Extraction - Safest Container for Solvent Extraction of Wild Lettuce?

[MellowViper]

Swim is trying to make an extraction of Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa). Swim just picked up a can of Ace Hardware brand acetone, and Swim was going to throw it in an old pickle jar, but noticed there was a plastic seal on the top of the lid. Swim figures that if they are going to be shaking acetone about in a container full of dissolved plant material, it will probably dissolve the plastic along with the alkaloids. Swim wants to avoid having dissolved plastic in the extract. What would be the best container? Should they just use the one they already have and just agitate the base of the jar to avoid getting the chemical on the lid?

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good harm reduction topic

[Potter]

Well there's a scientific apparatus called a "stir" which is basically an inert rod used for agitation!

Could always get a metal martini shaker, then you could agitate and filter all in one device, save time AND money, not to mention if you rent the movie "Cocktail" you could learn some cool tricks like Tom Cruise and then you'd have all the ladies in the lab.

Good call on being nervous about the plastics, there's a good chance the acetone will eat them up and turn the product rather toxic.

[Synchronium]

SWIY could try removing the lid entirely and covering the top with foil and an elastic band. Just don't shake too vigorously!

Then again, some people swear by just pouring the 'tone on and then straight back off again. It's such a powerful solvent that it also rips a lot of wax out of the leaves, so this ensures a cleaner product.

[Johan73]

Also maybe swim could try soaking the lid in some acetone first to see if it starts degrading the seal. If it does then use a different container. Of course maybe it would leach out some nasty stuff without causing visible damage to the seal. Can swiy maybe get a liquor bottle or something?