IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE SEPARATION OF STRYCHNINE AND BRUCINE ALKALOIDS FROM EXTRACT OBTAINED FROM NUXVOMICA

摘要

An improved cyclic process for the preparation of pure strychnine and brucine alkaloids obtained from seeds and barks of strychnos nuxvomica by solvent extraction using aromatic hydrocarbon solvents characterised in that the solvent extract concentrates of the alkaloids thus obtained are treated with mineral acids to convert the alkaloids into their salts, separating the crude precipitated strychnine salt from the mother liquor by filtration, the filtrate thus contains dissolved curde brucine salt recovering the pure crystals of the alkaloids strychnine and brucine by recrystallisation of the precipitate and basification of the filtrate respectively, the mother liquors being recirculated into the process.