Hi I've been studying Kash's LSA extraction and I'd like to figure out all the reasons for each step in the tek.
Here is the tek: https://www.dmt-nexus.me...spx?g=posts&t=35607

so...

2)Thoroughly mix in a glass the seed powder and 100 ml of acetone. Mix frequently for 2-3 hrs, the more mixing the better.

Q1: why is acetone the solvent of choice? For which reason does it pull the LSA out of the seeds?


5)Mix in a glass 100 ml distilled water and a pinch of citric acid (pH 3-5). Add to the dry crude LSA extract and mix well for 10 minutes. Not everything will dissolve. Filter out the solids. There should now be 100 ml of aqueous LSA citrate.

Q2: Why distilled water? what would be the difference using filtered water? What about just tap water?


6)Defat this solution with 50 ml naptha, mixing well for 10 minutes. Seperate layers with a 10 ml syringe and discard naptha. Repeat. Make sure the second time that there is no remaining naptha floating in your LSA extract after defat.

Q3: Why naphtha and not other solvents?


7)Now its time to freebase the LSA so it can be extracted from the water layer. Add a small amount of ammonia (around 1 ml) to solution until it changes to a light yellow color. PH should be roughly 9-10.

Q4: what is the ammonia supposed to do? raise the ph? why is that required?


8]Quickly add 50 ml toluene or DCM to the solution and mix well for 15-20 minutes. After, seperate the layers with syringe and set aside the 50 ml of toluene or DCM in a glass. Repeat this step 1 or 2 more times depending on how scrupulous you want to be. Afterwards, discard your yellow/green water layer.

Q5: Why toluene or DCM and not other solvents (like naphtha)?


10)Once your pure extract is dry and there is absolutely no smell of solvent in your evap dish, add 10 ml distilled H2O and 5 ml 75% drinkable ethanol. Sprinkle in a pinch of tartaric acid and mix thoroughly for 10 minutes. Filter this, and store in a vial away from heat and light.

Q6: what is the reason for adding 75% drinkable ethanol? why 75% drinkable ethanol and not other percentage? What is the tartaric acid meant to do?


Q7: every time that it says “filter” do I use just a coffe filter?


Q8: after pulling with acetone and evaporating i thought he makes acqueous LSA citrate to dephat with naptha and then he estracts the freebase with more solvent only to store it again in an acqueous solution. why are these steps needed? (i guess defat is useful for reducing body load effects and such but what about the freebasing?)


I hope to find answers to all these questions and then I'll make a proper summary that explains all the chemistry and reasons for each step that might be cool for noobies like me who would like to know stuff in detail but need explanations starting from the basics. It might be cool to add it to the wiki in a section called "Why?" like it is in the pdf for Max Ion tek for example.

Thanks in advance and much love.