Storing Research Chemicals with desiccant

[Niteflights]

I had a question regarding RCs in the freezer. Normally I have just kept tryptamines in the plastic bags that they arrived in, sealed inside a second opaque plastic bag, in the freezer. Some of the newer phens seem to be more hydroscopic and can get gooey if exposed to moisture. I collected some silica desiccant from some vitamins I had, and am going to insert them in with the RCs to prevent moisture issues.

My question is: is it better to actually put the desiccant directly in the RC bag (in contact with the RC), or outside of the RC bag within the larger opaque bag?

SWIM still has a tiny glass vial of 5meo-mipt he obtained several years ago (over 3!). It has had no noticeable loss of potency. Perhaps dark glass vials are the way to go?

Opinions?
Niteflights

[snapper]

Dark glass vials, ideally with no air. Dessicant around vials in second air-tiht container, then store frozen. Since no air is difficult, try to fill as tightly as possible. Plastic bags can leak so use glass with airtight caps if possible.
Most chems will last a lifetime that way.
Snapper

Reputation Comments on this post:

perfect

[kb]

Is freezer storage truly necessary? I've been told that freezer storage is risky (due to condensation/moisture), and that if SWIM ensures that it is room temp., dry, and dark, these RCs should remain viable for as long or longer than they would in a freezer.

SWIM has been dipping from the same sample for 2+ years and has seen no evidence of decay or atrophy.

If it's truly dry to begin with, is there really any benefit to freezing?

[Nagognog2]

Storing below 0C. means the humidity is also zero %. Condensation only comes into play when removing from the freezer. One should allow for the contents to reach ambient before exposure to outside air (outside the container). And of course the storage container must be airtight/watertight. Not just a plastic-baggie behind Aunt Veronica's 1977 Christmas Lasagna.

Some chemicals will, indeed, break down much faster at RT. Some are quite stable at RT. But careful freezing, following correct protocol, will not harm anything.

[snapper]

SWIM has heard at least one RC lost most of its potency at 3 years storage in a dark, dry, sealed, and room-temp spot (5meodipt from 2 sources). Others like the phens do not seem to care at all. Tryptamines are usually the ones that prefer sub-zero, but as Nagognog2 said, it can't hurt, and better not to find out which ones degrade quickly if it can be prevented.
Sealing airtight and using a few dessicant packs and the chems should be fine.

[nanobrain]

proper cooked phens very stable.

now, ever go to a beachside restaurant? note how they put a few grains of raw rice into the saltshaker? a stability tester's thought to ponder.

[Spare Chaynge]

could swims friend store 5 meo mipt in some sort of liquid in the freezer... perhaps alcohol.. or maybe Gatorade in the fridge...Swims friend would feel more comfortable if it was as obvious as powder in a bag