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SWilkin676
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A small room lab setup (macGivered)
I think I've got a neat thing or two in my setup so far. Only took a couple of months of fiddling around to get this soxhlet setup in place.
I don't have a whole lot of room in my hobby room and I have a lot of hobbies. So a big countertop or laboratory table was out of the question.
Instead I found a small nightstand that had a welded metal frame legs - took the top off and added a big dept store metal shelf as the table top.
To support the lab lattice I found a metal door frame that was once a demo for screen doors at a home improvement store. I made a stand for it using
Tslot and angle steel from a bed frame. I mounted short pieces of electrical strut across the front and after a frustrating weekend looking for a
quick fix to mount the lattice poles, I wound up creating custom mounts using some 6061 alumininum profile. (see pic closeup)
I'm using a fry daddy filled with silicon carbide (like a sand bath, only much hotter much faster) when I need serious heat. I put it on top of the
thermolyne so I can use the magnetic stirbar. I coated the bottom of a one liter flask with copper gasket material to protect it from the silicone
carbide. If anyone's got a better idea on that I'm open to it - the gasket seems to work, but I can't go around messing with all our glassware that
way.
Next up is making some insulators for the soxhlet. I'm going to try combining ironing board fabric with (mineral wool I think it's called - store
said it was fiberglass).
The brown stuff in the soxhlet is Eleutherococcus senticosus.
Not bad for someone who's never had a chemistry class not to mention never any plumbing training!! (did watch my partner setup a sohxlet though) He
has an annoying habit of asking me why I don't just create my own lattice pole mounts instead of trying to MacGiver em - like metalworking is an
assumed skill!!
Suzee
 
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The WiZard is In
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Looks like a lot or work to brew coffee.
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chemoleo
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Coffee?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleutherococcus_senticosus
What are you trying to extract from it?
By the way, there a number of threads with lab setups, please post there in the future (will merge another time)
Never Stop to Begin, and Never Begin to Stop...
Tolerance is good. But not with the intolerant! (Wilhelm Busch)
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entropy51
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Quote: Originally posted by SWilkin676  | I'm using a fry daddy filled with silicon carbide (like a sand bath, only much hotter much faster) when I need serious heat. I put it on top of the
thermolyne so I can use the magnetic stirbar. I coated the bottom of a one liter flask with copper gasket material to protect it from the silicone
carbide. If anyone's got a better idea on that I'm open to it - the gasket seems to work, but I can't go around messing with all our glassware that
way.
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You didn't say what solvent you're using, but most of them have boiling points less than the boiling point
of water. In such a case you could use a hot water bath. If you are refluxing water you may not extract anything interesting, but you could use oil
in the Fry Daddy.
[Edited on 21-4-2010 by entropy51]
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The WiZard is In
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| Quote: Originally posted by SWilkin676 | I think I've got a neat thing or two in my setup so far. Only took a couple of months of fiddling around to get this soxhlet setup in place.
To support the lab lattice I found a metal door frame that was once a demo for screen doors at a home improvement store. I made a stand for it using
Tslot
Suzee |
Interesting use of strut channel which can be had
in stainless steel and two different depths.
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SWilkin676
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...Use oil in the Fry Daddy
Are you sure you aren't my partner in disguise, he really doesn't understand why I don't want to use oil - many long discussions. I am a bit clumsy
for starters, I'm new and making lots of mistakes which I usually catch right after I do them for 2nds.
I am probably going to switch to a water bath for now and probably buy a mantle next time I have any money. My partner has been doing chemistry
since he was a kid so his views on efficiency in heating tend to influence me to go beyond what I think I need at this point. I see his point though.
It takes a long time to get it ramped up. I only get a couple of hours after work at night to play with things.
My primary goal is getting setup and learning to do a sohxlet. Some of the studies reference an aqueous extraction, so I'm using that as the first
run. Then I'm going to do an 2nd alcoholic one.
Suzee
[Edited on 22-4-2010 by SWilkin676]
[Edited on 22-4-2010 by SWilkin676]
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SWilkin676
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| Quote: Originally posted by The WiZard is In | | Quote: Originally posted by SWilkin676 | I think I've got a neat thing or two in my setup so far. Only took a couple of months of fiddling around to get this soxhlet setup in place.
To support the lab lattice I found a metal door frame that was once a demo for screen doors at a home improvement store. I made a stand for it using
Tslot
Suzee |
Interesting use of strut channel which can be had
in stainless steel and two different depths. |
You can't see thet-slot - it's on the floor it's 8020 2 channel 3" stuff. Thestrut is what is mounted on the frame
to hold the lattice poles.
[Edited on 22-4-2010 by SWilkin676]
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SWilkin676
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It's not work - it's fun (except for plumbing). I have to start somewhere. So it is for the long term exploration that I am setting up. First I
learn to do a basic extraction and distillation techniques, then I learn to extract and separate specific elements. I am starting with relatively
safe solvents and materials. And I am trying to set things up in a way that I can play for short periods of time.
My interest in chemistry started in nutrition from there into herbal supplements and then into phytochemistry.
I said when I started I didn't ever imagine doing reactions, have already changed my mind.
Actually was thinking of brewing raw cacao interesting phytochemicals in that stuff, coffee I'll leave to my partner. He does it just right. He is
the real chemist in the house.
[Edited on 22-4-2010 by SWilkin676]
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The WiZard is In
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| Quote: Originally posted by SWilkin676 |
It's not work - it's fun (except for plumbing). I have to start somewhere. So it is for the long term exploration that I am setting up. First I
learn to do a basic extraction and distillation techniques, then I learn to extract and separate specific elements. I am starting with relatively
safe solvents and materials. And I am trying to set things up in a way that I can play for short periods of time.
[Edited on 22-4-2010 by SWilkin676] |
Here is something you can extract :—
'Bakers may be at occupational risk of poppy-seed addiction'
Abstract from: The Lancet Volume 350, Number 9079 [6] 716-7 September 1997
MA King & et al Poppy tea and baker’s first seizure
“Doctors treating a baker who had a seizure at work suspected
drug-abuse which the patient denied until his business partner told them
that the bakery's weekly order of poppy seeds had gone up from 3 kg to
25 kg. The baker then admitted to drinking up to 2 L of tea made from
about 4 kg of poppy seed every day, a practice he was introduced to
during his apprenticeship. Mark King and colleagues from Victoria,
Australia, report this case in a Research Letter this week, and remark on
the patient's extraordinary drug tolerance since his daily consumption was
the equivalent of 280 mg of morphine, On admission his blood morphine
concentration was nearly 3 mg/L-heroin addicts who die of an overdose
have mean concentrations of 0-6 mg/L. He was admitted to a
rehabilitation programme where the poppy tea was replaced with
slow-release oral morphine.”
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The WiZard is In
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| Quote: Originally posted by SWilkin676 |
It's not work - it's fun (except for plumbing). I have to start somewhere. So it is for the long term exploration that I am setting up. First I
learn to do a basic extraction and distillation techniques, then I learn to extract and separate specific elements. I am starting with relatively
safe solvents and materials. And I am trying to set things up in a way that I can play for short periods of time.
[Edited on 22-4-2010 by SWilkin676] |
When you exchequer allows - a heating mantle would be
a good investment in convenience. Try eBay, remember
they are size/shape of flask specific. In the past variable
voltage transformers were used to vary heat, a full range light dimmer is a lot less expensive.
By da ... I thought most photochemicals were extracted using
steam? Can not bring to mind the name of the apparatus.
I believe they use grease for violets.
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Magpie
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| Quote: Originally posted by The WiZard is In |
The baker then admitted to drinking up to 2 L of tea made from about 4 kg of poppy seed every day... his daily consumption was the equivalent of 280
mg of morphine...
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What?! Why hasn't the DEA banned poppyseeds for food use? No wonder my wife likes them so much: muffins, salad dressing, etc.
Based on the above the morphine content of poppyseeds is at least 70ppm.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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SWilkin676
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"He was admitted to a rehabilitation programme where the poppy tea was replaced with slow-release oral morphine.”
I kinda noticed that the drug companies are going out of their way to make drugs that while lacking in any sort of make you feel good component also
manage to retain the addictiveness. Here - get off that nasty old street drug and let us give you something we can make money on. I spent 10 years
on Effexor which is more addicting than Heroin ever dreamed of being. Miss a dose and 3 days later you're psychotic and suicidal. Yummmm
I got a hippie for a boyfriend so you're not really ruffling any feathers he hasn't already thoroughly plucked.
Suzee
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Lambda-Eyde
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MacGyvered? Where's the duct tape?!
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hissingnoise
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And because marijuana is good for whatever ails you, it comes in for special attention from the DEA!
The lunatics have been running the asylum for the best part of eighty years now. . .
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JohnWW
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| Quote: Originally posted by The WiZard is in |
'Bakers may be at occupational risk of poppy-seed addiction'
Abstract from: The Lancet Volume 350, Number 9079 [6] 716-7 September 1997
MA King & et al Poppy tea and baker’s first seizure
“Doctors treating a baker who had a seizure at work suspected drug-abuse which the patient denied until his business partner told them that the
bakery's weekly order of poppy seeds had gone up from 3 kg to 25 kg. The baker then admitted to drinking up to 2 L of tea made from about 4 kg of
poppy seed every day, a practice he was introduced to during his apprenticeship. Mark King and colleagues from Victoria,
Australia, report this case in a Research Letter this week, and remark on the patient's extraordinary drug tolerance since his daily consumption was
the equivalent of 280 mg of morphine, On admission his blood morphine concentration was nearly 3 mg/L-heroin addicts who die of an overdose have mean
concentrations of 0-6 mg/L. He was admitted to a
rehabilitation programme where the poppy tea was replaced with slow-release oral morphine.” |
Oh gosh, about two years ago, on impulse I bought at a shop remainders/surplus sale a 10 Kg bulk bag of poppy seeds! I was going to work my way
through them, using them in cakes and as an additive (along with cayenne pepper etc.) in mustard made up from mustard powder. I am not a
morphine/codeine addict, but I wonder what I should do with them now; I suppose I could put them in my first-aid cabinet, and use them as a
pain-killer when needed for injuries.
I wonder where those poppy seeds came from? I doubt that poppies, of any species, are grown in New Zealand for their seeds, as opposed to their
flowers. Extracting opium by hand from many unripe seed-heads would be simply uneconomic except in a low-wage economy, although in Tasmania they do it
to obtain legal medical morphine and codeine for prescription use in Australia and New Zealand, in spite of the high labor cost involved. So I would
not be surprised if they are, in fact, opium poppy seeds (Papaver Somniferum), probably from either Afghani$tan, Pakistan, India, Iran, Turkey,
Lebanon, Burma, Laos, or Thailand, where they are grown for mostly illegal drug-trade purposes, and smuggled into Russia, Europe, and (probably mostly
by the CIA) North America.
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hissingnoise
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If you plant them John, New Zealand's climate should give a mild opium.
Pleasant enough buzz, and less addictive - what's not to like?
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gardenvariety
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| Quote: Originally posted by JohnWW |
I wonder where those poppy seeds came from? I doubt that poppies, of any species, are grown in New Zealand for their seeds, as opposed to their
flowers. Extracting opium by hand from many unripe seed-heads would be simply uneconomic except in a low-wage economy, although in Tasmania they do it
to obtain legal medical morphine and codeine for prescription use in Australia and New Zealand, in spite of the high labor cost involved. So I would
not be surprised if they are, in fact, opium poppy seeds (Papaver Somniferum), probably from either Afghani$tan, Pakistan, India, Iran, Turkey,
Lebanon, Burma, Laos, or Thailand, where they are grown for mostly illegal drug-trade purposes, and smuggled into Russia, Europe, and (probably mostly
by the CIA) North America. |
I know very little about poppy cultivation, but as I understand it the cutting of the immature seed-heads triggers the plant to make more
opium-containing resin, thus that cultivation is higher-yield than extracting from seed.
I would guess that anyone who keeps a garden already wouldn't find it too hard to grow enough poppy for personal use; people did that before the 20th
century. Thomas Jefferson, for instance, from whose home (Monticello) the DEA wiped out all the poppies sometime in the 1980's, iirc, which were the
direct descendants of poppies Jefferson grew there for medicinal use.
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SWilkin676
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"I thought most photochemicals were extracted using
steam? Can not bring to mind the name of the apparatus."
I think you're thinking of essential oils - which in some cases are the active ingredient. The best extraction method for many phytochemicals is CO2
but a bit out of my range, although ya'll got a thread or two on it in here.
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SWilkin676
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"MacGyvered? Where's the duct tape?! "
We used it all up in the dungeon.
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peach
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| Quote: Originally posted by The WiZard is In | | Quote: Originally posted by SWilkin676 |
“Doctors treating a baker who had a seizure at work suspected
drug-abuse which the patient denied until his business partner told them
that the bakery's weekly order of poppy seeds had gone up from 3 kg to
25 kg.
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Roflcopterz! 
Have you seen the mythbusters episode where they test this? Apparently, eating a poppy seed cake or bagels coated in them is enough that you'll test
positive for drug abuse the next day. They decided to test it after hearing a story about a woman being fired after mandatory testing, having eaten a
bagel the day before; or so she claimed anyway...  |
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The WiZard is In
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| Quote: Originally posted by peach |
Have you seen the mythbusters episode where they test this? Apparently, eating a poppy seed cake or bagels coated in them is enough that you'll test
positive for drug abuse the next day. They decided to test it after hearing a story about a woman being fired after mandatory testing, having eaten a
bagel the day before; or so she claimed anyway... |
Jails are full of people who while on parole ignored
warnings not eat any items with poppy seeds, failing
their drug tests, parole was revoked.
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peach
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| Quote: |
Jails are full of people who while on parole ignored warnings not eat any items with poppy seeds, failing their drug tests, parole was revoked.
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[Edited on 1-5-2010 by peach]
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Runningbear
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Hey SWilkin676,
Are those fry daddy's made of aluminium? I'm assuming they must be if your running the mag stirrer underneath. No problems there? It stirs OK?
Runningbear
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SWilkin676
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| Quote: Originally posted by Runningbear | Hey SWilkin676,
Are those fry daddy's made of aluminium? I'm assuming they must be if your running the mag stirrer underneath. No problems there? It stirs OK?
Runningbear
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Yes it works fine. First thing I checked - I keep a small magnet in my purse so I can check when I'm thrift shopping. The fry daddy got "borrowed"
by my partner and transformed (heat controller revised etc), I am using a small aluminum fondue pot on top of my thermolyne for a peanut oil bath -
finally got a sohxlet working! Don't need heavy heat or as much control for the stuff I'm doing right now.
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SeaDonkey
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Impressive setup. I also have too many hobbies and not enough space so this threads an inspiration to me.
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