Adding more citric isn't a bad idea - just don't add so much that it can't fully dissolve. If in doubt, saturate some fresh EA with citric and add that.

Other than that, i think it can sometimes happen that it takes more time. I wouldn't be surprised if crystals would start to appear in a few more days.
I'm not sure why, maybe something to do with nucleation sites - if so, adding a few mesc citrate seed crystals or making a few scratches in the glass might help?

Note that i've only done CIELO a few times and while i did get crystals (except the first time where i got goo), i'm far from understanding all the ins and outs of it.

Thank you friend, I will give those suggestions an attempt and see what happens

No luck so far increasing the amount of citric acid unfortunately

Does anyone know how long cactus powder is "good" for? Im wondering if maybe my powder has "expired" and that is why I am not able to get xtals to form.

Thoughts?

Mescaline itself should be stable indefinitely, decay of carbon-14 and the occasional cosmic ray notwithstanding. Speculatively, the cellular matrix itself may slow down release of the actives if it has somehow oxidised and/or hardened but giving sufficient time for the lime paste to break it down should take care of this.

Are you absolutely sure this is the exact same batch you've had success with using limonene as the solvent? and how thoroughly did you mix the cactus dough with the EtOAc? Come to mention it, is it definitely pure ethyl acetate for that matter? What does the label/SDS say?

Thank you for your help!



Yup, I've tried two different batches that had both worked with 69ron tek a few years ago.



Thoroughly for 8 minutes to a playdough like consistency. https://i.imgur.com/ydwDxjl.jpeg



https://production-s3.wm...co_MEK_Substitute_EN.pdf says 100% ethyl acetate

Hmm, puzzling. If you still have the paste it would be worth trying a few more pulls. IMLE older cactus powder benefitted from being left to soak for a longer time with the lime paste.

For one pull, you mixed for 8 minutes with the ethyl acetate [EtOAc]? Or you mixed the cactus and water? And how fine was the cactus powder - like flour, or more like oatmeal?

No sorry. I mixed the lime and water, then added the cactus powder and mixed that for 8 minutes to form the paste pictured above.

After that I put the paste in a french press, poured the measured amount of ethyl acetate in, and mixed for 1 minute. Then rested it for 2 minutes, then drained out the ethyl acetate into collection jar. Then repeated these steps 5 more times.




Super fine like flour, just pouring it out makes little clouds in the air

^ Wear a dust mask!

Well spaghett248, it sounds like that wasn't where the problem lies! What about this:? [Trying to work this out step by step...]

Did you take any pics of the pulls immediately before adding the citric acid?

https://i.imgur.com/V54kN0B.jpeg

not the greatest of pictures, sorry

I don't understand why you are having difficulty either. On the picture there seems to be some white sediment in the bottom right, or is that a reflection?

You mentioned clouds after adding citric acid. What happens to the clouds after they settle? There is not even goo?

Have you tested the result from limonene with a bioassay? How where the effects?

spaghett248, also, what amounts did you use in your attempts (powder, water, lime, EA, citric acid).

Thank you everyone for your help



I believe that is just refraction of the glass and the white sheet of paper underneath. It appeared crystal clear and homogeneous as I shined a flashlight through it at various angles. I tried to make sure and decant and filter thoroughly after the fridge rest step to avoid any droplets/sediment.



The cloudiness just kind of faded away/settled down but nothing formed. It takes some time for the citric to dissolve via diffusion as well since I dont stir it in.

As some time has passed since the attempts (they have been sitting undisturbed for a few weeks now) the color has definitely changed from an emerald green as shown before to a sad green with slightly brown-ish tint to it.



10g powder
2.5g lime
25mL distilled water

92mL(82.9g) EA total:
22mL(19.8g) for pull #1 which basically all gets absorbed (except a few ml)
14mL(12.6g) for pulls #2-6

I usually end up with about 60-70ml after the 6 pulls even though I start with 92.

0.5g citric acid (have tried both anhydrous and monohydrate, havent tried fumaric yet)



I consumed it and it was amazing and wonderful stuff. Did not test with reagents unfortunately.

That all looks good, should have worked.

Did you see droplets being left behind after the fridge rest?

What brand of lime and EA are you using?

There are no plastics that could dissolve in EA being used, right?

Did you check the solvent with pH strips? Did it go from basic to acid after salting?

I've never heard of clouds setting to nothing. That is weird.

I've only seen the color change you describe when washing with water. That makes me think of another question: was the salted EA sealed after salting? It should be.

Yep, maybe a few ml of water and then I decanted those out after the 24 hour fridge rest.



Jasco EA & Mrs Wages pickling lime



glass/metal only



Yes, and it registered a smidge below neutral ph after salting with the amount of acid given in the tek. (0.5g per 10g powder)

Should it be registering super acidic after salting? I will take picture of the ph strip after salting on my next attempt.



One run was sealed and the other was not, but both have turned brown over time. I will definitely make sure to seal any further attempts after salting in the future though. Good to know! It is just so hard to decant out of jars with no spout.

With the pH solvent check, did you check before salting? It should be basic.

Also, when you say "Jasco EA" you mean "Jasko M.E.K. substitute", right?

Yes that is exactly what Ive got. i checcked the msds before I got it to make sure it was 100% ea

Ok, everything is checking out. What about the pH strips before salting, how did that look?

Just using paper ph strips so hard to give super accurate numbers, but Id say before salting it was reading between 8-9, and after salting around 6