Hi,

An extraction was attempted but wasn't very successful and a few questions have arisen. Mostly importantly, why didn't this work...

Procedure
• Powdered Acacia Maidenii bark was added to white vinegar and mixed to form a slightly more runny soup. (both unknown quantities)
• The red solution was then water bathed for 2 hours.
• The solution was the left to cool to a reasonable handling temperature and was drained through a cloth that had been washed with distilled water.
• To this solution (with the majority of the colloid removed and while it was still warm), shellite was added and shaken multiple times.
• This was then extracted and discarded (and repeated three times over an hour)
• After the extractions, and unknown amount of NaOH was added.
• The solution turned black and released only a barely noticeable amount of a white gas (perhaps water vapor as the reaction did release a considerable amount of energy).
• After approximately 15 minutes shellite was added; around 15% of the solution volume (and while the solution was still considerably warm)
- the gas that was being formed bellow the organic layer was rising through it (the shellite) like the CO2 in fizzy drinks.
• After this settled, it was stirred multiple times over an hour and then decanted into a jar.
• The jar was sealed and placed in the freezer. After 18 hours the jar was taken out and checked and a white/cream colored solid layer was on the bottom.
• The shellite was poured out and the jar was left with the solid cake with the intent to evaporate any excess shellite.
• The cake dissolved at a room temperature of about 20 degrees celcius!

What's happening here? Please ask if you need any additional info I might have forgotten. I'm a bit disappointed.