ARE RUBBER BUNGS BASE PROOF??

[ethnobotanica]

Hi Peeps,
I'm wondering if using a rubber bung for a gallon wine bottle will be ok. Is there a chance that the base solution can melt the rubber?? The bottles available nearby dont have screw caps so this is the only option. Is this a dangerous way to do an A/B?? Foaf doesnt wanna f**k himself up wif a cap popping off in the middle of something
Cheers

[vinz]

be careful with glass if you are going to do extractions
coz lye etches the glass, i learned that the hard way
my solution spilling all over my bathroom floor
HDPE is the way

[ethnobotanica]

What is HDPE??

[vinz]

high density polyethylene plastic
in the states, milk bottles..
also some vinegar bottles..
its like white plastic.. and ul see hdpe under the bottle..

[ethnobotanica]

Kool, thanx Vinz. So this stuff wont be melted by a concentrated base solution then??

[ethnobotanica]

Actually, the ones ive seen here arent clear. How do see the separation layer??

[vinz]

they arent completely see through but you will be able to see the layers..

[Scroto Baggins]

For safety's sake please use the HDPE container! As Vinz stated above, basic solutions can etch and weaken glass causing structural failure which could lead to serious chemical burns, or at the very least a huge mess to clean up and wasted precursors.

Having had a basic MHRB solution sit in a HDPE container since September of last year without any noticeable degradation of the plastic; I can say that HDPE is my preferred choice of extraction vessel.

HDPE is the plastic with a 2 in the triangle on the bottom. It's commonly used to hold milk and distilled water among other things.

[lost_onabbey_rd]

yes HDPE is the bottles with recycle code 2 on the bottom.. if your looking for completely clear HDPE, i'm pretty sure gatorade bottles are go to use, and you can get them in gallon sizes.. you will want to double check that yourself.. but i'm fairly sure they are

[warrensaged]

Gatoraid bottles have a 1 in the triangle on the plastic.

what does that number mean?

WS

[ethnobotanica]

Wot if one were to use 1 litre glass juice bottles, how long would it be before one of these catastrophe's were to happen??? could sodium bicarb be added to neutralize a bit before moving the suckers about????

[Boylobster]

Here ya go, homies:

Resin identification code - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I haven't read of anyone being certain that polymers OTHER than HDPE can resist the corrosion of a very basic solution, so I'd be very, very cautious about using anything besides #2 grade plastic (HDPE). HDPE has worked very well for me as well, btw.

[tregar]

What I do (and this works great) is always put a thin chemical resistant glove around the rubber bung and then stopper it into the jug. Others do the same. Just buy a box of those chemical resistant gloves.

[ethnobotanica]

Thanx for all your feedback peeps. My Foaf is a bit wuried now as his friend has these soda bottles (glass) and they have been sitting for over a week. It sounds like he needs to get rid of or empty these as soon as poss??? Can the bottles be "neutralized" with baking soda or even more acid???? He is well concerned at this point and is para to even try and move the bottles.

[Boylobster]

Well, if you carefully transfer the bottle contents to HDPE containers (or container), you can just rinse out the bottles with something acidic to ensure that they're immediately safe. Vinegar, lemon juice solution, etc. should neutralize the drops of lye that remains in and on the glasses. Then you should be able to handle them without concern.

Hope I didn't misunderstand your question... ...and be safe! When I'm working with lye solution for extractions, I always keep vinegar close by and easily accessible just in case an unfortunate and caustic accident occurs. Cheers!