(I thought of just adding this question to the chemistry thread but maybe its easier for someone else using the search to find out about this too)

what would theoretically happen if one used iodized salt against emulsions in an extraction? Would iodine go to the non-polar solvent, or would it go to the basic water? would it react with the solvent, basified water or spice in any way? Would it crash out together with the spice in a freeze precip? what would happen with iodine if burned, any toxic side product?

I have used it a few times without any problems. I have never noticed a difference in the spice that came from adding iodized salt to the basic solution.

how much salt would you put into a mimosa brew

I would only use a pinch or no more than a spoons worth.The iodized salt can be used for helping with emulsions,but time and heat usually do the seperating without the need for salt,just make sure you put enough lye in the mix,thats very important,better to have too much lye than not enough.If you do the extraction right, you wont need salt,also dont shake ,just stir,imagine that the spice is "sweating" into the naptha.

However if using salt to dry things like acetone or naptha ,iodized salt should be avoided,and epson salt should be used,pour some epson salt rocks onto some foil and bake in the stove for a while and then use that salt to pur into your solvent to make it"dry"(no water)the salt soaks up the small amounts of water that would be in a solvent that would be bad for some extractions.just make sure you filter your solvent after putting the salt rocks in.

Old thread - any new ideas on this? The advice to use non-iodized salt is bandied about with authority, but no one seems to have a good chemical explanation for this...

I had an emulsion in a rather large extraction yesterday, mixed more lye and water twice, then added non-iodized salt (2 x 3 tbsp in about 3 L of solution) because I had a quantity on hand. The emulsion vanished, but in the past I have used iodized with similar results.

Cheers,

JBArk

We discussed this idea Here recently.
It appears benign but I think the jury is still out until concrete proof comes forth.

Any salt should bust and emulsion (along with lye and some heat)

Thanks Cyb, that thread did not come up in my search. And yes, both work like a charm.

As I think you stated, it would be nice to bury this one once and for all...

Oh, and incidentally - never tried heat... In fact I never heat at ANY stage of the process (A/B). I have always found it superfluous and my yields are always 1.7-2.1%

JBArk

I find it difficult to imagine that the iodized salt would be a problem for the extraction. The amount of iodide in normal table salt is very small. In the country were I live it's one NaI molecule to 99999 NaCl molecules and I don't think it could be much different in other countries. So the amount that ends up in the extraction would be extremely small.