ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly discusses the application, chemical properties and physical properties of strychnine. It presents detailed information on the air analysis and analysis of aqueous and nonaqueous samples of strychnine. Strychnine is used as a rodent poison, white crystalline powder, highly bitter, soluble in water, moderately soluble in hot alcohol and highly toxic. It dissolves readily in chloroform. During the analysis of aqueous and nonaqueous samples of strychnine, a measured volume of aqueous sample is acidified to pH lesser than 2. It is serially extracted with methylene chloride. During the air analysis of strychnine, air is drawn through a 37-mm glass fiber filter. Strychnine is deposited on the filter and desorbed with 5 mL mobile phase for high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) detection at 254 mm.
