US2943093 gives a method for purifying tryptamine compounds by treatment with CO2 in a solvent to form the carbonate which precipitates from the solution. CO2 is in the air. I wonder if this could cause problems when handling tryptamines. Tryptamine carbonates tend to be insoluble in solvents like alcohol and methylene dichloride. Heating the tryptamine carbonate decomposes it into the tryptamine and CO2.
Patent US2943093 (http://l2.espacenet.com/dips/viewer?PN=US2943093&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)