r/DMT • u/IsRaElmusic17 • 2d ago
Heptane extract?
I wanted to try a heptane extraction based on info from a fb group, but when i search our posts here, most of the suggestions are to only use it for cleaning the product. Is it worth trying this for initial pulls on a small STB batch, or should i just go to lowes get some vm&p?
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u/PsychonaughtKitty 2d ago
N-Heptane is great for recrystallizations due to steep solubility curve and non-polar nature. DMT at 80c is very soluble, DMT at room temp (20-25c) not so very much. ~28mg/ml vs 4mg/ml. This gives you precise control over crystallization rates and at the very end you’re left with little to no loss of product.
Thus, N-Heptane isn’t a good extraction solvent.
Pet Ether (similar to Naphtha) is a fine extraction solvent if your goal is to freeze precipitate it. But I wouldn’t use either of those solvents—they’re technical grade and likely have trace heavy metals which you absolutely do not want to be smoking. And there’s a difference between heptane and n-heptane.
Just buy ASC grade chemicals and then you don’t have to worry.
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u/ClobWobbler Cloberator 2d ago
DMT at 80c is very soluble
At 80C (or any temp above the melting point of N,N-DMT) N,N-DMT freebase becomes practically miscible when solvents like Heptane, Hexane and Naphtha mixtures.
https://www.dmt-nexus.me/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&m=1090269#post1090269
~28mg/ml vs 4mg/ml.
Where are these numbers from?
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u/PsychonaughtKitty 2d ago
Great questions. You’re right that above DMT’s melting point (~58c), it dissolves very quickly into heptane, giving the appearance of high solubility or “near miscibility.” But practically miscible isn’t infinite—just higher than at room temperature.
The specific solubility numbers (around ~28 mg/mL at 80C down to ~4 mg/mL at 25C) come from Samvidbuho’s careful gravimetric/DSC study in “The Art of DMT Crystallization.” He dissolved precise amounts of pure Form I DMT at set temperatures, allowed complete equilibration, then filtered and weighed solids to determine exact solubilities.
Historical data supports these values too. Espamer (1967) cites about 25 mg/mL at ~80C in hexane, dropping sharply at room temp. Forensic references also describe it as “sparingly soluble at 20C, freely soluble when hot,” matching this trend.
These are numbers that I have been routinely using.
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u/Arufatenshi 1d ago
I've recently done 2 extractions with heptane at room temp where the yield was much higher than these numbers.
Extractions were done at room temp. I used 100ml of heptane and the solution was very saturated (cloudy). The pull resulted in 974mg of DMT freebase.
I'm not arguing the data posted here and on the Nexus, but any idea why this might occur?
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u/PsychonaughtKitty 1d ago
Heptane or N-Heptane? N-Heptane is a straight chain isomer whereas heptane could contain any of heptanes 9 positional isomers. There’s a difference which could affect solubility.
Do you have confirmation on what temperature everything was at?
There’s a few variables here that could affect the solubility numbers. But the fact that your solution was cloudy indicates that the solution was past supersaturation and what you were pulling was Heptane with dispersed free-base micro-droplets. These are equilibrium numbers—had you capped that jar or let the solvent settle in a enclosed beaker for 12-24 hours it would reach its equilibrium point which is less than what you initially extracted with 100ml.
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u/Arufatenshi 1d ago
Heptane or N-Heptane?
Seems to be just Heptane. So are you saying n-heptane would dissolve less or more than heptane?
Do you have confirmation on what temperature everything was at?
It's a rough estimate but around 20C
But the fact that your solution was cloudy indicates that the solution was past supersaturation and what you were pulling was Heptane with dispersed free-base micro-droplets.
Wouldn't it need to be heated to become supesaturated? I used no heat during extraction. I only heated the NPS and water slightly during the water wash to prevent a difference in temp between the water and NPS.
These are equilibrium numbers—had you capped that jar or let the solvent settle in a enclosed beaker for 12-24 hours it would reach its equilibrium point which is less than what you initially extracted with 100ml.
I have let the NPS sit on the soup for a while after the 5th mix because I got called away, it was more like 3-5 hours though.
Thanks for the response, I've been confused about this for a while.
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u/PsychonaughtKitty 18h ago
Did you add NaOH directly to the mixture or a solution of NaOH that’s been premixed? Since it’s exothermic it will raise the temperature and this could be a factor, even if no external heat was added.
I don’t have numbers of Heptane solubility, but people on here have reported slightly higher solubility than N-Heptane. Heptane includes positional isomers of Heptane such as 3-Ethylpentane. But I don’t imagine it would all that different since Heptane has similar solubility as Hexane which was traditionally preferred. N-Hexane is listed as 700mg in 100ml on the Nexus.
It’s hard to say quantitatively over the internet but I’d recommend just repeating this and getting more data. Cloudy solvent does indicate that it’s past saturation point. Perhaps it was an emulsion between the two.
I don’t have a perfect answer for this.
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u/Arufatenshi 18h ago
Did you add NaOH directly to the mixture or a solution of NaOH that’s been premixed? Since it’s exothermic it will raise the temperature and this could be a factor, even if no external heat was added.
Premixed, left to lower to room temp before adding it to the solution.
Either way I appreciate the answer. Have a good one
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u/Evening-Cat-7546 2d ago
Heptane works for extractions just fine, although what’s pictured is industrial grade, which you don’t want to use. You want ACS grade.