Doing a/b extractions on kratom. i have tried defatting, but the solvent layer never separates. Only a tiny layer will separate with a bunch of crud under it. I have skipped the defatting process also, but I can never get it to separate from that crud looking stuff. Anyone have any suggestions as to how I can get my solvent out?

Possibly not getting your soup basey enough? Im. It familiar with this tek, but I know from my experience with a/b extractions on acrb that any emultion problems with your solvent can usually be solved by a) adding more base b) adding salt c) heat the solution and maybe a smidge more time.

I think i was at my threshold for base, i'm using lime and I was at around 11 ph. I also tried de fatting when it was at around 4 and each time the solvent was trapped with crud with only a very tiny layer staying on top. I let it sit for hours so I don't think time was it. The time I defatted it was already hot and still same problem. I did however just add salt and stirred again and hopefully this works.

Thanks for your time!

I also have noticed emulsion problems using lime. Try sodium carbonate next time?

I'll give that a try! got some soda in the oven as we speak. THanks for the help buddy. Have you ever tried kratom?

Nope, ha-ha. Most on my psychedelic experience lies with shroomies and lsd. A hand full of DMT no that I've got an extract down. Ima look it up though xD

Yea it was the lime that was doing that to me. Now my problem is even adding quite a bit of sodium carbonate I could only get my ph up to about 9.5, is this high enough?

I'm sorry, I won't be much help from here seeing as I don't measure my pH. I simply saturate the solution in sodium carb.

KuFo, give clear and concise details of the process so that it's easier for folk to help.
Is that a dry tek you're using, seeing as you're basing with lime? But first you say you're doing A/B extractions which suggests you're using a liquid method. Do you have a link for the method you're using?

Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine both have an acid/alkali sensitive ester group which looks as though it could screw up careless extraction attempts.

Then there's The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, Vol 15 No 1: A simple and cost effective isolation and purification protocol of mitragynine from Mitragyna speciosa korth (ketum) leaves. (Opens a pdf.)

I googled a/b kratom and this was the first result so I'm assuming he's using this tek

https://www.dmt-nexus.me...spx?g=posts&m=445352

I'd be tempted to zap it with sodium hydroxide solution. Not too sure what method you're using but "basify till black" (or as dark as it's going to go) is the best rule to follow.

That only applies to Bark .. not necessarily Kratom.

One time I did an extraction of kratom. It was a rather crude attempt, but resulted in at least somewhat effective product, as evidenced by a friend. I did not try it myself since I saw that friend use kratom a few times and decided that I'm not very interested in that substance for now.

Anyway, what I did was to cook powdered kratom leaves and filter the tea. I think I once used a dash of vinegar in the cooking part, but it seems not to be very important to do so. Then I based the tea with sodium carbonate solution. A tan precipitate formed immediately, which was filtered, washed on the filter and dried. No attempt was made to establish yield or purity.

I used vacuum filtering, so I am not sure how feasible this is with, say coffee filters, but I guess it could be done, perhaps with some patience. The procedure is very similar to extracting crude freebase harmalas from syrian rue seeds.

Mitragynine as I previously mentioned has a pH sensitive ester group so pitubo's gentler approach is warranted, avoiding the use of strong acids or alkalis. 'Base to black' would very likely reduce yields by saponification of the target molecule.