Effects of Particle Size and Method of Milling on Determination of Morphine in Papaver somniferum L. Straw

Different particle sizes of blade- and ball-milled poppy straw were separated and analyzed for morphine by high pressure liquid chromatography. Morphine content varied up to 70% among the different size particles. This may account for discrepancies observed in percentages of morphine found among random aliquots. Homogenizing a carefully quartered sample of blade-milled straw by further pulverization in a percussion ball mill 2 min and taking a quartered aliquot for morphine analysis improved the reproducibility of results.