Seems to be that now only PTFE or Glass is safe. The problem is that a lot of the solvents used aren't stored in just glass or PTFE,, even when they are steel they have lids made of unknown plastic. If plasticisers are a concern then consider these solvents contaminated from the beginning.

I assume the only way around this is to salt out of a solution and not have the contaminants cross over. But then one still needs a legitimate way of obtaining the freebase crystal without using these solvents.

What are you supposed to do? It seems like it's unavoidable... ideas anyone ?

Exactly my thoughts every time when I read about people worrying about using HDPE extraction vessels. Additionally, it's not just plasticizers leaching from the bottle, there can be all kinds of yuck in hardware store grade solvents.

Plastic containers are everywhere and we are exposed to plasticizers from many sources other than the wee bits of DMT people consume.

If you want to be a purist, you must work all glass and either purify all materials used (distillation of solvents used would be minimum) or use one of the vegetable oil teks.

Forget wine jugs, get Simax, Pyrex Corning or Duran Schott GL45 or GL32 bottles with PBT/PTFE caps.

http://www.corning.com/l...les/pyrex_screw_cap.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/Co...emperature/dp/B004DGIFXQ

Look regularly on eBay. If you are lucky, you'll get them in separate quantities for a bargain.

Also helpful:

http://www.coleparmer.com/Chemical-Resistance

Just listing a few issues that I could come up with..

Disadvantages of plastics in general:
- leaking chemical additives of the plastic (stabilizers, softeners etc);
- chemical incompatibilities (eg. PET doesn't like strong base, acetone dissolves polycarbonate);

Disadvantages of glass in general:
- glass containers are more likely to shatter, catastrophically spreading corrosive lye solutions and flammable solvents;

Disadvantages of chemical glassware in particular:
- possession of chemical glassware can be a reason for suspicion;
- acquisition of chemical glassware is expensive and likely to leave unwanted trails;
- discarding chemical glassware because it has detectable traces of class 1 substances is expensive;

I think safety is an issue wider than just plastic additives (that may already be in the solvent to begin with). Personal safety and legal considerations may also be relevant, sometimes even more relevant.