BHO: Appropriate Containers and Butane

Matt Rize said:

Where did you get those #s? Oh you are adding iso and n-butane, calling it n-butane. right? Technically the colibri is higher % n-butane.

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Now how do you get that information when it isn't on the MSDS? It lists butane at 78% and is a mixture of n-butane and isobutane and doesn't tell us how much n-butane vs. isobutane. Since isobutane has a BP of -11 deg C, the lower BP of Colibri makes me suspect less n-butane.

Dude, go read the MSDS, thats where that info comes from, I posted the link. I copy and pasted the data, not sure what you are talking about.

Vector is:
Butane Percent: 60.00
iso-Butane Percent: 29.00
Propane Percent: 11.00

Colibri is:
Butane 78%
Propane 22%

^^^ copy and paste, im not making this up.

Matt Rize said:

Dude, go read the MSDS, thats where that info comes from, I posted the link. I copy and pasted the data, not sure what you are talking about.

Vector is:
Butane Percent: 60.00
iso-Butane Percent: 29.00
Propane Percent: 11.00

Colibri is:
Butane 78%
Propane 22%

^^^ copy and paste, im not making this up.

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I understand and have not argued these numbers. The thing you seem to be missing is that Colibri's 78% butane is not all n-butane. It is both n-butane and isobutane. They say this right below the percentages you listed:
"Chemical Composition: Blend of hydrocarbons consisting primarily of propane, iso-butane and n-butane" You cannot claim the 78% is all n-butane because with the 22% propane that leaves nothing left for the isobutane. The only conclusion I can come up with is that when they say 'butane 78%' that is a mixture of unknowns quantities of isobutane and n-butane. The MSDS says that it is 22% propane which is double the amount in Vector. I really don't know how to say this any clearer.

Besides, I'm not sure it really matters. Propane is a non-polar solvent like butane and can be used for extractions just fine. I was under the impression that the filtering and refining was to get rid of the mercaptans that are added to commercial butane. If you look at the label for bernz-o-matic butane, it's 100% butane, no propane but it definitely is not as clean when you do a mirror test.

http://www.bernzomatic.com/Portals/8/Resources/2011-MSDS/Eng-Butane-MSDS-6-11-11.pdf

Most lighter fluid is isobutane, not n-butane. Isobutane boils at -11°C, while n-butane boils at -0.5°C and wouldn't work well in a lighter in the cold. You want to avoid anything with mercaptan because it smells horrible and has a much higher bp than the isobutane.
For extraction glass or stainless steel is best but copper works to. Stay away from plastics. Brand will dissolve any short polymers in a plastic.
I use scintillation vials (the little glass vials used for chemical samples) to hold oil (and tons of other things).

Matt Rize said:

Gas Mixtures:

Colibri > Vector >Power

Coibri is the most pure in terms of n-butane %. Vector after that, and Power is low grade Vector. Never use Ronsin or other cheap gases as they are not scent-free (aka added toxins).

You can always do a mirror test, meaning spray a few seconds of gas on a mirror. Every canned gas mixture (intended use as lighter refill) leaves a residue on the mirror, mostly made of paraffin waxes that are added to the gas mixtures to keep the torches lubricated internally. The only pure gas (no paraffin wax added and acutally 100% butane) is n-butane from AirGas, but you have to make sure to get the unscented kind. Many gas mixtures have scent added for safety, called mercaptans, they smell like sulfur usually.

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what about neon?

Neon wouldn't be added to a gas that's supposed to be flammable. Considering how inert it is. I don't think anyone's gotten it to react with fluorine.

MrEDuck said:

Neon wouldn't be added to a gas that's supposed to be flammable. Considering how inert it is. I don't think anyone's gotten it to react with fluorine.

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I was stumped by this Q too until I found out that Neon is a brand of butane. I could not find its MSDS or other ingredients info. cn

But prior to that i mused about the sheer unsuitability of liquid neon.
Now I'd LLOOVVEE to try a subcritical xenon extraction!! I'd save the evaporate in big bags and huff it. cn

Hahaha Ne extraction. Just go all out with liquid He. Superfluid extraction.

cannabineer said:

I was stumped by this Q too until I found out that Neon is a brand of butane. I could not find its MSDS or other ingredients info. cn

But prior to that i mused about the sheer unsuitability of liquid neon.
Now I'd LLOOVVEE to try a subcritical xenon extraction!! I'd save the evaporate in big bags and huff it. cn

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now you sound more depraved than me

Thats how i read it.

mindphuk said:

I understand and have not argued these numbers. The thing you seem to be missing is that Colibri's 78% butane is not all n-butane. It is both n-butane and isobutane. They say this right below the percentages you listed:
"Chemical Composition: Blend of hydrocarbons consisting primarily of propane, iso-butane and n-butane" You cannot claim the 78% is all n-butane because with the 22% propane that leaves nothing left for the isobutane. The only conclusion I can come up with is that when they say 'butane 78%' that is a mixture of unknowns quantities of isobutane and n-butane. The MSDS says that it is 22% propane which is double the amount in Vector. I really don't know how to say this any clearer.

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I'm thinking about doing a BHO extraction for the first time and I've heard glass or metal turkey basters work well and are safer than using pvc pipe with caps. Is this true? If so, which is better stainless steel or glass turkey baster?

Cptbowlface said:

I'm thinking about doing a BHO extraction for the first time and I've heard glass or metal turkey basters work well and are safer than using pvc pipe with caps. Is this true? If so, which is better stainless steel or glass turkey baster?

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yes glass or stainless steel...pvc, abs, copper, ect, all will react with the butane from what i understand, good luck with your first run, BE SAFE

Stainless is the clear winner. It can be cleaned between runs without worrying about compromising the integrity of the vessel (like glass). It won't crack from extreme temperature changes (like glass). And it won't leech phalates into your extract like plastics.

Bublonichronic said:

yes glass or stainless steel...pvc, abs, copper, ect, all will react with the butane from what i understand, good luck with your first run, BE SAFE

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Unplasticized PVC will not react with butane; neither will ABS, copper etc. Copper *might* contaminate the plant extract portion of the fluid, but only if the copper isn't clean. But ABS is quite inert toward butane or the butane/bho blend.
Stainless, of course, is a safe bet. cn

cannabineer said:

Unplasticized PVC will not react with butane; neither will ABS, copper etc. Copper *might* contaminate the plant extract portion of the fluid, but only if the copper isn't clean. But ABS is quite inert toward butane or the butane/bho blend.
Stainless, of course, is a safe bet. cn

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oh word, im not any kind of expert in bho, iv only even ran about 5 batches, ahha, but if you say the stuffs cool to use, im not anybody to argue, but i really dig my glass extraction tube tho

gotta say i love my glass extraction tube also, I started with a pvc one, then i made a stainless steel, and finally i got my glass tube, which is by far the best out of the 3.
as for the butane argument, its not gunna make a huge difference what exact percentage of n-butane and iso butane there is if at the end of the day 100% of the gas in them is a non-polar solvent so it doesnt make a huge difference.
I've done at least 15+ BHO runs in the past year and ive used many different kinds of butane. my favorite is vector though. just gives the smoothest hit IMO.

good luck man! do lots of homework on doin it then go for it with some crap trim before you use good trim.
also dont forget to put a coffee filter or paper towel at the drip end. or else your gunna have some chunky oil.

I just watched your youtube video on bho extraction and your glass extraction tube looks pretty awesome and cheap(?). Where did you get that tube, or what is it called? Thanks so much for all the replies.

Edit: Bublonichronic's video

your local head shop where you get glass if they have any soul should have galss tube for sale, for extractions , and are a easy route

Cptbowlface said:

I just watched your youtube video on bho extraction and your glass extraction tube looks pretty awesome and cheap(?). Where did you get that tube, or what is it called? Thanks so much for all the replies.

Edit: Bublonichronic's video

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i got it at green leaf harvest.com, it was 60$, but the people over there knocked off 20$ for me, but i still think the way to go is a glass turkey baster, much cheaper

http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-5897-Glass-Baster/dp/B0000CFSHX/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321544144&sr=8-1
EDIT: oh yea, thanks for checkin out my vid!