I have done the acid brew with vinegar and have measured the ph to 4. I then strained the mixture put it in hdpe and have incrementally added lye/sodium hydroxide 5 -10 g at a time to increase the ph to turn the dmt salt into a base. I have been using a ph meter to test the ph of the dmt water with the lye in it after shaking it and the ph peaked at 12.5. I have added more in increments of 5 g and it seems to have dropped to 11.6 ph. Isn't adding lye meant to make the solution more alkaline? Can one add to much lye and therefore ruin the extraction?

By the way I am using the lex tek as a guide, and have adjusted the amounts i need to use based on the amount of plant matter I am using. The tek states that I need a ph of 14 prior to adding the solvent to perform the initial dmt extraction.

Does anyone have any idea as I am quite lost at the moment and help would be appreciated?

your second post plucks at my sympathy strings. I am not experienced in these matters as i use a different tek and am a learner too.But as no one else is on i will try and give some fellow newb advice.

If it were me and i was stuck in your position i would leave it at the recomended lye mix and try a pull and see what comes out, if all good carry on as before if not maybe up the PH but as i say i am in the process of learning also. FAQs are good too.
You can learn by your mistakes.

Ive never checked the PH when doing an extraction, just add the lye/water mix till its gone all black black, then add some more and some salt too just for good measure. Just make sure you dont have any emulsion and you're good to go.

Hi Sub, the ph meter is not really calibrated for what it is being used for, You'll be fine with it going black.... Swirl then pull.......