So, my friend's brother is doing a q21q21 extraction and needs some help. I know about this forum so I figured I'd ask for him. He's using VM&P naphtha, Seachem Kalkwasser (labeled as pure calcium hydroxide, and new Brazilian MHRB.

He did everything exactly as instructed, but didn't get a successful yield. Upon freeze precipitation there were what looked like crystals, but in hindsight they were likely blobs of the unknown substance scraped up later.

After drying the naphtha traces, there was a layer of a clear oily substance. Oddly enough, there was some peculiar substance on the plastic lid of the Pyrex container used as well.

There were still a few crystals, but most seemed to have melted into this muck. Furthermore, there wasn't too much of it. He was wondering if it could have been one of the following mistakes:

1. There may have been a little too much water in the mix at the lime stage.
2. He poured all of the liquid off, not leaving that little bit of extra that may have been suggested.
2. He left the precipitation container, after freeze precipitating, with unevaporated naphtha traces. It was closed and at room temperature for about 12 hours.

Could either of these possible mistakes led to the total lack of yield? He might just go for it again and see if it turns out better.

Problem solved.

Can you post the solution as other members might find it useful?

To evaporate after emptying the naphtha from the precipitation container, leave it upside down with some ventilation (not sealed off, prop it up if you have to) in the fridge if you can. After you take it out, leave it in a dark, ventilated area with still, dry air and wait until you can't smell naphtha anymore.

I am having this problem and cant seem to solve it the way you have. Tried upside down in the fridge and using a fan.. not much luck. strange thing is this is my second extraction and I did not have this problem the first time.. cant think of anything ive done differently. help!