So I've noticed over a pretty large amount of time that lots of people are using ziplock bags as sep funnels. Since they are ldpe, they can take a surprising amount of what you throw at them. They also dont contain plasticizers, which makes them extremely well suited to extractions. But, if you are using solvents like dcm, chloroform, or ethyl acetate etc, i wouldnt trust them. Whats more, ldpe is simply less durable than hdpe, and ziplock bags are rather flimsy and not reusable. So, i tasked myself with searching out hdpe bottles that would work as sep funnels. In doing so, i found a commercially available screw cap that could easily be adapted for use on a glass bottle, and a funnel could be rigged with the use of a liquor container and a diamond drill bit for glass.



The first is the smallest/cheapest. Joy 14oz dish soap. I purchased one of these for 88 cents.


Next is a refill sized dawn dish soap. It comes in the same bottle as...


Gain refill sized dish soap. Both of these bottles are over a quart in size and around $5.

If youll notice, these all have the same white hinged cap. This is key - they have a pretty standard threading, so they can be screwed onto most bottles. If one were to drill a hole in the bottom of a glass liquor bottle, one could easily use the cap as a makeshift stopcock, and it would miminize the possibility of leeching.

But as i said, this is more an alternative to ziplock bags than it is a permanent solution. I would not reccomend storing chems in plastic, and would advise that if you're going to use chems like dcm, you do so at a reduced temperature, as that helps keep the integrity of the plastic. And remember, if the bottle is clear plastic, its not the right one. HDPE has a whitish translucent appearance, just like a gallon milk jug. Check for recycling code 2 on the bottom.

Endless has asked that I include his post on plastic/plasticizers, so ill honour that. It should be noted, however, that hdpe sep funnels are manufactured and sold, and that hdpe and ldpe dont require plasticizers...which isnt to say they dont have them. They dont need them under most circumstances, but if you're worried, you could do a dry run with dcm and do an evaporation test.

Phthalates