Effects of adding "too much" or "too little"

[Zippy]

Just curious, but I couldn't find the answers to these questions in any other posts.

What effect on the extraction would the following have?
1. Too much base
2. Too little base - (I know this may cause emulsions, what else?)
3. Too much naptha
4. Too little naptha
5. Too much water - (I've read that you can't have too much water, but I'm still unsure)
6. Too little water

I know there are certain ratios that produce maximum yields per pull, but what problems could arise from having any of the above?

Thanks,
Zip

 

[acolon_5]

1. Too much base

Possibly destroy some spice (low yield), possible contamination of final product with lye


2. Too little base - (I know this may cause emulsions, what else?)

small yield, spice won't migrate to the solvent.


3. Too much naptha -

problems freeze precipitating, end up having to evaporate large amounts of naphtha (not good for the enviornment or your health, also can raise suspicion of a methamphetamine lab if you have nosy neighbors)

4. Too little naptha -

you won't get all the spice out of the basified water with 1 or 2 solvent pulls, not really a problem though, just keep cycling the solvent (seperate, stick in freezer, new naphtha in jug), You do get better freeze precipitations with small amounts of naphtha. I prefer less naphtha per pull 100mL each x4 or 5 times


5. Too much water - (I've read that you can't have too much water, but I'm still unsure) -

Can affect yield, solvent needs more time in contact with water to pull spice



6. Too little water -

water can become saturated before all the spice is cooked out of the bark...with STB you end up with sludge that traps the naphtha...low yields either way

 

[Zippy]

Thank you!