FOAF removed their solvent from the top of a STB extraction using a turkey baster. They transfered to a separation funnel, which worked fairly well. Some of the basic solution hung on in the funnel, particularly in the sides. Should they rinse the funnel out before using it again, or might there be product worth saving stuck to its sides? Thank you!

Why not just use the sep funnel for draining off the base soup, leaving only the solvent behind? (instead of turkey baster -> sep funnel) Unless you only have a small sep funnel, in which case I understand.

When working with the sep funnel, I run hot water over it, or leave it in a hot water bath. This way the base soup runs down to the bottom, off the sides. If you do this, be sure to release the pressure as the solvent expands and gases. If you don't release the pressure, the stopcock can shoot off.

I clean my funnel with HOT water, I rinse it through and through. Concerning what could be left in the funnel, well, I shouldn't think it could be that significant after the 3rd or 4th pull anyway.

I like things clean and trace free.

thank you ghostman! it sounds like the hot water bath will do the trick, i'll try it on the next pull. Unfortunately, I only have a tiny funnel. My first attempt, with only the baster, went really well (IMO); trying out the funnel for comp. mostly. Be well!

The warm water bath on the funnel solved everything. Thanks again!

Before SWIM broke his, he would drain out the lye water, pour in a sodium carbonate solution, shake mixture well, drain and repeat as necessary. This will allow the residual lye to dissolve into a less viscous solution that will drain out more completely, and any residual droplets won't be so problematic. A hot water bath should always be used eventually, but SWIM used to do multiple separations in a sitting, so he needed a more expedient method.

amor_fati, thank you thank you thank you, I love that idea.