So are we saying that a solvent like grain Alcohol or lab-grade Ethanol would do the trick?
Not really, Ethanol would be problematic in that fentanyl citrate is only slightly soluble in 96% purity ethanol at room temperature (0.2 mg/mL), that in itself isn’t a problem as only a 10 to 20-degree Celsius increase makes a huge difference in solubility. The problem is that common bulking and binding agents used in the manufacture of fentanyl pills such as Mannitol, Sorbitol, Magnesium stearate etc. become freely soluble in alcohols at elevated temperatures. The quantity of ethanol needed to establish stable solute at room temperature too large to be manageable.
A better candidate would be Methanol; fentanyl citrate is freely soluble (1 mg/mL) whereas the majority of common bulking and binding agents are insoluble making a simple single solvent extraction quite straight forward with no need for any specialized equipment.
Ideally starting with a small bottle of 99.9% pure/technical grade Methanol.
Scales (optional)
Electric fan (optional)
Funnel (ideally glass or metal, plastic is ok)
Coffee filters (the type that unfold to drop in funnel)
2x drinking glasses or jars (one needs to be tall enough to easily stand a funnel)
Cling wrap
Rubber band
Small syringe (can not be reused after methanol)
Flat bottomed Pyrex/ceramic/glass dish or tray for evaporating
NO SMOKING, NO NAKED FLAMES
In a clean dry workspace at a room temperature no greater than 25C, start by standing the funnel in a glass to check its sitting well and won’t be slipping around too much, place a coffee filter in the funnel.
Crush fentanyl to a fine powder, measure if you have scales and place onto the other glass, a creased piece of stiff paper can be used to transfer the fentanyl if needed.
Open the methanol container and draw up with syringe, reseal container immediately.
Add methanol to fentanyl at 1 mL for every milligram of fentanyl citrate + an extra 10 to 20% by volume, slosh it around a little then cover with cling wrap, seal with rubber band and place in the freezer for an hour.
Reload the syringe with methanol and wet the coffee filter, then go get the glass from the freezer.
Remover cling wrap and pour into filter, spray methanol from syringe into the glass to get any residue.
After it’s all drained to the bottom glass remove the funnel and filter, pour methanol fentanyl mixture out into the evaporation tray.
Set the coffee filter aside to dry in a ventilated area.
Set the evaporating tray in front of a fan on the lowest setting or an open window and rock gently, enough that a small wave runs from end to end until the methanol has evaporated.
Scrap up the recovered fentanyl ready for use. If it doesn’t dry fully that’s usually water contamination, in that case finish in the microwave if necessary.
When the coffee filter set aside earlier is dried recover the material for oral use.