Chances are that tannins, like most molecules soluble in water, are polar, meaning there is a positive and negative charge on different sides of the individual molecules. I imagine that these charges are attracted to the magnet.

The numerous O-H structures on the tannin molecule make it extremely polar, because the charge is unevenly distributed across the O-H bond. More negatively charged electrons gather around the electronegative O atom, giving it a more negative charge. Conversely, the H atom in the O-H bond is more positive, because H is not so electronegative. It doesnt like electrons as much as O, so its electron tends to hover nearer to the O atom, which has a higher affinity for electrons. This is the basic definition of polarity.

The same is true for the N-H bond on the DMT molecule, rendering it somewhat polar. However, polarity is relative. The N-H bond is less polar than the O-H bond, because N is less electronegative than O(likes electrons a bit less). Since there are far more polar residues on the tannin molecule than the DMT molecule, and the N-H bond is less polar than the O-H bond, DMT is not nearly as polar as the tannin molceule.

The CH3 residues on the DMT molecule are not polar, because the electrons are spread symmetrically across the CH3 residue.

So the tannins are highly attracted to the magnet, but not so much the DMT.

This of course, is entirely my own speculation and could be completely false!

I'm interested to hear from more adept chemists!

Very interesting! I will have to do some experiments with magnetic tannin removal in the future?

Does anyone have practical experience with this technique? What size magnet? Is there a noticeable reduction in potency? If it really works, it seems like this could be a new era for tannin-removal! I had kindof given up on it after a few semi-failures with gelatin removal.

Havent tried magnets yet. I used eggwhites once. Once the rest came up, it looked just like the eggwhites, minus the lsd-like fractal spirals (not hallucinations![I think]) I bet there are lots of proteins that bind to tannins in the stomach at any given time. Eggwhites get it to a drinkable level at least, but a magnet would be a great improvement.

^^^

I love watching those fractal-patterns that form while cooking a brew! I know that it's probably just a reflection of the fractal nature of material existence - but I like to think of it as a preview!

Haha exactly. When I was looking in the toilet I thought "Oh yeah, thats what I'm doing"

..most tannins in a basic solution are very polar..

but, what's all the fuss about tannins..? i have no problem with them and happily ingest them..many are anti-oxidants..i think the idea of tannins in reasonable amounts posing health risks is being turned around with more research..

i do not believe that tannins contribute to excessive nausea..in all my experience, pure DMT alone is enough to induce purging/nausea depending on stomach conditions, pH etc..

I personally dont buy into the whole tannin nausea thing either..from lots of experience. Extractions can cause just as much nausea for me.

Tannin removals make such a huge difference for SWIM, both in aya and MHRB that there's no doubt. She never gets nausea from freebase converted in orange juice or fumarates. With the tannin removal process for aya, she still purges from the back, but rarely from the front, and never in the first 30-minutes, which is always a risk without it.

She's also tried eating the goo from a tannin removal and yacked almost immediately. Even a banana strong in tannins will make her feel nauseous.

@nen888, I've never heard anyone suggest tannins were a health risk, always heard they were healthy to a point. Resveratrol extracts typically contain tannins in addition to it.

for me, puking is a part of life!

That and the anthelmintic qualities are indispensable.

Everyones different!