Haven't been here in a while, but I'm going to start visiting again, completely underutilized this community and the info on this site. But, I digress.

I'm performing an STB extraction of 100g of MHRB. Obviously with the ratios I used 100g shredded bark, 100g lye to 1500ml distilled water.

I've only done 2 pulls of 85ml naphtha a piece because I had to go somewhere and those are currently freeze participating,, but I did let the solution basify for 2 1/2hrs before doing my first pull. I put 90ml naphtha in the jar and am letting it sit overnight, going to pull in the morning.

Assuming the spice I yield still has some fat in it(it had some goo on the bottom of the crystals last time) how much water would be needed to perform a proper cleaning up(defeating and re crystallization?) I'm thinking about 750ml-1000ml of water(brought to ph of 3) with the same amount previously used for the pulls of naphtha. But, does the amount of water depend on the amount spice, or is there a better way to defeat the spice?

Any info is much appreciated.

You have to mix the soup and solvent together, not just let it sit there.

There is no fat in Mimosa...defat is unnecessary.

You don't clean with water...

Perhaps re read the tek so you get a better handle on things
Or check sig below

Do not forget to roll the naphtha around the sludge regularly. When floated on top, leave it for ten minutes and repeat the rolling. Four times rolling should be enough for a first pull.

I know they need to be mixed, so I occasionally agitate it and mix. And this is for the last pull, I've already done the main pulls correctly.

I guess I phrased it wrong. The layer of goo I get under the crystals I need to do a re-x on. I've seen different ways to do it, but since I'm doing a STB to get my spice would that determine the process I have to use to re-x? Probably not, but I'm just making sure.

What's your preferred method of re-xing?

I do the re crystallization exactly as prescribed on the FAQ section.

Cyb, I was thinking to redissolve the spice in an acidic solution then discard the naphtha, then Re pull with fresh naphtha, but that requires the spice still in the naphtha not precipitated freebase so that's where I was wrong.

Basically nothing precipitated. You could see where the bases of the precipitate were forming, but nothing more besides that. I think I should of waited longer before pulling the naphtha out of the mix.

I'm evaporating some of the naphtha and then going to precipitate again.

One does not simply, "defeat spice".

If you mix spice laden naphtha to an acidic solution...you must then base the acidic solution to make it alkaline (pH12)...then repull with fresh naphtha and freeze.
(this is a mini A/B)



That's why nothing precipitated.

Not sure your following. That was in theory. All that was actually done is an STB. Freeze precipitated it for 24 hours all there was slight crystal formation. I'm assuming because there was too much naphtha. I evaporated some and just stuck the, back in the freezer, that's basically all I can do right?

According to the OP, you've only done two pulls on an STB and apparently had next to nothing precipitate...? I would go ahead and do at least 4 more naphtha pulls, combine into the same precipitation container, evap down until highly saturated and then freeze precipitate again. Assuming you did everything absolutely correct and your bark isn't bunk, you should be seeing better results.

Also, whenever I do an STB, I let my basic soup sit for at least 24 hours before doing my first pull. That may or may not be overkill, but it produces decent results.

I think that was part of the problem, not enough pulls. When I put the naphtha in the freezer from the first two pulls, it precipitated slightly, and the naphtha turned clear, but was milky.

Next time ill do more pulls like you said, And I think a partial evap is necessary. I hope the bark I got wasn't bunk, im assuming it isn't becauase of the crystals starting to form. Also, im going to use warm naphtha for the pulls.

At risk of sounding like I'm blowing my own trumpet here I can consistently get 2g of spice from 100g MHRB using Cybs salt tek as a guide .

I can achieve this doing 3 pulls max , the 3rd hoovers up a tiny amount to be honest & only done as a precaution , I reckon I could do without it & not make a serious dent in my yields.

The acid base, 400ml of tap water/150ml white vinegar , is cooked at a high temp (not boiling) for 30 mins before being allowed to cool , meanwhile I mix 120g lye into 500ml of tap water , this gets very hot so care is essential when handling , this is also given plenty of time too cool , 30/40 mins till hand warm .

150ml of tap water / 60g of salt pre-heated & allowed to cool is added & stirred for a few minutes .

Then I add the cooled lye solution mixing together I leave them stirring occasionally for an hour , one hour thirty at most before pulling .

I also spend minimal time mixing the naphtha into the soup , using 60/70ml of naphtha & whisk in quite vigorously ONCE before syphoning off , separation into the 2 levels is quite quick at around 5 mins at most, I immeadiately repeat the process X2 .

Using this method I've get around 2g of spice from 100g of MHRB every time , 0.75 g of pure white / 1.25g of yellow consistently .

Being relatively new to this I'm quite prepared to be shot down in flames by more experienced Nexians at what I'm doing is right or wrong but I understand these yields are pretty good Y/N ?

I leave mine for a week - what's the hurry?! Also that means I don't need to coffee grind it beforehand, it just releases the spice from the plant matter with the odd mashing to help.



Defeat spice and it'll have its revenge one day - it is the destroyer of universes