megalomania
June 21st, 2003, 11:41 AM
Tony Montana
Frequent Poster
Posts: 145
From: Australia
Registered: JUN 2001
posted 07-20-2001 10:31 PM
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I recently purchased a bottle of 70% HNO3, instead of concentrating it I looked for alternate ways to make high explosives with this 70% HNO3. I finally came to the conclusion that the most practical way to go about this was to make Nitroglycerin with 70% HNO3 and 98% H2SO4 to absorb any excess water. After doing a heap of reading, I came across a very interesting chapter in The Chemistry Of Powder And Explosives. The chapter talked about an explosive called Nitrohydrene:
"A mixture of nitrosucrose and nitroglycerin, prepared by nitrating a solution of 20 parts cane sugar in 80 parts of glycerin, or of 25 parts in 75, has been used in this country under the name nitrohydrene. It is suitable for use in non-freezing dynamites, and is cheaper than nitroglycerin to the extent that sugar is cheaper than glycerin".
It sounds good, has anyone ever made this???
Do you think it is wise making nitrosucrose with 70% HNO3??????
John456
Frequent Poster
Posts: 105
From:
Registered: MAR 2001
posted 07-21-2001 12:13 AM
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I have tried making nitrosucrose with 70% HNO3 and 98% H2SO4 and it did not work, however it worked beautifully when i tried 85% HNO3. I guess if the HNO3 content is not high enough it seems to decompose before it is nitrated. I ended up with a black sludge with 70%.
Tony Montana
Frequent Poster
Posts: 145
From: Australia
Registered: JUN 2001
posted 07-21-2001 02:29 AM
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Did you buy the 70%HNO3 seperate from the 85%HNO3?? Or did you boost the 70% to 85%? If so, how did you go about doing it??
John456
Frequent Poster
Posts: 105
From:
Registered: MAR 2001
posted 07-21-2001 02:49 AM
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I made the 70% from NaNO3 and H2SO4 without a vacuum, then distilled it 1:1 with sulfuric acid to put it up to 85%. Now since i have a vacuum i dont do much with 70%, usually its at least 85% from the first distillation.
Tony Montana
Frequent Poster
Posts: 145
From: Australia
Registered: JUN 2001
posted 07-21-2001 07:26 PM
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John456: Thanks for the help, but a few more questions. Is there any advantage using NaNO3 to synthesis HNO3, instead of KNO3?
When adding H2SO4+HNO3 and distilling, why does it only yield 85%HNO3, and no higher i.e.90%-99%HNO3???
John456
Frequent Poster
Posts: 105
From:
Registered: MAR 2001
posted 07-22-2001 12:26 PM
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There isnt really an advantage, except that you can use less NaNO3 than KNO3 since there are more NO3- ions and i can purchase it in 50 lb bags for cheap . If you get really good at it you can produce 95%+ HNO3 from the first distillation but it has to be at the perfect temperature. When it goes a bit too high it decomposes into H20 and NOx gases and too much decomposition will make your HNO3 less %.
Frequent Poster
Posts: 145
From: Australia
Registered: JUN 2001
posted 07-20-2001 10:31 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I recently purchased a bottle of 70% HNO3, instead of concentrating it I looked for alternate ways to make high explosives with this 70% HNO3. I finally came to the conclusion that the most practical way to go about this was to make Nitroglycerin with 70% HNO3 and 98% H2SO4 to absorb any excess water. After doing a heap of reading, I came across a very interesting chapter in The Chemistry Of Powder And Explosives. The chapter talked about an explosive called Nitrohydrene:
"A mixture of nitrosucrose and nitroglycerin, prepared by nitrating a solution of 20 parts cane sugar in 80 parts of glycerin, or of 25 parts in 75, has been used in this country under the name nitrohydrene. It is suitable for use in non-freezing dynamites, and is cheaper than nitroglycerin to the extent that sugar is cheaper than glycerin".
It sounds good, has anyone ever made this???
Do you think it is wise making nitrosucrose with 70% HNO3??????
John456
Frequent Poster
Posts: 105
From:
Registered: MAR 2001
posted 07-21-2001 12:13 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have tried making nitrosucrose with 70% HNO3 and 98% H2SO4 and it did not work, however it worked beautifully when i tried 85% HNO3. I guess if the HNO3 content is not high enough it seems to decompose before it is nitrated. I ended up with a black sludge with 70%.
Tony Montana
Frequent Poster
Posts: 145
From: Australia
Registered: JUN 2001
posted 07-21-2001 02:29 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Did you buy the 70%HNO3 seperate from the 85%HNO3?? Or did you boost the 70% to 85%? If so, how did you go about doing it??
John456
Frequent Poster
Posts: 105
From:
Registered: MAR 2001
posted 07-21-2001 02:49 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I made the 70% from NaNO3 and H2SO4 without a vacuum, then distilled it 1:1 with sulfuric acid to put it up to 85%. Now since i have a vacuum i dont do much with 70%, usually its at least 85% from the first distillation.
Tony Montana
Frequent Poster
Posts: 145
From: Australia
Registered: JUN 2001
posted 07-21-2001 07:26 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John456: Thanks for the help, but a few more questions. Is there any advantage using NaNO3 to synthesis HNO3, instead of KNO3?
When adding H2SO4+HNO3 and distilling, why does it only yield 85%HNO3, and no higher i.e.90%-99%HNO3???
John456
Frequent Poster
Posts: 105
From:
Registered: MAR 2001
posted 07-22-2001 12:26 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There isnt really an advantage, except that you can use less NaNO3 than KNO3 since there are more NO3- ions and i can purchase it in 50 lb bags for cheap . If you get really good at it you can produce 95%+ HNO3 from the first distillation but it has to be at the perfect temperature. When it goes a bit too high it decomposes into H20 and NOx gases and too much decomposition will make your HNO3 less %.