottles. Take the inner part out of the lid or it'll melt.
3) bestine is great for growing crystals, naptha will work fine (white spirit, petroleum ether). stay away from lighter fluid, its too heavy. do a test evap if you are health-consious.

As for a zinc reduction of n-oxide, IDK unfortunatley. I've never done a zinc reduction, but I really wouldn't worry about n-oxide.
1) it'll be extracted with your freebase.
2) it only forms very slowly
3) it is just about as powerful as freebase when smoked.

As for washing, its up to you. You can freeze-percip first and then do a wash, or wash and then do a freeze percip.
Do a wash then a freeze percip, imho. No point the other way around. But, if your asking me, I would say that
percipitation will drop most of your impurities anyway so you won't need to do a sodium carbonate wash.

You're obviously looking to make some pure, pure white spice?
Make sure to redisolve in hexane and evap slowly for some massive crystals then!