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Extraction of mescaline from
Trichocereus panchanoi
byDavid Barlow
Introduction
 San Pedro (
Trichocereus
or
 Echinopsis panchanoi
)
 
is a fast-growing columnar cactus nativeto the Andes of Peru and Ecuador. Peruvian Torch (
Trichocereus
 
 peruvianus
or
 Echinopsis peruviana
) is a similar species with longer spines. They can be grown indoors in the UK andare also available in powdered form. Estimates of mescaline content vary but most containaround 0.5% by dry weight (cacti are at least 90% water). Eating the raw cactus is verynauseating and delays the onset of effects, while aqueous extractions are inefficient and givepoor yields. Chemical methods however are highly efficient and even crude extractionsreduce the amount of material consumed to minuscule proportions. 
Theory
 Traditionally an acid-base extraction is used, although acidification is not strictly necessary.After removing the spines the cactus is chopped up and pureed in a blender with deionisedwater. It is then basified with sodium hydroxide and extracted with a non-polar solvent,usually at least three times - shaken, not stirred! The mescaline freebase is highly soluble inthe non-polar but virtually insoluble in the aqueous phase, so the non-polar is separated off and evaporated to give a crude extract. The preferred choice of non-polar for this applicationis xylene, as freebase mescaline is virtually insoluble in the more readily available naphtha(lighter fluid). Toluene can be used as a less smelly alternative to xylene but forms anemulsion after shaking and can't be fully separated with a pipette from dilute acid. Mescalinewill remain in solution when xylene is placed in a freezer, so this is a convenient method forseparating the phases and reduces fumes. Mescaline salts can be produced, if required, byshaking the extracted non-polar solvent with a solution of a volatile or non-volatile acid. ApH meter can be used to determine when the extraction is complete, as the reading should notincrease after shaking with the non-polar and separating off. (Ensure that the meter is driedthoroughly after use as any residual xylene will attack the plastic casing.) Citric acid is safestto use, although non-volatile, so any excess acid will be present in the end product.Hydrochloric acid is volatile and should be evaporated off in a fume cupboard ideally, as thefumes are extremely hazardous. Acetic acid (distilled vinegar) also creates highly acidicfumes when concentrated but is less suitable as the resulting salt absorbs moisture from theatmosphere. 
Chemicals and Equipment
 
Deionised Water
(from any car accessory shop)
Search the Web
Extraction of mescaline from Trichocereus panchanoihttp://www.mescaline.20m.com1 di 603/02/2009 17.3
 
Sodium Hydroxide
(Caustic Soda - for unblocking drains from DIY stores)
Xylene
(xylene paint thinners) or
Toluene
(less smelly but forms emulsions)
Hydrochloric Acid
(optional)
Acetone
(optional) 
Safety goggles and rubber glovesPreserving jar or bottleFunnelRectangular Pyrex dishCloth to cover dishSingle edged razor bladeScalpelFume mask when using xylene
 
Cactus PowderChemicals
 
Method
 
SAFETY GOGGLES AND RUBBER GLOVES MUST BE WORN AT ALLTIMESWHEN HANDLING CAUSTIC SODA AND HYDROCHLORIC ACID
 1. Add 500 ml deionised water to a preserving jar or bottle. Then add 25 g of caustic sodawhile wearing protective goggles and gloves. Allow enough space for shaking. Once thecaustic soda is dissolved, add 50 g
 
powdered San Pedro - a large bore funnel is useful if usinga bottle. Initially the powder will form into a solid lump. Leave the basified cacti for a fewdays to thin out. 2. Add at least 10% xylene to the volume, recap the jar or bottle and warm to hand hot in awater bath (around 50 ºC). Remember that xylene fumes are flammable. (Storing xylene in afreezer will reduce the fumes or wear a mask with a charcoal filter.) Loosen and retighten thelid to release any pressure. (If necessary, wrap PTFE plumbing tape around a plastic winecork to get a tight fit, but ensure that it is held firmly during agitation.) Care is required if using plastic screw cap bottles as they can deform and leak when heated excessively. Thebottle must now be shaken vigorously for at least a minute while wearing protective gogglesand gloves
-
the mescaline shuffle! Vigorous agitation will create an emulsion but gives amuch greater yield than gentle agitation. Heat will not clear the emulsion but it should resolvegradually by repeatedly freezing and thawing. Once frozen there should be a clear partitionbetween the solid caustic soda solution and the (now green) xylene floating on top, which canbe poured in another sealed container. A number of freezing and thawing cycles are required
Extraction of mescaline from Trichocereus panchanoihttp://www.mescaline.20m.com2 di 603/02/2009 17.3
 
to remove all the xylene - avoid hot water with frozen glass bottles as they may crack. The lidshould be tight, although it may need hot water to unfreeze it, as xylene vapour will taint anyfood in the freezer. If the lid is left loose then secure Clingfilm over the opening with anelastic band or use plumbing tape to prevent fumes. 3. Pour the collected xylene into a rectangular Pyrex dish. Cover the dish with a cloth to keepout dust and insects and leave in a well ventilated area until all the xylene has evaporated(preferably outdoors in a garage or shed). Remember that xylene fumes are flammable. Youshould be left with waxy deposits with tiny crystals which can be scraped up with a singleedged razor blade. The extract can be scraped off the razor with a scalpel into a Rizla paper -keep the scalpel blade in a wine cork when not in use. The process should be repeated at leastonce. The most active extract is dark in colour, while later extractions will consist of greenwaxy material. If hydrochloric acid is available a hydrochloride salt can be produced which makesmeasurement of dosage more accurate and enables the xylene to be reused. To create purewhite crystals hydrogen chloride gas is bubbled through the non-polar solvent. Aqueousextractions will produce a brown powder which although less attractive is perfectly adequateand far less hazardous to produce. Ten drops of 10% HCl solution by volume (v/v) are addedto deionised water and shaken in a sealed container with the collected xylene, after warmingto hand hot in a water bath. The phases are separated by freezing. Pour the xylene back intothe basified cactus container and thaw the aqueous phase - avoid hot water with frozen glassbottles as they may crack. The liquid is then evaporated in a rectangular Pyrex dish on ahotplate outdoors or in a well ventilated area, away from people or animals. The resultingextract can be rinsed in acetone to remove the sticky green material, making handling easier.Scrape all the extract into one corner of the rectangular Pyrex dish, tilt and add acetone witha pipette (as it is difficult to pour). Mix the extract thoroughly in the acetone, allow to settle,then slowly tip the acetone out of the opposite corner of the dish, removing any residue witha tissue. Repeat if necessary. Dry the dish on a hotplate, then powder the extract by choppingwith a single edged razor blade. The (now yellow) xylene should be reused to extract theremaining mescaline from the basified cactus powder. For health and safety reasons the amount of HCl used should be minimal and safety gogglesand rubber gloves must be worn at all times.Mescaline freebase is C
11
H
17
NO
3
, molar mass 211 g/mol. HCl has molar mass 36.5 g/mol.(H=1, C=12, N=14, O=16, Cl=35.5)50 g of dried San Pedro might contain at most 1% mescaline = 0.5 g.This would be neutralised with a solution of deionised water containing 86.5 mg HCl(36.5/211 x 500 mg).A 10% solution by volume (v/v) of HCl contains 105 g/litre, so this would require 0.824 g of solution (1000/105 x 86.5 mg).A drop weighs around 50 mg so around 16 drops of 10% HCl solution would be required intotal.The freebase content of mescaline hydrochloride is 85% (211/247.5). 
Extraction of mescaline from Trichocereus panchanoihttp://www.mescaline.20m.comdi 603/02/2009 17.3
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