bigfootlives
04-28-2009, 04:25 AM
Today I dreampt up a relatively simple method of obtaining close to completely pure codeine from the common OTC 8/15/300mg pills. Anyways after the usual reduction of temperature followed by filtration, we are left with a solution of not only codeine phosphate, but of also caffeine due to them both being fairly water soluble! SO I was thinking that maybe we can add a base such as NaOH or sodium carbonate to the solution to base codeine phosphate into a freebase which would then percipitate from the solution and then filter and wash to obtain relatively pure codeine freebase crystals? The caffeine is already a base which is water soluble so it wouldn't affect it. Also, After we have a codeine FB we may want to titrate with our acid of choice or gas to turn it back into a water soluble salt!
BTW I am gambling on this method to work on purely the fact that MOST freebases are NOT soluble in water. I'm betting codeine is no exception, although it's ironic because it seems as if caffeine breaks this rule!
BTW I am gambling on this method to work on purely the fact that MOST freebases are NOT soluble in water. I'm betting codeine is no exception, although it's ironic because it seems as if caffeine breaks this rule!