Processing of pharmaceutical industry waste - thebaine to codeine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32523/y29ezp74Keywords:
thebaine, codeine, pharmaceutical waste; , recycling;, synthesis;, Meyerwein–Pandorf–Wehrlei reaction, environmental safetyAbstract
The article examines the possibility of recycling toxic pharmaceutical industry waste, specifically thebaine, to obtain the valuable medicinal drug codeine. The relevance of the research is determined by the growing need to reduce environmental impact, minimize hazardous waste accumulation, and develop resource-efficient, low-waste technologies for industrial waste processing. The study also contributes to the implementation of green chemistry principles in pharmaceutical production and supports the transition toward sustainable and circular technological approaches. The theoretical basis of the work is the application of the Meerwein - Ponndorf - Verley reaction for the synthesis of codeine from thebaine. This reaction was selected due to its mild reaction conditions, high selectivity, and reduced formation of by-products. Experimental studies were carried out on a standard laboratory setup using isopropyl alcohol as the reaction medium and aluminum isopropylate as the reducing agent. The selected reaction parameters ensured process stability, reproducibility of results, and the potential for future scale-up to industrial production. The resulting product was subjected to comprehensive physicochemical analysis in accordance with the requirements of the State Pharmacopoeia, tenth edition. It was established that codeine base and codeine phosphate meet pharmacopeial standards in terms of identity, purity, solubility, and quantitative content. The content of codeine base was at least 99.0%, and the yield of the target product reached 43 - 47% of the initial thebaine. The obtained results confirm the feasibility of recycling pharmaceutical waste into valuable medicinal substances and demonstrate the technological and environmental potential of the proposed approach. Implementation of this method may help reduce hazardous waste, improve environmental safety, and enhance the efficient use of secondary resources in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Гулнар Кемелбекова, Гульзира Абсаттар, Маржан Сыздыкова, Ергазы Жатканбаев, Аяулым Тілеуберді (Автор)
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