How to extract NRT for laboratory research purposes

•    Weigh 10 g of the leaves in a beaker.
•    Add 100ml NaOH solution and stir very well for 15 min.
•    Filter in Buchner using glass wool and press the leaves very well by using another beaker.
•    Transfer the leaves again to a beaker.
•    Add 30ml DW and stir and filter again.
•    Collect the filtrate together. (If there are any impurities, re-filter).
•    Transfer the filtrate to the SF and extract by 25ml ether.
•    Repeat the extraction 3 times.
•    Gather the 4 filtrates in a conical flask.
•    Dry by using 1 teaspoon anhydrous potassium carbonate.
•    Filter.
•    Evaporate ether in a water bath. (Avoid extra heat because nicotine is hydrolyzed by extreme heating).
•    After the evaporation of ether, 4ml methanol was added to dissolve the resulting oil.
•    Add 10 ml saturated picric acid solution.
•    Cool in an ice bath to precipitate the nicotine di picrate crystals.
•    Filter; allow drying and weighing the product.