Drug info - How to extract Codeine phosphate(hemihydr.) from OTC cough syrup?

[Largactyl]

SWIM would like to know if codeine phosphate(hemihydr.) can be extracted from OTC cough syrup using an acid-base extraction or some other reasonably simple method. He's asking because codeine-containing pills aren't OTC meds here.

The reason he wants to extract it is because syrups contain enough sorbitol to make anyone sick if taken at useful codeine doses. Other major additives in the syrup are sugar and ethanol.

He has some glassware a magnetic stirrer and a hcl gas generator.

The following chemicals at his disposal:

NaOh (pure potassium hydroxide, solid)
H2SO4 (sulfuric acid, 30-36%)
HCl (aqueous hydrochloric acid 30%)
Xylene (technical grade >99%)
Toluene (technical grade >99%)
Methanol (technical grade >99%)
Ethanol (technical grade >99%)
Acetone (technical grade >99%)

With these chemicals is it possible to separate the codeine either into an aqueus solution or into dry salt form?

I registered here today because SWIM couldn't find the information elsewhere and it seems someone here has to know.

This is my first post after my introduction post so thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

PS. I used the search with all sorts of keywords but couldn't find what SWIM was looking for.

[Largactyl]

Mostly SWIM wants to know is what non-polar solvent is strong enough to extract the freebase from the basified cough syrup mess and how much SWIM should basify (what ph range?) the liquid for the codeine to turn into a freebase.

CWE doesn't come into question since the codeine is already dissolved in liquid.

So is toluene strong enough since benzene and chloroform are a bit too hazardous and hard for SWIM to get.

[Largactyl]

Well SWIM got lots of Codeine 30mg/Paracetamol 500mg pills after eye surgery and did a CWE with good results. It's unfortunate Codeine builds tolerance so fast. I told SWIM to go tell the doctor he has to eat the maximum prescribed daily amount and ask for Dramal or something.

[Hover]

Hum, interesting question! SWIM has never heard of a successful extraction of codeine from elixir or syrup but that may be due to the fact that SWIM lives in a country where OTC codeine is available in tab form so one here attempts it.

At first glance SWIM doesn't believe that a sophisticated chemical extraction as described by SWIY could be efficiently accomplished outside a lab. That said, there may still be hope! As with CWE the home chemist must resort to more crude methods based on the known or easily obtainable physical properties of a compound's ingredients.

If SWIM's -somewhat faded- memory of college-level physics serves well, the first step in the chemical separation of a liquid compound is to remove the binding agent, in this case some form of ethanol solution. In theory this would leave only solids (dehydrated sorbitol, sugar and codeine). Next step is to get rid of the sorbitol residue, as SWIM understands it large intakes of sorbitol may lead to a serious case of explosive diarrhea. Not good.

When there's only sugar and codeine left, it's partytime

The first step SWIY should take is to determine the degree of purity of the ethanol (%) and what it's diluted with. In a pharmaceutical preparation it is likely to be a water solution, or even straight purified water. Once these details are known the method of ethanol separation which stands the best chances of success can be determined.

SWIM now thinks the chances of this succeeding are not too bad after all. May even beat CWE involving acetaminophen.