Hi friends,
Initially, the liquid methamphetamine base was synthesized using the aluminum amalgam method and phenylacetone. Then, a Whatman filter paper was used to clarify and purify the solution. After slight cooling, the solution was gently heated to evaporate any residual methylamine ethanol, if present.
A yellow-colored solution was obtained and poured into a beaker. A 5:1 mixture of acetone and 37% hydrochloric acid was added to it. White salt formed at the bottom of the beaker. It was placed in the freezer and then filtered to isolate the white powder of methamphetamine hydrochloride.
To freebase the product, I prepared a 25% sodium hydroxide solution and added it to the mixture. However, although the smell of fish and ammonia was clearly noticeable, no two-layer separation occurred—only a single yellow layer was observed. This made the separation difficult.
Therefore, the mixture was poured into a beaker and gently heated to reduce water content. Then, it was combined with ethanol and L-tartaric acid and refluxed for one hour, after which the resulting precipitate was separated.
Again, a 25% sodium hydroxide solution was prepared, but no layer separation occurred as seen in videos. Instead, a milky solution was formed. After passing it through filter paper, I observed that the solution turned yellow—which was very unusual.
Then, a 5:1 mixture of acetone and hydrochloric acid was added again, and white powder formed. The white powder was separated and mixed with absolute ethanol for recrystallization. However, even after one hour of heating and adding a large amount of ethanol, undissolved salts remained at the bottom of the container. I filtered the mixture using a hot plate filtration method, and salts formed again at the bottom of the second container. No recrystallization occurred.
Where is the problem in this process? Please help.
Initially, the liquid methamphetamine base was synthesized using the aluminum amalgam method and phenylacetone. Then, a Whatman filter paper was used to clarify and purify the solution. After slight cooling, the solution was gently heated to evaporate any residual methylamine ethanol, if present.
A yellow-colored solution was obtained and poured into a beaker. A 5:1 mixture of acetone and 37% hydrochloric acid was added to it. White salt formed at the bottom of the beaker. It was placed in the freezer and then filtered to isolate the white powder of methamphetamine hydrochloride.
To freebase the product, I prepared a 25% sodium hydroxide solution and added it to the mixture. However, although the smell of fish and ammonia was clearly noticeable, no two-layer separation occurred—only a single yellow layer was observed. This made the separation difficult.
Therefore, the mixture was poured into a beaker and gently heated to reduce water content. Then, it was combined with ethanol and L-tartaric acid and refluxed for one hour, after which the resulting precipitate was separated.
Again, a 25% sodium hydroxide solution was prepared, but no layer separation occurred as seen in videos. Instead, a milky solution was formed. After passing it through filter paper, I observed that the solution turned yellow—which was very unusual.
Then, a 5:1 mixture of acetone and hydrochloric acid was added again, and white powder formed. The white powder was separated and mixed with absolute ethanol for recrystallization. However, even after one hour of heating and adding a large amount of ethanol, undissolved salts remained at the bottom of the container. I filtered the mixture using a hot plate filtration method, and salts formed again at the bottom of the second container. No recrystallization occurred.
Where is the problem in this process? Please help.
