Hello all, long time since I last posted here.

So I was having another go at an extraction from MHRB. My solution was still pretty hot, I basified the solution, and of course once I did that that's when my large mason jar decided to crack, making a HUGE mess and getting a lot of it on me. My leg is fine, I was wearing jeans and i spent 10 minutes spraying it with the hose. my bench was of course destroyed ... it was literally "sizziling" for an hour or so

I know i should only use pyrex glass, but what do you find to be the easiest way for your initial separation (keeping the top layer)? I have a 500 ml sep funnel that is usefull for the de-fatting steps, or polar extraction (since you are keeping the bottom layer) but kind of a pain in the ass for doing the non-polar extraction

what I did in the past was use one of those large carl rossi wine jugs ... but now i fear that i'm lucky that didn't break, too. Is plastic safe to use for the non-polar exraction?

Why use glass when you can use plastic which doesn't react with lye? (PP I guess?)
I use lime tek so I don't have to worry about that though.

it's the heat stress on the glass that's the problem

using plastic just seems weird because i think vmp naptha would dissolve it.

i dont know about PP but i know HDPE works from a simple google search =Þ

No Naptha will not dissolve plastic if you use the right type of plastic.

C_S

I recommend working with good glass, and being careful with heat stress indeed, thats usually the culprit for glass breaking. It is a good tip to work in a sink or bathtub or with an appropriate bucket/container to hold in case of any leakage/breaking. But if you add lye slowly to room temp water and keep mixing as you add, glass shouldnt break. Just dont store a solution of high pH for many months or lye might start etching the glass, but in short term there is no problem.

If you use plastic, which I def dont recomend, make sure its made of a material that doesnt react with any of the chemicals being used, look up "chemical compatibility" or similar keywords. I recommend taking extra steps to make sure you dont have plasticizers or other products leeching from plastic:

https://www.dmt-nexus.me...aspx?g=posts&t=26324

PP is bad idea, its notorious for leeching things like oleamide and other components.

I know your concern about using plastic ... I haven't used anything other than glass because using plastic just sounds weird. But like i said ... I was very close to having to make a trip to the emergency room, and I just don't want to risk that again. On top of that it was a waste of time up until that point and 80 dollars worth of MHRB powder. I will be doing it in the bathtub next time with some news papers down or something because i absolutely destroyed my garage.

The extraction from basic solution is without a doubt the most dangerous step because your handling a solution that is hot as hell and basic as hell. I did some research, so I'm definitely thinking of using an HDPE bottle next time. I think windshield washer fluid comes in those, and that's like 2 bucks.

I have a 1L sep funnel, but it's not practical because I don't have a stand and the solution is very hot. plus you have to drain the whole thing every time and re pour in the basified solution back into the sep funnel for each pull. huge pain in the ass in my opinion. re-extracting from acidified h20 with a sep funnel is much more convenient though

thanks all for the help

Wait for the solution to cool before handling it!

I don't understand how your solution gets THAT hot. I mean, it does get hot, but not "hot as hell". Not if you slowly add the lye to the water. When I do my extractions, I add & stir the lye over the course of about 10 minutes, if I'm doing a 50g extraction, or about 15-20 minutes for a 100g extraction. That doesn't get the solution over 40C, not from my estimation. Don't use hot water in the first place, if you're doing so.

As others have said its best to use pyrex and not matter what add lye slowly (pyrex breaks too!)

Also if you are unable to get pyrex (you can order it online though) and are using mason jars i saw another member cut up a milk jug/apple juice carton (anything hdpe2) and then put the jar in it that way if the jar cracks or shatters most of the solvent/base solution/glass is contained.

Glad you're okay though lye burns can be pretty gruesome.