TNAG-0820-FCO40-1027-Narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 89

The conversion of morphine to heroin

Heat with equal weight of acetic anhydride.

Cool, add equal amount of water.

Add chloroform to remove impurities.

Discard chloroform.

Add sodium carbonate or ammonia.

Retain precipitate.

CONVERSION TO SOLUBLE SALT

MORPHINE HYDROCHLORIDE

ACETYLATION

DIACETYLMORPHINE

PURIFICATION

ADDITIVES

Add concentrated hydrochloric acid (7 c.c. per ounce)

Add strychnine hydrochloride, quinine hydrochloride and scopolamine hydrobromide.

Dissolve in a

alcohol. Add

activated charcoal.

Filter. Repeat until liquid is clear.

Add concentrated hydrochloric acid.

(200/250 c.c. per kilo).

Add ether, equal to

twice volume of alcohol. Precipitate and filter.

DILUTION

Add caffeine.

DRYING

Dry and sieve.

NO. 3 HEROIN

13

Heat over a water bath. Dry in trays of lime.

PRECIPITATION

NO. 4 HEROIN

DRYING