Hi, this is my first post. Once I get a little more experience I hope to share what I have learned so far.

Here's my problem. Following (loosely) Vortex's tek, SWIM made a lye solution at 100g NaOH / 1000ml H2O, and added it to 85g MHRB that had been powdered by repeatedly freezing, grinding, thawing. SWIM made two 750ml containers of this in very clean glass containers. SWIM added the lye solution while it was still warm (under 120 fahrenheit) and as it cooled, stirred with a stainless steel knife.

Then SWIM shook both jars. After maybe 5 minutes each, they were allowed to settle, and a 1/2" thick lighter layer formed on top of the larger dark layer. It looks bubbly and SWIM can see colors in refractions of the bubbles (meaning presence of oil, perhaps?). Waiting a few hours, and stirring gently with a knife did not cause this layer, which resembles an emulsion, to disappear. No Naptha has been introduced into the process at any point so far.

Here's my question. Should this layer be encouraged (i.e. more shaking), then discarded? Would that constitute a kind of de-fat, or should this layer be nursed until it disappears? If so, any tips on how to do so?

This is SWIM's second extraction, the first was similar (but with 50g MHRB) except the root bark was first washed with Naptha to defat, and once Lye solution was added, it wasn't shaken. First extraction was evaporated with 3 30ml pulls of Naptha yielding about .2g of yellow waxy crystals. One final pull was done after it sat for a few days which was freeze precipitated yielding about 20-40mg of small white crystals. Yellow product was a success, white product has not yet been tried.

Any tips are greatly appreciated re: this emulsion layer.

EDIT: spoke too soon - 30 minutes after gentle stirring, this layer has disappeared.

Try adding more NaOH. Usually does the job for me. I always make sure I get zero bubbles after a heavy shake before I add my solvent. Well not zero bubbles... but not a noticable layer thats for sure.