Hi all,

Been lurking for a bit and now I have finally joined.

Tried extracting once after a fair amount of research and messed up, so I would really appreciate a little guidance.

I'm working on a phalaris tek using vinegar, limonene, and pickling lime because I wanted it to be natural and safe.

Here's what I did the first time:
.Blended the phalaris with vinegar to a pH of 2.5, let it sit for a few days
.strained the pulp out, then the juice through a coffee filter
.de-fatted with a bit of limonene
.raised the pH with the pickling lime to like a 12 (dark blue on the pH strip), then added limonene and shook vigorously.
.pulled off the limonene (which now has a goopy yellow substance floating in it which I thought to be the dmt)
.salted by adding vinegar/water
.pulled the vinegar/water which now supposedly contains the dmt
.(here's where I think I messed up--) basified the mixture with the pickling lime, and let it evaporate at room temp.
.the result was a mushroom-blue cheese smelling yellow powder with some white flakes--(not sure which form of dmt I had at this point if any, along with unreacted pickling lime and calcium acetate or something like that)
.packed nicely into a bowl, however would not light/melt

After this first try, I clearly didn't have a smokeable form, and to be sure this time around, I am aiming for crystals. So here is what I am planning for my second attempt:

After basifying the acidic juice, then pulling with limonene, it was most efficient to spoon the limonene layer off.

I now have limonene holding a layer of orange gloopy stuff in the top layer of a jar, along with what I think is a layer of water underneath as a side effect of spooning, and a dark orange mystery substance as the bottom layer. I am not sure about the bottom layer, but assuming my dmt is in the gloopy limonene top part, I plan to:

.pull the orange gloopy part off
.salt with vinegar, remove the vinegar
.basifiy with lime solution so as to avoid the calcium residues
.pull with naphta/lighter fluid and let evaporate to form crystals.

Please let me know what you think! If you are able to help me learn more about myself and the universe, consider yourself a saint! Much thanks!

In my experience evapping leads to trouble and waste. I'd melt in a small smmount of warm solvent and freeze precip. Also can you confirm your grass contains dmt to begin with? I've looked into phalaris a bit, and it seems time of harvest and immediate processing are essential.

I have confirmed beyond a reasonable doubt that it is Phalaris arundianceae based on habitat and various characteristics. Do you agree with my next steps which I plan to take? Thanks for your reply

I would agree. I've used a few solvents, and good ol' fashioned naptha works as well as any.

Methylene dichloride worked great for me too but at my route I have to vacume filter the crap out of everything as it forms a bottom layer and sediment builds up..

re-acidifying seems pointless unless you plan to defat some more. I'd dissolve it in heptane or naptha and wash it with water. Evap the solvent down to about 1/3 volume, cover the container, stick it in the freezer, and collect your precipitate in the morning.

I don't get this , what is it you evaporated ??

It was the water which then got basified. So it should have been freebase right?

I was thinking to re-acidify because I can't understand whether limonene and naphta will mix or separate. Surely it will separate from water. And, me being new to this, please explain what exactly is meant by "wash" as I just want to be sure. Thank you for your reply!