Have been doing my own trial. After squeezing out the
tobacco, using a garlic press with a small piece of plastic cloth in the bottom, I'm seeing two layers.
The bottom water layer is very dark, but a dull dark brown, a bit like black coffee. The top oil layer (larger) seems to have all the bright yellow color. It's been settling out for an hour, not changing much recently so might go ahead with the acid step soon, after drawing the oil off the top.
The liitle briquettes are a bit like cork.
Was hard to see any change in the bicarbonate during or after the heating. Well, impossible actually.
I did notice the ammonia smell - clear if sniff it close.
Partly I am seeing how fast the process could be. I only soaked the
tobacco for an hour, though I pestled it for a good 20 minutes while it was a damp mulch with the carbonate solution and oil. By that time I felt it was pretty much done.
~~~
each layer is clearing at the top of the layer; the water layer more so.