Silk Road forums
Market => Product requests => Topic started by: Soh Krates on March 31, 2013, 12:15 pm
-
Anyone know where I can find lye / NaOH in Australia? It's listed on Amazon but Australian laws prevent them selling it, and a thorough googling / forum perusing shows no sign of any local vendors =[
Any ideas appreciated!
-
what do you need it for?
potassium hydroxide is an alternative.
Else sodium carbonate if you require a base but it is much weaker as NaOH
-
I need it for GHB synthesis. I'm no chemist, but am satisfied through research that the process is simple enough to not mess it up.
Not really psyched about using alternatives, would require more research to check if it's appropriate for my purpose and potentially new recipes :s
-
I need it for GHB synthesis. I'm no chemist, but am satisfied through research that the process is simple enough to not mess it up.
Not really psyched about using alternatives, would require more research to check if it's appropriate for my purpose and potentially new recipes :s
use sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) it works fine.
Preparation of Sodium GHB using Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda, NaHCO3)
Written by Chromic
Add 273 g NaHCO3 (3.25 moles) to 1125 mL distilled water in a glass container. Slowly bring the solution to a boil while stirring with a glass rod or similar. All of the baking soda will dissolve. Carbon dioxide will be seen leaving the solution as it comes to a boil. This is the sodium bicarbonate breaking down into a slightly strong base, sodium carbonate:
2 NaHCO3 -> Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2
Reduce the heat to a light boil, and slowly add 250ml gamma-Butyrolactone (280g, 3.25 moles). The addition is not immediately exothermic as with the sodium hydroxide synthesis. Keep this solution at a light boil for 30 minutes. Check the pH with universal pH paper. We are aiming for a pH around 7, but anything 6 to 8 is perfectly safe. If the pH is too high, add a small amount more GBL and continue to reflux.
The solution will be perfectly clear and should be absolutely colorless. If it is not perfectly colorless, i.e. if slightly impure butyrolactone was used and the solution has taken on a light yellow color, add about 100 mL of activated charcoal. Allow this to boil for 10 minutes. Cool the solution then filter, washing the activated charcoal two or three times with 50 ml portions of cold water. 410g of NaGHB will be made in this synthesis. This solution can be concentrated to about 50% NaGHB before it will start to crystallize. If you wish for a powder, heat until the temperature of the solution reaches 150°C then pour onto a flexible metal sheet and allow it to cool and solidify.
This synthesis is perfect for use where there is no ACS, Food or Electronics grade sodium hydroxide available.
-
I like the chemistry consulting service and support for Shulgins nice !
I got a big tub of white lye crystals. I would ship to you if you need. For free or u pay postage.
-
Baking soda is not usually an alternative to NaOH when it comes to chemistry. KOH might be, but in case of GHB synthesis you may end up with the potassium salt instead of the sodium salt, which may make the end product quite dangerous to use (hypotension side effects and such).
NaOH should not be difficult to source however - your best bet is to find the cheapest drain cleaner you can possibly find since that it actually likely to be sodium hydroxide and little if anything else. It will be declared on the label.
It is a difficult chemical to synthesize yourself on any usable scale, except for letting sodium metal react with water, but if you cannon get your hands on plain old sodium hydroxide i presume you certainly cannot obtain the metal.
KOH can however be converted to NaOH with ion exchange reactions, so if you can get KOH but not NaOH that would be worthwhile to pursue.
-
Maybe try checking out a bunnings store.
I remember buying Lye from Bunnings. However I don't think it was as pure as you'd be looking for.
-
You can get sodium hydroxide from woolworths.
Mechanix caustic soda is what you want.
Here's a picture *clearnet*
http://www2.woolworthsonline.com.au/Content/ProductImages/big/003345.jpg
-
Baking soda is not usually an alternative to NaOH when it comes to chemistry. KOH might be, but in case of GHB synthesis you may end up with the potassium salt instead of the sodium salt, which may make the end product quite dangerous to use (hypotension side effects and such).
NaOH should not be difficult to source however - your best bet is to find the cheapest drain cleaner you can possibly find since that it actually likely to be sodium hydroxide and little if anything else. It will be declared on the label.
It is a difficult chemical to synthesize yourself on any usable scale, except for letting sodium metal react with water, but if you cannon get your hands on plain old sodium hydroxide i presume you certainly cannot obtain the metal.
KOH can however be converted to NaOH with ion exchange reactions, so if you can get KOH but not NaOH that would be worthwhile to pursue.
NaHCO3 can be used for making GHB