Three hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) charge modulated amide columns—iHILIC®-Fusion, iHILIC®-Fusion(+), and iHILIC®-Fusion(P)—were compared for separating hallucinogenic alkaloids (psilocin, psilocybin, and baeocystin) from an extract of a truffle-like fungus. Three modeling methods predicted retention times in isocratic separation as a function of mobile phase composition, pH, and temperature. All columns separated the two hallucinogenic alkaloids from each other and from matrix components, with most compounds achieving satisfactory resolution. The quadratic modeling approach best predicted chromatograms under predefined conditions, the exponential model performed worst, and multivariate data analysis fell between the two.
A mathematical model originally developed for supercritical fluid extraction of cannabinoids was tested for liquid extraction of other psychoactive compounds. The model successfully predicted extraction times and recoveries for quasi-counter current liquid-solid extractions of psilocin from hallucinogenic mushrooms, mescaline from cactus, harmine from a tropical liana, and salvinorin A from sage. Calculated component transport constants indicated extraction velocity: higher constants correspond to faster extraction. For mushrooms, pretreatment with liquid nitrogen markedly improved psilocin extractability.