If one doesn’t need hood training, have zero need for its use since all chemicals being used are non-toxic, compostable and biodegradable, exactly what type of training is needed to set up a super-critical fluid extraction? I’m trained, but need to hurdle the red tape, out of respect. The CO2 already exists in the space. I have all my material data sheets.
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Are you the gentleman I spoke with previously who was worried about the water content in your plant oil extracts interfering with potency or the next steps in making your product? I know that you mentioned this is a proprietary and confidential product so I didn’t pry further but now that you want to do your process in the Science space, I have additional concerns. You also mentioned that you didn’t know if there was a way to determine the concentration of water remaining in your extract.
I am going to assume that you are acting in good faith (which I think is evidenced by asking here instead of just going ahead and doing it). As such, I will be open and honest with you here about my concerns and am willing to help if you can assuage them.
Even if this isn’t what you plan on doing, I think this is information that others might need to know and on the chance that it is what you are planning I think it is critical information for you to have as well. You mentioned being new to Texas so I’m assuming that perhaps you might be unaware of our especially draconian laws.
Texas law makes production of any cannabis extracts extraordinarily risky even if your product is a legal and non-intoxicating substance such as CBD oil. Any extract containing more than 0.3% THC is a felony with an up to 2 year sentence for any amount <1g, 10 years for 1-4 grams, and 20 years for >4 grams. Over 400g, you could get life. In the process of extraction and concentration, it is very easy to accidentally make a mixture as an intermediate step (since the solvent weight would count against you) that could potentially send you away for life. Even if your end product is 100% pure legal CBD oil, this is an extraordinary risk to take. Its best to do this elsewhere and only possess the legal and non-intoxicating compounds in Texas. It is also something that we cannot afford to risk here at Science.
If you can reassure me to my satisfaction that this will not be an issue with your product, we can discuss the safety issues in terms of actually doing experiments like these. Feel free to send me a PM if you do not wish to discuss this publicly in terms of a proprietary product but I am sorry that I am not able to sign an NDA with you at this point as you previously suggested. I have done both supercritical CO2 drying and ultrasonication in both university and industry lab settings. And based on the post above I don’t believe you appreciate the risks involved. Please do not try any of these experiments in the Science area until permission is granted. Thank you.
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I am, in fact, the person you met! I’m a polymers scientist who’s working on an already clear product that is non -toxic, biodegradable, compostable, and consumable. I’m deeply interested in improving the various tensil strengths that are these things before introducing plastercizers that are not these things. I’m hoping to break the mold on the latter, because of the former.
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Right not, everything about this polymer can save lives across the world, but it’s strength must be competitive throughout manufacturing for various industries. It must stay non-toxic
And compostable. There is no reason it can’t beyond use case scenarios and proper tensil testing.
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Thank you for the additional clarification. I just need to be particularly cautious in terms of protecting the Science area due to these types of issues as I hope you understand. And as I mentioned before, I think this is good information for others to be aware of as well just so that no one is tempted to try something like that at the space.
Do you have model numbers or schematics for the equipment you intend to use to do either supercritical extraction or ultrasonication? Please go ahead and send those to [email protected] and I’ll give my feedback about it after I’ve had a chance to look over those plans.
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I do, and I’ll be in touch. P.S. we may have to borrow from the jewelry department, and 3D fab, and the metal shop. They won’t miss a thing.
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Borrowing equipment from other committees needs to be done with the permission of their chairs and will be more difficult than you think and for good reason. Taking equipment out of service for their intended purpose risks inconveniencing the regular users.
For example, I wanted to try an experiment bonding two pieces of metal using a high pressure heat press belonging to jewelry and was not granted permission. I respected their decision and bought my own press. Please do not go and take items from other groups. Most likely you will need to buy your own.
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I would suggest that you focus on ultrasonication as supercritical drying/extraction is more risky from a safety perspective. You are pumping liquid CO2 and the extracted chemicals around. Design of a safe high pressure reaction vessel system is not as easy as you may think and not something that can be hacked together by borrowing equipment from jewelry and the metal shop. Yes, there are DIY designs out there but the users are typically more willing to accept safety risks since they are already willing to take legal risks.
For ultrasonication, you can do this safely with a noise dampening box and a fume hood. I suggest you look into that method first if you suspect that it will be workable.
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I notice that at no point did you say that this is not cannabis related, intoxicating substances and their byproducts are strictly prohibited at Dallas Makerspace and it will get you kicked out. We cannot have our non-profit involved in the manufacture of anything illegal. Come on. Don’t be stupid.
Also, you cannot just take things from committees without asking them, that “they will never miss”. It is a great way to get yourself banned from those committee areas and the whole Makerspace if this becomes a pattern of behavior.
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I don’t have any issues with tools being temporarily used at the space. However they need to be returned promptly after being used. Like day of, not having them sit for several days in other committees.
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Thanks for looping me in
If anything is found to be related to controlled substances it will be turned over to the cops and the people responsible will be expelled.
That said, I know @GreenOrbs safety review process is thorough. So I doubt he would allow anything like that to be done here.
@mcfrost333 is this in any way related to intoxicating substances, or controlled substances?
Also, as Amelia noted, it is absolutely a requirement that you be respectful of other committees supplies and equipment. Willful misuse or appropriation of supplies is not tolerated. Ask before you borrow any equipment.
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Upon further reflection, while I have used commercial supercritical CO2 systems before (the reactor lid was a thick metal plate with like 12 huge bolts), I do not have the necessary background to determine if your design is likely to burst and send shrapnel flying about.
To do the supercritical extraction with liquid CO2, we will want to use either a commercial system or have a professional engineer sign off on the design. Otherwise, this will not currently be allowed at this time.
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That makes a lot of sense. I understand.
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As long as they’re used in the manner for which they were intended …
Seems obvious, but to a lot of people it isn’t.
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When I did Logistics the things I saw done to HF pliers to make one-time-use tools… Just about every way one could re-shape, cut, weld onto, etc was committed over the course of those ~18 months.
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Yay verily. And every cutting edge shall have notches…because this is the way of the…