Added way too much sodium carbonate

[BlazedUp]

Hey guys. I made a batch of snuff last night and just realized that I added way too much sodium carbonate. I should have added two tablespoons, but added 7. Can this batch be saved, or should I trash it and start over? I would hate to waste the tobacco, so any advise is welcomed.

 

[SmokesAhoy]

Add 2 more parts tobacco I guess. More water and salt, mix really well.

 

[BlazedUp]

Thanks for the reply. I was thinking of doing just that when I realized my mistake. Since the purpose of adding sodium carbonate is to reduce acidity thru a chemical reaction with the tobacco, I'm wondering if the sodium carbonate will still be active enough to lower acidity in the added tobacco. When I mixed the batch in question, there was an extreme smell of ammonia that has since dissipated and the dip smells at this point much like the first batch I made which I didn't screw up.
Does anyone know if the sodium carbonate in the batch is still capable of converting additional tobacco(2x initial amount), or has it already done its thing? It has been just over 48 hours that the batch in question has been "cooking" @ 125 degrees.

 

[SmokesAhoy]

Yeah it is, you just need to get the mix wet enough for the base to be transported through the leaf. Too high a pH will burn you. Once you let it sit for a week or whatever your process is just dry out the mix in the air or the oven on the lowest setting.

 

[SmokesAhoy]

It's not a conversion process really, it's a neutralization process. An easy way to see how it works is to pour vinegar (acid) into baking soda (base) if you pour it a little at a time it will keep fizzing until the soda has been neutralized into I think salt and water.

 

[BlazedUp]

Thanks for the advice guys. I ended up making a new batch that's coming along great.
I'm keeping the over dosed batch around to see what happens over time. Not overly anxious to try it tho.
Home made has officially replaced Copenhagen snuff for me. Really learning a lot from the site.

 

[rustycase]

Home made has officially replaced Copenhagen snuff for me.

OK, I gotta ask...

Before the mistake, what was your recipe that was good enough to replace the Cope?
Tnx!
rc