Hey everyone, I have been browsing the forums for a little while now for information regarding spice extractions. I have found tons of info that has increased yields and helped refine my recrystallization experiments and I just wanted to share my results and contribute back a little.

Here's a few pictures of some of my results:


-Crystals forming through freeze-precip w/naphtha.

2012-08-08_14-00-15_901 by nmk8743, on Flickr

-.75g white powder.

IMG_20120912_104257 by nmk8743, on Flickr

-.60g light yellow powder.

IMG_20120809_133714 by nmk8743, on Flickr

-First recrystallization of yellow powder.

IMG_20120827_165120 by nmk8743, on Flickr

-First recrystallization of white powder.

2012-09-12_10-41-36_905 by nmk8743, on Flickr

-Experimenting with submerged thread during recrystallization.

2012-09-11_10-40-09_525 by nmk8743, on Flickr[/quote]

-Larger crystals grown through a new process I've been experimenting with. Yeah I know they are yellow; this was the first recrystallization of some yellow powder and the size of the resulting crystals was unexpected.

2012-09-12_13-54-31_253 by nmk8743, on Flickr

Looking beautiful. Welcome to the nexus!

-Thank you for the compliment and the welcome. I am fairly new to the extraction process, my first one ever about 2 months ago. I am not in love with the actual effects of mr. dimitri but the extraction/recrystallization process is fascinating. Don't get me wrong, I have had very intense experiences with the stuff but nothing life changing (which may have something to do with the fact I'm atheist and not very spiritual). I am nowhere near a chemist but I love learning, and extracting spice has been very fulfilling while crystallization challenging.

Just a few more pics of some more current results:

-I find this interesting, it kinda shows each 'phase' of the spice from powder to crystal. The quarter in the middle is for size reference.

From top, counterclockwise: Unrefined dark colored powder; white powder after quick re-xing with naphtha to remove impurities; Longer re-x with naphtha with a mix of white and yellow powder producing very small crystals; Large crystals formed with heptane by slow and controlled drops in temperature.

IMG_20120914_002432 by nmk8743, on Flickr

-Close up of large recrystallized product; knife shown for size reference.

IMG_20120914_002204 by nmk8743, on Flickr