Small colourless crystals or powder, affected by light, odourless, tastes very bitter.
Solubility
1 gm dissolves in about 70 cc of water/more soluble in boiling water/sparingly soluble in alcohol.
Identification
Add a few drops of nitric acid to about 10 mg of brucine sulphate; a vivid red colour is produced; dilute the red solution with a few drops of water and add a few drops of stannous chloride T.S., a reddish purple colour is produced.
A solution of brucine sulphate (1 in 100) responds to the tests for sulphate.
Acidity
A solution of 500 mg of brucine sulphate in 40 cc of water requires not more than 0.5 cc of 0.02 N. sodium hydroxide for neutralization using 2 drops of methyl red T.S. as the indicator.
Loss on drying
Dry brucine sulphate at 105°C for 6 hours; it loses not more than 13 of its weight.
Residue on Ignition
Not more than 0.1%
Strychine
Less than 100 PPM (by HPLC Method)
Assay
Minimum 99%
Packing and Storage
Preserve in tight, light-resistant containers.
Action and Uses
Denaturing of alcohol and oils. Patented on addition agent to lubricants.