Hello Nexians, Swim has lost his coffee grinder, and was wondering if it was possible to use shredded MHB bark in a soxhlet instead of powder? Can he just run it longer to get all the goodies out? Or is he just better off doing the good old crockpot deal on that? Which solvent would accomplish this best, IPA or vinegar?
He was also wondering about the proper size of the FBF, is a 500ml FBF big enough for a 500ml soxhlet? Swim is worried since his isn't the 'heavy duty kind' and there is talk of these glassballs exploding sometimes.

Muchos Grazias

I forgot to mention that the bark is about tobacco size, so I suppose it will be ok?

I would use a bigger flask, 1000ml, maybe 750ml, not because a 500ml might explode, but it might overflow
and shredded can be fine... depending on how shredded. Tobacco size sounds good
I think different %s of IPA have different levels of efficacy, but I cant remember which is best?

that makes sense - there is more liquid above than it can actually hold, thanks!

Although I use a somewhat unique Continuous Solid-Liquid Eextractor, most of my experience may be relevant here.

I have experimented with all widely available alcohols (IPA, ethanol and methanol) and did not notice any significan difference. Ethanol and methanol seems to be better, but maybe I had less experience at the beginning when I was experimenting with IPA.

I have also experimented with vinegar and swithced to alcohols precisely because my mhrb was not shredded but powdered. It clogs the extractor mercilessly whatever I do. There is a whole thread about Soxhlet and fine powder. So, I would be very much interested to hear about vinegar in a Soxhlet. Maybe I should switch to shredded bark.

Here is what I've found out so far. Alcohols are fast. 50 - 100 g of mhrb are completely exhaused in 2.5 - 3 hrs. Vinegar requires 6 - 8 hrs. Alcohols are very non-selective, therefore it is necessary to add more steps (drying the extract and then proceeding with an A/B).

As to FBF volume I would use at least 1L.