if you don't use a funnel, the elves will look down upon you in disapproval

look, dammit... not using a sep funnel for an extraction is like mowing your lawn without a mower but using a weedeater instead.

i r siphon

I even use two, one 2 1/2 liter for separating the solvent, and a 250 ml for the sodium carbonate wash. Apart from the obvious practical advantages, it also makes my kitchen look like a mad alchemist's lab at extraction time as an added bonus.

You can easily do without one. It's only good for certain types of extractions like A/B's. There are non-A/B techs for almost everything there is including DMT.

SWIM always opts for using a tech that's a non-A/B tech if its good. A/B techs are a pain in the ass.

If you need to do an A/B, you can use a continuous liquid/liquid extractor, which is much easier than using a separatory funnel and it provides the exact same functionality without the possibility of generating an emulsion, and it's automatic.

SWIM almost never uses a separatory funnel because he owns a continuous liquid/liquid extractor.

AGREED!!


dont be that guy....
come on people dont half assed this shit

yeah, there's always that
though that can be considered an advanced apparatus, and it requires additional glassware.
the sep funnel is a great starting point for novices who're just getting into the the wonderful art of applied organic chemistry.

In some places (like Texas), owning a separatory funnel is illegal without the proper government papers. In such cases you can use a gravy separator instead. They are almost as good, especially the ones with a release valve at the bottom.

Here's a few gravy separator pictures for those who don't know what they are.

Well so far I've only attempted the limonene cactus extraction, and I've been using a pipette to siphon off the vinegar layer below the limonene, and it works just fine...good yields and a very clean product.

swim's read this concern in several forums, yet these laws are not really enforced. he recently went into a head shop (which police go in from time to time) and purchased a filtration flask and an erlenmeyer with a ground glass connection, both controlled items. the shop even had a 1L sep funnel for sale (people use it as a sort of gravity bong)

i suppose it's a matter of don't get caught using these items in TX, rather than don't buy them

I actually like the "Swing-A-Way Easy Release Grease Separator" shown above. Unlike a separatory funnel, this doesn't need a stand and can be operated easily with one hand while holding it. It's got a lot of great uses around the house. For example, it's great for making pancakes. You fill it with pancake batter and then press the handle to release the batter perfectly into the pan. No spills.

It works almost as well as a separatory funnel except that the bottom is not cone shaped, so separation of the last few drops is not accurate. But since this separator has multiple uses, it’s a great thing to have around the house. Plus, since it’s not glass, if you accidentally drop it, it’s much safer.

I don’t much like using glass. Accidents always happen when you least expect them and you end up with broken glass all over the floor. But glass (or pricey PTFE) needs to be used with certain solvents. For example, this plastic separator will probably dissolve in DCM, but probably be fine for heptane. Glass is good for nearly everything.

this one's close

gotta hand it to you, though.. you think outside the box when it comes to the application, and have that respectable diy ethic.
i suppose i'm a bit conventional.

Ive read a lot that people make make shift funnels. Here is the beginning of my funnel. I was considering buying a real one but this will work just as well + it costs 1/5th of the price.

Here are some pictures. Ill start a new thread once its 100% finished, but you will seem to get the idea.

So i connect a tube to one end of the glass tube you see in the picture. Then connect that to a glass or plastic regular wine or plastic 2 liter soda bottle (to the cap part). I will make seal it with a rubber cork with a hole in it. Then saw off the bottom part of the bottle. And there it is! your separatory funnel with a very controllable tap. I tried to find these sort of taps at fish stored or what not but was unable to. I found it at the open air lab glass market! I will bring a bunch of these back with me to make some kits!

I'm a pipette man

a pipette is NOT a substitute for a funnel, neither is siphoning!

p.s. if you guys are using anything plastic with naptha (particularly naptha with aromatics), chances are plastic will get into your product

when in doubt, check the plastic-solvent solvent compatibility chart in the Safety forum

mmm.....plastic-laden spice....yummy!

Thanks! Thats good to know. Ill be sure to make the top part out of a glass bottle then!

Very good analogy, although you can cut every single blade of grass with a weed eater....it just takes a hell of a lot more time and sweat.

Why not let gravity do the work for you.

Swim had a bad experience w/ a sep funnel once (massive spill) and he shy'd away from using one, but it's true it makes life a lot easier,although the question was...... is it essential and i would have to say that it's not, it's a tool that makes life a lot easier.

No regrets

SWIM once had a sep funnel explode after about three seconds with the cap on. Luckily he walked just far enough to not be injured. Huge mess, smelly house, and a really dumb mistake. Moral of the story: SWIM now owns a larger one I will agree that it doesn't get much use unless doing A/B though. On another note, a friend of SWIM's got busted (in Texas) for growing pot and SWAT didn't do anything with his sep funnel.