Experience with Acacia (non-root) bark extract?

[LeonLehman]

Hi all,
First post! I have Acacia obtusifolia growing in my garden and occasionally the trees are damaged by storms so I can pick off some big trunks and branches to de-bark. I do not have the heart for killing a tree by removing its roots.

1. Has anyone managed to extract from (non-root) bark? Or twigs/small branches? Is it worthwhile at all?

2. Would this (non-root) bark tek require extra steps? (I was thinking A-salt-B-extract->A resalt->B->extract and precipitate). Suggestions for the best Tek/way to proceed?

3. I tried ATB with 1.2kg of plant material, but there is so much fatty emulsion that the shellite (naptha) is practically nowhere to be found (I suppose it is almost completely emulsified with the black fatty layer). Suggestions for how to save this batch? It occured to me maybe to reacidify, now with the emulsion formed, allow to separate and recover the acqueous layer (hoping the fat - and not the alkaloid - will be stuck on the top fatty emulsion layer discarded). Then I hope basifying and extracting will work? I appreciate all ideas!

God (molecule) bless you all.

 

[Transform]

Hi all,
First post! I have Acacia obtusifolia growing in my garden and occasionally the trees are damaged by storms so I can pick off some big trunks and branches to de-bark. I do not have the heart for killing a tree by removing its roots.

1. Has anyone managed to extract from (non-root) bark? Or twigs/small branches? Is it worthwhile at all?

2. Would this (non-root) bark tek require extra steps? (I was thinking A-salt-B-extract->A resalt->B->extract and precipitate). Suggestions for the best Tek/way to proceed?

3. I tried ATB with 1.2kg of plant material, but there is so much fatty emulsion that the shellite (naptha) is practically nowhere to be found (I suppose it is almost completely emulsified with the black fatty layer). Suggestions for how to save this batch? It occured to me maybe to reacidify, now with the emulsion formed, allow to separate and recover the acqueous layer (hoping the fat - and not the alkaloid - will be stuck on the top fatty emulsion layer discarded). Then I hope basifying and extracting will work? I appreciate all ideas!

God (molecule) bless you all.

Extraction from twig and branch bark, along with the phyllodes ('leaves') is pretty well established. Storm-damaged material would be ideal, if it's already completely detached it would be a shame to waste the opportunity.

It is very typical to defat acacia extractions at the acidic stage. You should be able to recover your extraction by reacidifying, as you suggest. Make sure you defat thoroughly at the acidic stage of your next extraction, before proceeding onto any subsequent step other than adding salt. [The salt may help with the defat a little, by increasing ionic strength, just as it helps with pulls from the basic phase.]