SWIM has done multiple extractions on the batch of bark in question, and even a few very recently with absolutely no issues.

Starting two days ago SWIM began the quick STB tech posted in PDF format by Spice-T in Nexus Nursery. Still using two containers like demonstrated in the tech the only difference was slightly less MH bark.
Overview of extraction procedure:
750g of MH root bark (split into two)
448g of lye per container
little over 1/2 a gallon per container

Shook up and let sit for an hour, then added naphtha 300ml per container, and mix was set in heat bath to assist in separation. Naphtha did separate and the first pull looked normal, slightly yellow naphtha. Another 300ml of clean naphtha was added to each, mixed throughly, and back into the heat bath. This continued three more time, and all three pulls were much darker yellow than SWIM had expected. All the pulls were added to a single container, washed with three sodium carbonate washes and then put in the freezer and left for 18 hours.

Also to note is that this same freezer has successfully created freeze precipitation in smaller pull sizes no problem.

SWIM checked today and the bottom of gallon jug is covered with a dark yellowish brown sludge. SWIM can tell there is spice all contained in the mix. Any recommendations on what to do with this goopy mess? SWIM is sure this is a result of the heating, however SWIM is not sure as to the best way to remove these excess plant fats.

SWIM stuck the container back into the freeze and is waiting to see what reccommendations are. Also is it possible to add more NaOH/water mix to the naptha and then rewash with sodium carbonate. Would this pull some of this gunk across? I can post a picture if people would like.

This is not obviously plant 'fats'. Might be a bunch of DMT N-oxyde and some jungle spice. More Naoh or sodium carbonate will not help.
Separate the sludge from the naphta, dry it and do a recrystallisation,not heating too much the naphta so it mainly hold the cleanest part. Or use heptane/hexane if you have.

3*300 ml seems a lot of liquid to go in the freezer, do not trash it, evaporate it all until 200 ml and freeze it again you will gather more spice (but probably dark spice).

Rather than evaping down all that solvent and losing it, how about throwing it into separate mason jars at 200ml quantities. As far as the of the "clean" naphtha from the sludge layer, any recommendations on this?

Also... I am never heating the entire solution during an extraction again, I really think it was what caused all this in the first place.

I think he is suggesting you evap it down so that you can be sure to get a freeze precip.

Here is a question though: You said "SWIM has done multiple extractions on the batch of bark in question, and even a few very recently with absolutely no issues."

Is that to say that you've been hanging onto this bark for quite a while? If so, you probably do have a ton of oxide. I agree with Garulfo.... separate it and set it aside. Evap your naptha down to concentrate it and then freeze precip.

As for your oxide: It is active so you can vaporize it as is for a different experience or you can convert it back to reg DMT. It doesn't seem like to hard of a procedure, but I haven't done it. 69ron has a great procedure post here on the nexus just search "dmt n-oxide zinc powder"

As for separating the sludge.... let it settle to the bottom and suck it out with a turkey baster.

SWIM should apologize... did not in anyway mean to imply the bark was old, but rather that SWIM has been a busy bee as of late been running through bark quickly

Hi WYSIWYG

Sorry to see that you are experiencing difficulties. I too have pulled 'sludge' with a heated STB Naphta tek. Regardless of the age of your MHRB I would go with the suggestion of Garulfo;




If the naphta pulls plant fats then (in my limited experience) it may pull N-oxide and some jungle spice along with them. These will not redissolve on recrystallisation and so the oily residue left should be retained as a curiosity. After some weeks of room temperature evaporation and occasional agitation the product can be cut up with a blade to give a slightly sticky powder. This substance may prove to be of interest


Good luck.

Update:

The clean naphtha was separated from the thick brownish/yellow layer, decanted down, and placed back into freezer for precip.

An attempt was made to recrystallize the gooey layer using heptane, unfortunately no clear layer separated out, only an extremely dark layer of even thicker brown sludge and an extremely milky yellow oily layer. This sludge may be chalked up to a loss, and SWIM is just hoping they didn't lose entirely all of the spice in the naphtha.