I'm not sure if this was the right place to post this but, I was wondering if anybody knew a good way to extract caffeine? From tea? coffee? Instant coffee? Has anyone attempted this before? I can't seem to find a reasonable guide anywhere, pictures would be nice too. Pills like No Doz, contain a lot of fillers, and I need pure caffeine for an experiment.

http://www.seriaz.org/downloads/4-caffiene.pdf

Looks like a good tek

Yeah I saw that one, unfortunately it was pretty difficult finding some of the materials, I might have to go with something like that though.
Any idea how I can get my hands on some methylene chloride?

Is it ok to use methylene chloride paint stripper?

Where I live the materials "required"/recommended are easily accessible and you may find methylene chloride in hardware stores and paint shops.

Although I'd recommend finding a pure solvent without any additives as these might be toxic and end up in the final product.

Regarding the solvent; http://msdssearch.dow.co....pdf&fromPage=GetDoc

This page shows some good-to-know information on how to safely handle the solvent.

Good luck

Looking at caffeine's solubility (Merck Index), you could also use CHCL3, Toulene, or ethyl acetate. It sublimes at 178 and has the potential to be re-crystallized from boiling H2O.

Also note that the sodium carbonate is to keep the tannins in the aqueous layer when extracting from tea or coffee.

Thanks so much guys! Evisceratechuck, that page is really helpful. I think I have decided to use instant coffee, the caffeine content seems high and it may be easier to work with.. does anyone agree? Do you think getting plant material, like unripe beans or tea leaves may be better? I'm kind of a chemistry newbie, and this is one of my first experiments..

So what is the reason to extract and have caffeine ? What you intend to use it for ?

what are you, a cop?
why does one need a reason to extract caffeine? it's good practice, and a standard procedure in organic lab.

haha, yeah, I'm pretty much practicing. I plan to extract DMT in the future, and I'm also doing it because its not too expensive, and its fun. I also thought I had most of the materials.

Yes – it was the first extraction I did in Organic Chemistry lab (32 years ago! )

yea, it's still the standard in any lab text...from tea or coffee...ammonia to basify, dcm or chloroform to extract, and 5% sodium bicarb to wash. re-x with any low-boiling aromatic or aliphatic, or Et2O.

chill out man what is your problem ? I can ask any question here if you dont like it then ... Who do you think you are to come to talk to me like that ?

my questions still stands and they were nor for you hope you get it now. I repeat the questions above are not for you benzyme ok ?

Oh yes and to answer your question - NO I am not a coper.

I just dont know what one can use it for so my questions are genuine and I would like to know the answer if that is not state secret.

dont know where you come from benzyme but in is not a standard procedure in my country or you think there is only one ? yours ?

ok.

caffeine extraction is the simplest and most routine extraction, carried out since the dawn of
civilization. it's easily the most common extraction. the process of isolating caffeine from
polar plant molecules takes it a step further, and is very good practice, not to mention very cheap, to hone the skills required in preparation for extractions of other alkaloids.

So if I understand it right it is done only for training purposes. I dont see that a cheap when you have to spend all this time and money just to extract something you then throw away. I guess it would be better to get something you can actually use for your self. But that's me

Caffeine is dirt cheap. Just order it.

http://purebulk.com/caffeine-powder


Peace

it's not about yields or usable product, it's about the process.

personally, and I don't mean you guys, I find it sad that many just go about teks
just to get end product, without any regard to safety and 'good' chemistry practices.
they just want instant gratification.

there's some thread where a new member want to IV DMT... I could offer advice to convert freebase to very pure USP-grade dmt salt, but I won't, because I can tell that member has no regard for his own safety.

Experiments like these are fun for me, like it was in school. Getting an end product that is pure and one that works is very rewarding. I would probably end up using the caffeine too, even though I could just buy vivarin or no doz. It's like baking, of course you could just go to the store and buy cookies, but some people love to bake. This is the first experiment I will be doing on my own and I want to start basic and safely.

I think that if more people took this type of attitude/outlook to extraction by practicing and learning the underlying principles, there wouldn't be the need for step by step, in *excruciating* detail, 'teks' of how to extract this or that plant. There would be a lot fewer of the common, simple to answer questions asked that have been asked over and over for the last 15 or so years.

I think it is commendable that Yellowbench wants to start off with this sort of experimentation. This type of attitude will go a long way. A long way toward greater knowledge and understanding. A lot of the people who wrote some of the original 'teks' started off this way. A lot of the people who follow them don't. And they don't understand what it is that they are doing so they rely on the help of those that do. But note, that those of us who do understand the processes tire of answering the same old questions.

Caffeine extraction: this is a good one. A basic extraction that is a great learning tool. From here you might look into extracting theobromine and/or theophylline. And then the seperation of the xanthine alkaloids. This could teach a person a lot.

And the end product? Knowledge and understanding. Sometimes that is the greatest reward of all.

Please let us know how your experiments go, I for one am interested.