But that all depends on the volatility of the unknown 'oil' in the ephedra extract. If it is volatile the water pre-extaction would make no sense at all.Swix powders his plant with dry ice, covers with pH 1 hcl/water mix, and heats to simmering for a few hours;
then pulls. This is then repeated, but a thrid pull on the higher alkaloid % lines would also be necessary.
That said, a plain water pull on the rough chopped plant just wouldn't cut it in Swix's book. You may need to take heed of his prior suggestions for greater effeciency.
If you plan to boil down the water extract to dryness; Swix would recommend adding a little acid to ensure
all the alkaloids are in their hcl salt form - and hence are not steam volatile. He says this as the sticky tarlike extract obtained by alcohol extract seems to indicate the composition of the alkaloids as they naturally occur in the plant; a halfassed mix of freebase and acids (that most probably be steam volatile to
some extent; lowering yield somewhat more).
Also, after u evap the water off and add the alcohol...how do you plan to remove it from the insoluble gunk left at the bottom? decant, filter?
In conclusion, rather than plain water pulls - use a
weak HCL pull (with powdered herb, heat etc if necessary), then evap to dryness (which is a bitch btw), then do alcohol pull, and proceed as normal....
Try it on a few kgs and see what happens, the herb doesn't cost alot in most places (except where Swix is
...)
