How is anhydrous ammonia used to make meth?

Published July 5, 2010

Question by kvodm2000: How is anhydrous ammonia used to make meth?
I am an industrial refregeration service technician. I deal with anhydrous ammonia every day and it is dangerous. I am just very curious as to how it is used in the manufacturing of meth.

Best answer:

Answer by timvansickel
Ammonia is a base, used to change the pseudoephedrine from a hydrochloride to a freebase, so it can react with red phosphorus and lithium to make methamphetamine freebase. The methamphetamine freebase is then reacted with hydrochloric acid to return it to hydrochloride(useable) form. There isn’t ammonia in methamphetamine, it changes the nature of the chemical and is then removed.

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