Sodium carbonate wash - impossible emulsion?

[West-en]

So, for the first time I decided to try a sodium carbonate wash, mainly to get a purer product. A naphthapull was placed in a airtight container and a water solution of Na2CO3 (converted from NaHCO3) was added (about half the volume of the naphtha). Then, I - as many had told me - shaked the hell out of it for a little more then 30 seconds maybe, I then let it rest and left the place for an hour or so. Well, when I returned it didn't look like I expected.

There was a foggy water layer in the bottom, and a much less thick layer of foggy yellow naphtha on the top (don't know if it's more or less pure-looking). But, in the middle there was a huge clear white layer, which I at first thought were some precipitation. This is not the case however, it seems like an emulsion of some sort (very milk-look-alike).

So for a couple of hours I've tried getting rid of this and it just won't let go. Removing and adding more water to clean out the Na2CO3 does not seem to improve the case, and by just decanting the naphtha-layer I know I've lost like 75% of the yield.

I was told this should not happen, so the question is of course what I've done wrong? How concentrated solution of Na2CO3 should I have? (Eyeballed a decent amount) How do I get rid of this? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

[alladinsgrandpa]

Your sodium carbonate isn't pure...

How is that possible? The solvent being impure is more likely, though what the hell would pure naphtha be--"not green" would be a start, I suppose. Nastiness.... Naphtha is horrible no matter what the color.

at pool stores sometimes chemicals are cut with other filler additives to add weight and volume. baking soda is sold as an "alkalinity raiser" and could sometimes have that other stuff in there. it is usually on the bucket though.. thanks everyone goodluck