I want to test some suspect acacias for DMT, all the information i could find on TLC and colorimetric testing was for testing pure substances, like pills and such to see if they were legit. So I'm not sure how i do a TLC on a tree...

I suppose its just grind up bark/leaves and make a solution with that, put that solution on the paper and then the paper in the jar with the other solution?


So is this pretty much how it goes, what solvent(s) do i use (for the bark and the paper)? Will a solution just from the bark contain enough alkaloid to show up in the test?

Check these links and let me know if it didnt answer some question you might have had..

https://www.dmt-nexus.me...spx?g=posts&t=24225
https://www.dmt-nexus.me...spx?g=posts&t=25771
https://www.dmt-nexus.me...spx?g=posts&t=27459

Solvent choice depends on what is available to you and what according to literature separate well the compounds that might be there. Ive been doing some acacia TLC with methanol:ammonia at 100:1.5 and it works good at separating acacia compounds:
https://www.dmt-nexus.me...spx?g=posts&t=27722

I guess ethanol or ipa:ammonia would also work fine

Also, notice that bark and leaves often have different alkaloid content so its worth it to test them separately. TLC is usually quite sensitive, small amounts are enough to see the spots. A cold methanolic soak of any plant and then putting a few microliters in the plate works fine.

..i posted the following in entheogenic effects of NMT p.3


and in acacia info thread p.12#228:

Thanks, very helpful of both of you. a Few questions though


I guess I'll do the; methylated spirits/plant solution with the ammonia sulfate/NaOH/acetone. Seems Simple

Endlessness, you seem the expert... what temp and how long do i heat the plate? is there any particular type of UV light i should get?

is beta-carbolines and tryptomines really the only two things that will show up florescent?

sorry for being frustratingly clueless

I think someone was doing this and gave a talk at the recent Entheogenesis conference in Melbourne. Sorry can't remember who maybe this guy http://www.entheo.net/lecture/nen You may be able to find out more via their web-site or facebook page....

Im not sure about the baking temperatures because Im working with Merck Silica Gel 60 F254 plates, which are pre-treated with some reagent that make all spots shine under UV at 254nm, no need to heat or anything.

They are more expensive but if you use the 20x20cm plates, you can cut them in half and its already enough run distance to separate well most substances, and your costs are halved. With these plates I use, no need to play with ammonium sulfate or NaOH or whatever, just put a very small amount of the solution with alkaloid in the plate, let it run on methanol:ammonia, let it air dry and look under UV... Compare heights/Rf and drop some reagent like marquis/pdmab to confirm color change is as expected for the identified substance.

I'm still a little unclear what do you use as the alkaloid solvent when using methanol:ammonia as the dip?

Just so we understand ourselves better, by "dip", do you mean eluent, as in, the solvent that will be inside your box and that the plate will soak up to separate the substances, yes?

And by alkaloid solvent, you mean the one that the alkaloid or or plant mixture will have been dissolved in, and that you will add a small amount to the bottom of the plate/paper so that later it is taken upwards by the eluent, yes?

Ok so, as for alkaloid solvent, it doesnt matter what it is, as long as it dissolves the alkaloid in the first place.. I say this because, once you get a tiny amount of this alkaloid solvent and put it in the plate, you have to wait for this small part of the plate to dry before putting your plate inside the box with the eluent. We use methanol because we also play around a lot with alkaloid salts, and if it was something like, say, acetone, it wouldnt dissolve the salts.. But as I mentioned, as long as its a solution that has your alkaloids and dries up before letting it run, its all good, it could even be a bit of (acidic) water with your alkaloids.

Awesome thanks heaps (and for the promotion)

I'll get right onto the testing, damn TLC plates are expensive though