GB713689A — A process for the extraction of alkaloids from poppy straw and/or capsules

USPTO Abstract

Morphine is extracted from poppies by mixing dry, finely ground poppy straw and/or capsules with lime and enough water to wet the mass, pressing out the extract, adding sulphuric acid to pH 4-5.5, evaporating under reduced pressure until the mass is firm when cold but fluid when hot, making alkaline (other than with caustic alkali) and extracting the alkaloids with a water-immiscible solvent, preferably at an elevated temperature. When making the mixture alkaline, caustic alkali may be used to bring the pH to 6-7 and another alkali then added for the final step. In preferred operating conditions the straw and/or capsules are mixed with 5 per cent of calcium hydroxide and 4 times their weight of water and allowed to stand for 2 hours. The extract is pressed out, acidified to pH 4.5-5.5, evaporated under reduced pressure, made alkaline with sodium carbonate and the morphine extracted with a mixture of fusel oil and xylene at 100 DEG C. The morphine is recovered by extraction with hydrochloric acid and precipitation with ammonia. An example is given of the process.