Extracting (almost pure) Caffeine from Caffeine Pills.

Step 3 Dissolve the Caffeine

Pour in some alcohol and mix.

Allow the mixture to settle into 2 layers.

Wait until the alcohol layer becomes clear.

After it settles suck up the clear solution with the eye dropper and pour it onto the pane of glass.

The solvent will evaporate leaving a layer of caffeine crystals.

Continue adding the solution and drying until you run out of clear solution.

Then add more alcohol and repeat this step until you feel that there is no more caffeine in the undissolved bottom layer.

Comments

[simonnomis]

It's much easier to just buy cheap caffeine powder in pure form already.

[Roflolommo]

agreed but i think united nuclear has cheaper 
5 bucks for 2 ounces (about 60 grams)
id be nervous having that around though 2 grams is enough to make your caffeine high very unpleasant and around 20 grams is enough to kill a 100 kilogram guy like me.

[clockfort]

The caffeine from united nuclear is not food-grade.

[LiquidLightning]

So?

[rchallender]

Hidy --

Very interesting!
But you can now buy caffeine powder on amazon.com too.

[jmcdermott]

i guess ive tired this step and i can come to a conclusion on what this man means by two layers. this is not working not to mention he is very broad about the details of the experiment

[kevingibson0]

Due to the fact the the dye is soluble, "clear" will mean no longer cloudy, instead of colorless.
More or less you will want to wait for any of the insoluble particulate matter to settle to the bottom of the solution. This is easier to do if you pour the solution out of the mortar and into a small beaker (or smooth piece of kitchenware, such as a shotglass, if you do not have access to laboratory glassware).