Denarcotize Opium for a more purer form.

[samuraigecko]

As most already know from the popular "Improved guide" and other threads one has started, Opium contains many alkaloids. Some are great (Morphine, Codeine etc) while some are mild (Thebaine, Papaverine etc) while some are totally considered to be "inactive" opiate alkaloids and some of those even have adverse effects. Today we are going to address the issue of Narcotine - most definately the most undesirable of all of the alkaloids since it is considered "inactive" and is the major cause of upset stomach and even vomiting from Opium. For this reason denarcotizing Opium during the Cooked opium process would be most desirable.

Thebaine is not much of a worry as a fair amount of it gets converted during the Cooking process (Binding with specific acids when used to form a higher opiate alkaloid) and Papaverine is also not much of an issue as it is known to work in synergism with other opiates to form the true Opium Experience.

Denarcotizing Opium is usually done through separation with ether (like when making odorless tincture of opium) In this thread one will mainly be describing various tinctures of Opium which are generally known as "Laudanum" but mostly as "tinctura opii".

The first (and actually all) example are taken from the USP.

[top]Tinctura Opii Deodorati (U. S. P.)—Tincture of Deodorized Opium.

SYNONYM: Tinctura opii deodorata (U. S. P., 1880).
Preparation.—"Powdered opium, one hundred grammes (100 Gm.) [3 ozs., av., 231 grs.]; precipitated calcium phosphate, fifty grammes (50 Gm.) [1 oz. av., 334 grs.]; ether, two hundred cubic centimeters (200 Cc.) [6 fl℥, 366♏] alcohol, two hundred cubic centimeters (200 Cc.) [6 fl℥, 366♏]; water, a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏]. Rub the powders in a mortar with four hundred cubic centimeters (400 Cc.) [13 fl℥, 252♏] of water, previously heated to the temperature of 90° C. (194° F.), until a smooth mixture is made, and macerate for 12 hours; then pour the mixture on a filter, or transfer it to a cylindrical percolator, and gradually pour on water until the opium is practically exhausted. Reduce the percolate, by evaporation on a water-bath, to one hundred cubic centimeters (100 Cc.) [3 fl℥, 183♏], and, when it has cooled, shake it repeatedly with the ether in a bottle. When the ethereal solution has separated by standing, pour it off, and evaporate the remaining liquid until all traces of ether have disappeared. Mix the residue with five hundred cubic centimeters (500 Cc.) [16 fl℥, 435♏] of water, and filter the mixture through paper. When the liquid has ceased to pass, add enough water, through the filter, to make the filtered liquid measure eight hundred cubic centimeters (800 Cc.) [27 fl℥, 25♏]. Lastly, add the alcohol, and mix them"—(U.S. P.).


Test.—"If 100 Cc. of tincture of deodorized opium be assayed by the process given under Tinctura Opii, it should yield from 1.3 to 1.5 Gm. of crystallized morphine"—(U. S. P.).

These deodorization processes usually include the removal of Narcotine. The main influence in the taste and smell of Opium comes from Narcotine.

The following example shows how.

Several elixirs of opium and a denarcotized tincture of opium are upon the market, which this preparation is designed to displace. Tincture of denarcotized opium contains the same amount of opium as tincture of opium, i.e., 1 grain in about every 10.5 minims. It is not so dark in color as laudanum. The drug is deprived of its narcotine and odor-giving principles by means of the ether employed. This is successfully, though somewhat difficultly, performed by following the official directions. The trouble is due to the formation of an emulsion produced by shaking together the concentrated aqueous preparation and the ether. This may be avoided, according to Prof. Maisch, if the opium be first denarcotized and deodorized, and an infusion made and evaporated to the necessary quantity, and the requisite amount of alcohol added to bring the tincture to the desired strength. Benzin has been suggested to denarcotize and deodorize this preparation, but it is not suitable, as it leaves its own disagreeable odor.
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—(See Opium.) Dose, from 10 to 20 minims.
[NOTE: this was a follow up of the same article as above, just the end of it].

This information, though in the form of laudanum recipes can prove insightful for those whom perform the cooked opium procedure as they can mostly be incorporated into the procedure itself. Thus when a real denarcotization step makes itself apparent one will also incorporate that into the quick reference guide.

More on the Denarcotization of Opium as more research prevails.


Hope this has been of insight or help.