http://www.erowid.org/ch..._extraction_guide1.shtml
SWIM used finely ground Mimosa Hostilis and followed the above extraction method with precision using muriatic acid and naptha. SWIM even defatted the aqueous solution though the instructions said it was not needed. The emulsion would not settle so SWIM added more basic water, and more naptha solvent. Still no improvement. Should SWIM add just distilled water without elevating the pH via Lye? Should SWIM add more Naptha? Help would be immensely appreciated. Thanks.
Things to take note of in the pictures...The emulsion contains small gray clumps. SWIM is positive the clumps are not plant fiber because SWIM filtered the aqueous solution 3 times, 2 with a cotton ball funnel filter and once with a 9 layers of cofee filter. It's not fat because fat floats and when shaken the larger clumps sink to the bottom where there is a gray layer of the same substance, and smaller bits rise to the emulsion. What could it be?

Heat and stir. More base could help as well as some table salt. Heat and stir, carefully.

eeek SWIM has never seen emulsions like that EVER...personally i would stay away from using ANY tek on erowid...

they are usually not very good at all..at require a lot more work to get not as good results...

but one plus...you found the nexus...best place to learn

Heat, and stir. Hopefully it's that simple. Thanks, West-en. Did you read the erowid tek, Jorkest? Is it really that different from other A/B teks? SWIM doesn't want to give up on this and just throw it out if you know what SWIM means. SWIM has invested 3 weeks into this process and he's at the final step. Any other tips? Thanks.

No, don't throw it out, but those teks on Erowid are really outdated.

A Spice extraction should take 1-3 day TOPS. Old school extractions took a month or more...sounds like that's the one you are using.

There are some REALLY good teks on the Nexus. I suggest an A/B to start. STB has given a lot of new extractors a lot of problems.

I figured out the problem. SWIM thought the pH of the aqueous solution was at least 9 but it was between 6 & 7! A Noob mistake I know. SWIM simply added about 50 ml of alkaline water with a pH of 12 and the liquid's appearance immediately transformed into the grayish-black slippery liquid it was supposed to be with a pH of 11. SWIM put the jar over a simmer flame and within 20 minutes the pink emulsion was completely gone. SWIM is going to evaporate a sample of the first extraction to see if it's a success! I had no idea SWIM was using an old school tek...SWIM has a lot of patience after 3 weeks of work! The Nexus teks should be a piece of cake.