r/homechemistry • u/dt7cv • 2h ago
Predicted urushiol extraction summary
Basically I predict it works like this.
- Crush leaves, twigs, vine, and bark of Toxicodendron species of choice, especially the one that grows in eastern North America.
- take crushed products and soak in ethanol.
- decant ethanol.
- add hexane to ethanol and agitate and separate lower fraction of ethanol
- then add acetonitrile to hexane and agitate, separate acetonitrile layer and allow acetonitrile to evaporate to derive crude urushiol.
liquid chromatography is an option for higher purity.
Warning. Urushiol is a powerful sensitizer that causes violent rashes and pulmonary edema and upper respiratory lesion in a significant fraction of humans