I see when performing alkaloid extractions people leave the solvent and plant material to soak for varying periods of time... anywhere from a few hours to a week. So I was just wondering from someone with experience... how long does an extraction really need to sit before filtering etc? Can I let it sit for 30 minutes and get a similar yield as 12 hours? How do you know how long is enough?

(Alcohol extractions)

Hi bluegoddess

Welcome to the forum, sorry that no one has answered your question. I am not expert but I would say that no one has yet done a study to see how much affect letting things soak for has.

I leave for around 12 hours, and find that this results in a larger 1st pull than leaving for a couple of hours. I have done a couple of hour soak pulls and they have been disappointing.

I think to get a good answer to your question would require someone to process several batches of product. Keeping the process exactly the same for each extraction apart from the soaking time.

I have noticed that by putting in a semi acid base step at the beginning of a Noman's tek results in a large first pull amount.

It is probably safe to say that leaving the material to soak for a few hours is better than say 30 minutes, but there will be a point of diminishing returns reached. where by any extra product is minimal when compared to the wait time. I would say that overnight is a good time to let the product soak. Allows you to put everything in solution and then go to bed and wake up and finish the extraction.

But if you want a ”quick” result add in a small 30 minute acid step as explained here and here.