An Aqueous-Organic Extraction Method for
the Isolation and Identification of Psilocin
from Hallucinogenic Mushrooms
J. F. Casale
J. Forens. Sci. 30(1), 247-250 (1985)

HTML by Rhodium
Abstract

A simple aqueous extraction method for the isolation and identification of psilocin from Psilocybe Cubensis mushrooms is reported. This method employs a dephosphorylation of the phosphate ester to psilocin, which facilitates a greater product yield and simplifies identification. Psilocin extracted by this method is sufficiently concentrated and free of co-contaminants to allow identification by infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

The tryptamines are one of four categories of hallucinogenic indoles in more than 20 classes of indole compounds comprising approximately 600 alkaloids1. Considerable research has been conducted with psilocin and psilocybin since their isolation by Hofmann et. al.2 Several extraction techniques1,3-6 have been used to isolate psilocin and psilocybin from more than two dozen species of mushrooms in four genera (Conocybe. Panaeolus, Psilocybe, Stropharia). The techniques that use methanol co-extract other compounds such as urea, ergosterol, ergosteral peroxide, α,α-trehalose, baeocystin, and norbaeocystin3,4,7. At present, a useful aqueous extraction procedure has not been reported for psilocin and psilocybin.

The dephosphorylation of psilocybin to psilocin in vivo has been well documented1,8,9 and is thought to account for most or all of its central nervous system activity8. Conversion of psilocybin to psilocin is also necessary for aqueous extraction with organic solvents because of the very low lipid solubility of psilocybin. Extraction of only one compound also permits infrared analysis of the extract.

Concentration and detectability of psilocin and psilocybin are dependent on several variables, including:

1. The absence of glucose, which will prevent the production of psilocybin10.
2. Low levels of ammonium succinate, which will give poor yields of psilocybin10.
3. The growing medium, which requires a pH of less than 710.
4. Timing: maximum production of psilocybin occurs on the seventh day after germination, while maximum production of the mycelium is reached by the ninth day10.
5. Temperature: complete loss of psilocin and psilocybin will occur in harvested mushrooms left at room temperature for an extended period of time3.
6. Oxidation: psilocin will oxidize to a blue product (possibly accounting for the bluing color in the four genera containing psilocin and psilocybin)9.

Because of the increasing popularity of these mushrooms and kits available from drug oriented publications for growing mushrooms containing psilocin and psilocybin in cow manure a simple aqueous extraction procedure has been developed that extracts reasonably pure psilocin from mature mushrooms. This extraction method greatly simplifies the identification of psilocin from those mushrooms by infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GS/MS).
Experimental

A representative sample of 2 to 10g of dried mushrooms is ground to a fine powder by mortar and pestle. The powder is mixed with 100 mL of dilute acetic acid in a 250-mL beaker. The pH is readjusted to pH 4 with glacial acetic acid. After standing 1 h, the beaker is placed in a boiling water bath for 8 to 10 min or until the internal temperature of the acid mixture reaches 70°C. The beaker is removed and cooled to room temperature under running water. The acid mixture is separated from the mushroom powder by suction filtration using glass wool. The filtrate is brought to pH 8 with concentrated ammonium hydroxide and quickly extracted with two 50-mL portions of diethyl ether. Gentle mixing instead of shaking should be used to prevent an emulsion. The ether is dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under nitrogen with no applied heat.

Crude psilocin will appear as a greenish residue. Recrystallization from chloroform/heptane (1:3) yields white crystals. The resulting powder can then be submitted to infrared and mass spectral analyses.
Results and Discussion

This method permits rapid isolation of psilocin from hallucinogenic mushrooms by co-extraction of both psilocin and psilocybin. Dilute acetic acid is an excellent solvent for this purpose, because both compounds are very soluble in acetic acid11 and very little of other interfering substances are extracted, It is most likely some other compounds are co-extracted but are removed from psilocin in the ether extraction from the aqueous base. Psilocybin is completely dephosphorytated to psilocin by heating the acid extract. After addition of the base, extraction into ether should be performed promptly, because of decomposition of psilocin at a greater pH than 712. The extraction and dephosporylation steps produce reasonably pure psilocin from a small amount of mushroom material. Two grams of mushrooms will often be sufficient to obtain an infrared spectrum of psilocin (Fig. 1). Smaller mushrooms exhibits provide ample psilocin for mass spectral analysis (Fig. 2).

This method has been used in our laboratory for six months and has given excellent results in separating psilocin from methanol-soluble compounds. Other identification techniques such as gas chromatography and microcrystalline tests are possible on psilocin extracted by this method.

References

1. Schultes, R. E., "Indole Alkaloids in Plant Hallucinogens" Journal of Psychedelic Drugs, Vol. 8, No. 1, Jan.-March 1976, pp. 7-25.
2. Hofmann, A., Heim, R., Barck, A., Kobel, H., Frey, A., et al, "Psilicybin [sic] and Psilocin" Helvetica Chimica Acta, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 1557-1572 (1959)
3. Beug, M. W. and Bigwood, J., "Quantitative Analysis of Psilocybin and Psilocin in Psilicybe Baeocystis (Singer and Smith) by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and by Thin-Layer Chromatography" Journal of Chromatography, Vol 207, No. 3, pp. 379-385 (1981)
4. Koike, Y., Wada, K., Kusano, G., Nozoe, S., and Yokoyama, K., "Isolation of Psilocybin from Psilocybe Argentypes and Its Determination in Specimens of Some Mushrooms" Journal of Natural Products, Vol. 44, No. 3, May-June 1981, pp. 362-365.
5. Ott, J. and Guzmán, G., "Detection of Psilocybin in Species of Psilocybe Panaeolus and Psathyrella" Lloydia, Vol. 39, No. 4, July-Aug. 1976, pp. 258-260.
6. Guzmán, G. and Ott, J., "Description and Chemical Analysis of a New Species of Hallucinogenic Psilocybe from the Pacific Northwest" Mycologia, Vol. 68, No. 6, Nov. 1976, pp. 1261-1267.
7. Lenny, A. W. and Paul, A. G., "Baeocystin and Norbaeocystin: New Analogs of Psilocybin form Psilocybe Baeocystis" Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol. 57, No. 10, Oct. 1968, pp. 1667-1671.
8. Horita, A. and Weber, L. J., "Dephosphorylation of Psilocybin in the Intact Mouse" Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Vol. 4, No. 6. Nov. pp. 730-737.
9. Horita, A. and Weber, L. J., "The Enzymatic Dephosphorylation and Oxidation of Psilocybin and Psilocin by Mammalian Tissue Homogenates" Biochemical Pharmacology, Vol. 7, No. 1, 1961, pp. 47-54.
10. Catalfomo, P. and Tyler, V. E., "The Production of Psilocybin in Submerged Culture by Psilocybe Cubensis" Lloydia, Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 53-63 (1964)
11. Clarke, E. G. C., Isolation and Identification of Drugs, Pharmaceutical Press, London, 1974, p. 526.
12. Agurell, S. and Eilsson, L., "Biosynthesis of Psilocybin Part II. Incorporation of Labeled Tryptamine Derivatives" Acta Chemica Scandinavica, Vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 1210-1218 (196


http://www.erowid.org/ar...psilocin.extraction.html

i couldn't find one in the wiki so i thought id share this one, i also gave all the sources for i did not make it up

Extraction and analysis of indole derivatives from fungal biomass
Jochen Gartz
Vol 34, 1994; 17-22
Journal of Basic Microbiology

The occurrence and extraction of indole derivatives in six species from four genera of higher fungi were investigated. By using pure methanol for extraction of the mushrooms analysis revealed the highest concentrations of psilocybin and baeocystin. The psilocin content of the species was higher by using aqueous solutions of alcohols than with methanol alone but was an artificial phenomenon caused by enzymatic destruction of psilocybin. The extraction with dilute acetic acid yielded better results than with the water containing alcohols. The simple one-step procedure with methanol for the quantitative extraction is still the safest method to obtain the genuine alkaloids from fungal biomass.

Comments:
The abstract says it, if you are planning to extract the alkaloids from either dries and pulverized fruiting bodies or from mycelium it is best to use pure methanol. Superior to aqueous solutions of alcohols (which is wet alcohol, the one you are likely to have!) is dilute acetic acid which means simple vinegar (better: vinegar essence diluted with same amount of water) which is quite nice because there is no problem obtaining it. The problem with wet alcohol is that the enzymes which dephosphorylise Psilocybin to the instable Psilocin are also extracted from the biomass. This also occurs with acetic acid but to a smaller amount and does not occur at all with pure methanol (ethanol?). The recommended extraction time (magnetical stirring) is with methanol 12h at room temperature or 1h at 45 deg. Celsius, no times given for the acetic acid method. And the moral: Don't use clandestine-quality alcohols for extraction, use vinegar ! Or dry the alcohol by adding salts like MgSO4, CaCl2, NaSO4 which were previously dried in an oven and decant or filter the solvent from them after a day or longer.

PLEASE NOTE:
For those new to extractions, it is extremely important to note that methanol is poisonous to humans and if it is used for any extractions, it must be thoroughly evaporated before the material is used.

Full Text #
In the last 15 years many papers have been published about the occurrence and determination of psychotropic tryptamine derivatives like psilocybin, psilocin and baeocystin in fungi (Gartz 1992, 1993).

Various extraction procedures of these substances from mushrooms have been ised mainly with methanol as solvent (Beug and Bigwood 1982, Gartz 1987, Sottolano and Lurie 1983).

In 1985 an aqueous-organic extraction method with acetic acid for these compounds was described (Casale 1985). Recently, Czech analysts have used aqueous solutions of methanol and ethanol (pure or in presence of potassium-nitrate) for extraction of the indole derivatives in Psilocybe bohemica Sebek (Kysilka and Wurst 1990, Wurst et al 1992). They claimed that it was possible to have found more psilocin with aqueous ethanol extraction than with pure methanol and that a dissimilar extraction of the alkaloids by using both new systems could be achieved. In this work the extraction procedures of psilocybin, psilocin and baeocystin from varoius mushroom species including P. bohemica Sebek were studied by using methanol and the recommended mixtures of sol vents (Casale 1985, Kysilka and Wurst 1990, Wurst et al. 1992), respectively.

Materials & Methods #
Fungal material: Cultivated mushrooms: Psilocybe semilanceata (FR.) Kumm from horse manure compost (Gartz 1991); Psilocybe cubensis (Earle) Singer grown on cow dung/rice grain mixture (Gartz 1989a); P. bohemica from rice grain/water (Gartz and Mueller 1989; Gymnopilus purpuratus (Cooke and Mass) Singer from rice grain/saw dust medium (Gartz and Mueller 1990, Gartz 1991).

Naturally grown mushrooms: Panaeolus cyanescens (BK & BK) SACC. (leg. Oahu, Hawaii 13.11.8; Inocybe aeruginascens Babos (leg. Potsdam 20.05.1987); P. bohemica Sebek (leg. near Sazava, Czech Republic 15.11.89).

All basidiocarps were dried at room temperature. Possible present residual water was removed from the mushrooms by freeze-drying. Voucher speciments of each species have been deposited in the herbarium of the Univeristy of Leipzig (LZ).

Extraction: (Samples (0.01 - 0.1 g) of dried ground mushrooms were extracted with 5 to 20 ml of methanol for 0.5 to 12 hours by using a magnetic stirrer at room temperature. Under equal conditions the mixtures with aqueous acetic acid (Casale 1985) and a queous ethanol (psilocin) and methanol (psilocybin) (Kysilka and Wurst 1990, Wurst et al. 1992) were used for extraction of the same batch of mushrooms. In the cases with aqueous alcohols as solvent a different extraction time for psilocybin (10 min) and psilocin (160 min) was performed (Kysilka and Wurst 1990). By using of dilute acetic acid the solution was placed in a boiling water bath for 10 min after extraction and anaysis and was then analysed 10 min after extraction and analysis and was then anal ysed again (Casale 1985).

The filtration and analysis of the indole derivatives by using HPLC and TLC were described elsewhere (Gartz 1987, Semerdzieva et al. 1986, Wurst et al. 1992). An analysis of the extracts for enzymes of the phosphatase type was also carried out (Weber a nd Horita 1963).

Results #
In this investigation the extraction of psilocin, psilocybin and baeocystin with pure methanol was not completely after 30 min in all species and even 6 hours in analysis of P. cubensis and G. purpuratus. But the full extraction of the alkaloids from al l mushrooms was reached after 12 hours. After this time no traces of indole derivatives could be detected after subsequent extraction of the fungal material with aqueous solutions of ethanol/methanol or acetic acid as well as with chloroform for psilocin.

Baeocystin as incompletely methylated counterpart and possible precursor of psilocybin (Gartz 1989a) was found in all species by using methanol but in some cases only in very small amounts (Table 1).



The psilocybin and psilocin content was in the same order of magnitude as that found earlier (Gartz 1992, 1993). This substance seems to be a phosphoric acid ester like psilocybin and baeocystin. Similar concentrations of psilocin were detected in the extracts of P. cubensis and G. purpuratus by using an aqueous solution of acetic acid versus pure methanol (Table 2).

Table 1 #
Amount of indole alkaloids in fruiting bodies of different species by using pure methanol as solvent (%, dry weight).

Species Psilocybin Psilocin Baeocystin
P. semilanceata 0.98 - 0.34
P. bohemica 0.85 0.02 0.04
P. bohemica (cultivated) 0.93 0.04 0.02
P. cubensis 0.63 0.11 0.02
G. purpuratus 0.34 0.29 0.05
I. aeruginacens 0.40 - 0.21
P. cyanescens 0.32 0.51 0.02

Table 2 #
Concentraction of alkaloids by using acetic acid for extraction of the dried mushrooms (%, dry weight).

Species Psilocybin Psilocin Baeocystin
P. semilanceata 0.97 0.15 0.11
P. bohemica 0.60 0.21 -
P. bohemica (cultivated) 0.65 0.28 -
P. cubensis 0.45 0.25 -
G. purpuratus 0.24 0.35 0.01
I. aeruginacens 0.32 0.05 0.15
P. cyanescens 0.20 0.61 -

Table 3 #
Results of the mushroom extraction of six species using aqueous mixtures of methanol and ethanol (%, dry weight).

Species Psilocybin Psilocin Baeocystin
P. semilanceata 0.80 0.15 0.11
P. bohemica 0.60 0.21 -
P. bohemica (cultivated) 0.65 0.28 -
P. cubensis 0.45 0.25 -
G. purpuratus 0.24 0.35 0.01
I. aeruginacens 0.32 0.05 0.15
P. cyanescens 0.20 0.61 -



By using the new solvent mixtures containing ethanol and methanol for extraction it was found that more psilocin could be detected in extracts of every species but always smaller amounts of psilocybin than with pure methanol (Table 3).

Additionally, a high activity of enzymes of the phosphatase type could be detected in these aqueous solutions from all species. In contrast to these results only the extracts of P. cubensis and P. cyanescens showed a significant enzymatic activity b y using acetic acid as solvent. In these cases psilocybin was completely dephosphorylated to psilocin by heating the acid extracts and no baeocystin could be detected in P. cyanescens.

Discussion #
It is well known that an extraction procedure with methanol needs much time (up to 12 hours) at room temperature (Beug and Bigwood 1982, Gartz 1987, Semerdzieva et al. 1986) or one hour at 45 C (SCOTTOLANO and Lurie 1983) for complete extrraction.

In our investigations psilocin could be found in high concentrations as well as psilocybin after simple extraction with methanol from various species (Gartz 1987, 1989c, 1991). When undertaking quantitave analysis of levels of indole derivatives after biotransformation of tryptamine and similar compounds in fruiting mycelia of P. cubensis the highest concentrations of psilocin in every mushroom for example could be detected by using methanol (Gartz 1989a, b). By using aqueous methanol and ethanol as so lvent for analysis of P. bohemica the Czech analysts have not always analyzed the same batch of mushrooms during their comparative study of extraction methods (Kysilka, pers. communication 1989).

We generally found variations from one mushroom to another in every species even within P. bohemica from a single location (Gartz and Mueller 1989) and also in controlled cultures (Gartz 1991). Additionally, the high activity of enzymes of the phosphat ase type in the aqueous solutions of alcohols was already described in aqueous mycelial extracts of P. cubensis and other psilocybin containing mushrooms many years ago (BOCKS 1968, Gartz 1993, Weber and Horita 1963). These enzymes were also extracted with the water containing solvents and caused a partial dephosphorylation of psilocybin to psilocin (Tables 1 and 3). By using these aqueous soluions it was also observed that in some cases bluish mixtures have been resulted after extraction as a sign of par tial oxydation of psilocin (BOCKS 1968, Gartz 1989a, Weber and Horita 1963). It is also interesting that most of the baeocystin was destroyed during the extraction procedure with water containing alcohols (Tables 1 and 3).

Casale (1985) described the rapid formaion of psilocin after complete dephosphorylation of psilocybin by heating the dilute acetic acid extract. It is now quite clear that the decomposition under these conditions is an enzymatic reaction and was not ca used by the acid alone. For example the phosphoric acid ester psilocybin, baeocystin and aeruginascin in these acidic extracts from I. aeruginacens were stable during heating in contrast to the behaviour of the same alkaloids in solutions of P. cubensis a nd P. cyanescens. It seems that active enzymes of the phosphatase type could be extracted with aqueous acetic acid only in these two species in contrast to water containing alcohols as extraction method. In the past attempts at the sparation of psilocybin and psilocin simply using mixtures of organic solvents and water were also unsatisfactory (THOMSON 1980).

This investigation shows that the high percentage of psilocin detected in P. bohemica (Kysilka and Wurst 1990, Wurst et al. 1992) and not found earlier (Gartz and Mueller 1989) was an artificial phenomenon casued by enzymatic destrucion of psilocybin w hich is common in different species by using water containing organic solvents. Extraction with pure methanol is the safest method to obtain the genuine indole derivatives from mushroom species of various genera.

Acknowledgements
The author thanks the following persons: G. Drewitz, J. Allen, G.K. Mueller and M. Semerdzieva who geneously supplied herbarium material and/or valuable information.

References #
# Beug MW, Bigwood J. 1982. Psilocybin and psilocin levels in twenty species from several genera of wild mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A. J. Ethnopharm, 5, 271-289.
# Bocks SM. 1968. The metabolism and psilocin and psilocybin by fungal enzymes. Biochem. J., 106, 12-13.
# Casale JF. 1985. An aqueous-organic extraction method for the isolation and identification of psilocin from hallucinogenic mushrooms. J. Forensic Sci., 30, 247-250.
# Gartz J. 1985. Zur Isolierung des Baeocystins aus den Fruchtkoerpern einer Psilocybe-Art. Pharmazie, 40, 274.
# Gartz J. 1987. Variation deer Indolalkaloide von Psilocybe cubensis durch unterschiedliche Kultivierungsbedingungen. Beitraege z. Kenntnis d. Pilze Mitteleuropas, 3, 275-281.
# Gartz J. 1989a. Biotransformation of tryptamine derivatives in mycelial cultures of Psilocybe. J. Basic Microbiol., 29, 347-352.
# Gartz J. 1989b. Biotransformation of tryptamine in fruiting mycelia of psilocybe cubensis. Planta Med., 55, 249-250.
# Gartz J. 1989c. Occurence of psilocybin, psilocin and baeocystin in Gymnopilus purpuratus. Persoonia, 14, 19-22.
# Gartz J, Mueller GK. 1990. Analysis and cultivation of fruit bodies and mycelia of Psilocybe bohemica. Biochem. Physiol. Pflanzen, 184, 337-341.
# Gartz J, Mueller GK. 1990. Versuche zur Kultur von Gymnopilus purpuratus, Purpurflaemmling. Myk. Mitt. blatt (Halle), 33, 29-30.
# Gartz J. 1991. Further investigations on psychoactive mushrooms of the genera Psilocybe, Gymnopilus and Conocybe. Ann. Mus. civ. Rovereto (Italy), Sez. sc. nat.,7, 265-274.
# Gartz J. 1992. New aspects of the occurance chemistry and cultivaion of European hallucinogenic mushrroms. Ann. Mus. civ. Rovereto (Italy), Sez. sc. nat., 8, 107-124.
# Gartz J. 1993. Narrenschwaemme. Psychotrope Pilze in Europa in Europa. Herausforderung an Forschung und Wertsystem. Editions Heuwinkel. Genf/Neuallschwill.
# Kysilka R, Wurst M. 1990. A novel extraction procedure for psilocybin and psilocin determination in mushroom samples. Planta Med., 56, 327-328.
# Semerdzieva M, Wurst M, Koza T, Gartz J. 1986. Psilocybin in Fruchtkoerpern von Inocybe aeruginascens. Planta Med., 47, 83-85.
# Sottolano SM, Lurie IS. 1983. The quantitation of psilocybin in hallucinogenic mushrooms using high performance liquid chromatography. J. Forensic Sci., 28, 931-935.
# Thomson BM. 1980. Analysis of psilocybin and psilocin in mushroom extracts by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. J. Forensic Sci., 25, 779-785.
# Weber LJ, Horita A. 1963. Oxydation of 4 and 5-hydroxy-indole derivatives by mammalian cytochrome oxydase. Life Sciences 1, 44-49.
# Wurst M, Kysilka R, Koza T. 1992. Analysis and islolation of indole alkaloids of fungi by high-performance liquid chromatography. J. Chromatogr., 593, 201-208.


http://www.erowid.org/pl...mushrooms_journal1.shtml

this is for psilocin and Psilocybin i just thought it was a good read

Now I have not tried this and can by no means confirm its accuracy but it came from a rather reputable site -pubmeb. Take a look and let me know what ya think

my computer wont let me open pdf's other wise id look at it.

No offense mistmann but when one posts a tek, SWIY tend to think that the procedures described are not just simply copy/pasted papers on extraction. If that is the case though, maybe expand or explore the tek a bit more, compare teks, do something exploratory with the teks and not just simply post them. This is the nursery, a place for growth and exploration, explore the tek! Have fun and stay safe....

What? I did a search in the wiki and in the forms there was no tek for psilocin or psilociben. I was just sharing one so if some one happened to have 10g of dryer matter they can do an extraction on them.

I read many tek's today but this was the best one with sources and measured out extraction levels for psilocin. I want to explore this tek, that's why I posted it for me and others. I wont have any mushroom for a wile to try though.

You are correct the nursery is a place for Growth and exploration, I want to grow are search engine or our wiki if I can, that's why I post this tek.

Ah okay gotcha. When posting SWIM's previous post, SWIM was more than off baseline and thought SWIY was just copy/pasting someones tek without possible expansion or contribution. Sorry for any rough edges mistmann.

you are fine, i have no hard feelings. yeah i wanted this for myself in a wile, but my first post was the actual psilocin extraction tek then the second one was a better explanation as to why it works. i just wanted to share with every one

what i really want to learn about and what im reading up on right now is the amanita muscaria. that's a cool guy

ah, excellent topic. there are two other threads with some discussion on making a tek for isolating psilocin: first, second.

I made a post in the former suggesting an a/b => fasa for rendering psilocin fumarate. the second thread mentions that psilocin will oxidize (inactive) over time and suggests storing as an ascorbate. fruit juice would work but isn't really in line with the goal. no idea if either salt is solid or workable. haven't tested anything either, just theorizing.

the articles you posted are helpful: they confirm that a heated acid extraction will dephosphorylate psilocybin and appear to describe a familiar procedure.

a psimple psilocin tek is possible, could be just around the corner.

I'm looking forward to it... it seems like maybe you could use mushrooms in vinegar, then hot water bath til vinegar reaches 70c, cool to room temp, pour through coffee filter, PH to 8 with sodium carbonate (?) and then a few gentle Naphtha pulls & re-x's?

I am by no means implying this might actually work

no it wont work chronic

No biggie really, i find grinding the dry mushrooms, boiling in water with ginger, pour through coffee filter, add peppermint & lemon, sip the tea over an hour = very pure feeling expeirence.

Although it would be nice to easily aquire pure psilocin/psilocybin crystals just to try it out.

"no it wont work chronic"
Bit of a bump, but why not? just asking. A freind saw some silly fumers recently but was a mission he said..

after discussing this very technique in chat with benz, we(he) came to (as i understand it) the conclusion that this would be a viable method, and all oxidation of the basic extract could be reversed with ascorbic acid (or something of that nature).

apparently (again, this is subject to my mis-interpretation of benz' chemistry jabber) this would mean the resultant extract (having gone from positive to negative charge) would be free of the proteins typically bound to an extract, such as one would see from a methanol extraction (the kind with pretty crystals) and estimated at a higher purity (>70%)

also it was decided sodium bicarbonate would be a relatively safe base for this, as it would be hard to over-alkalize the psilo

/thread revive

I appologise for my ignorance, sodium bicarbonate is baking soda?

The over alkali zing is also why vinigure doesn't work?

I've serched around, and what about vidamin C tablets?

Although this is what I best understand,
1.) no uv, use a black light
2,) flood your (extraction chamber, flow hood) with hydrogen, those fun guys don't like oxygen.
3.) use vidamin c tablets for host of extract.

yes

vinegar isn't alkali, so i am not quite sure what you are trying to ask.
as for whether or not vinegar can reduce oxide back into psilocin i do not know.


ascorbic acid = vitamin C

i am not sure that UV degrades psilocin, so it might not be an issue (Also a blacklight has higher uv, lol).
the hydrogen gas sounds like a good idea (i am a layman so i don't know) but i know oxidation isn't a HUGE issue, as long as you get it into the solvent, where it can then be reduced.

so just leave a small window of time before basifying and pulling with solvent

Using hydrogen gas for a protective atmosphere is a BAD idea. It is very flammable. Just. Don't.

You could use nitrogen instead, as it is not flammable.

It is really worthwhile to learn some basic chemistry before firing up the bunsen burner so to speak.. The first aim of any aspiring chemists should be to not blow up and not poison themselves and any innocent bystanders. Until you do know how easy it is to get blown up or poisoned, please tread very carefully. You won't lose eyes, fingers or your life from reading about chemistry.

use argon, it's denser than nitrogen, and sits on the liquid interface.

Has anyone here used this method lately? I got a good amount of fungi around and I'd like to try a few different ways to see what works.