The Vespiary

The Hive => Chemistry Discourse => Topic started by: timsong on November 24, 2001, 12:21:00 PM

Title: Cyanides from Nitrates/Nitrites
Post by: timsong on November 24, 2001, 12:21:00 PM
Here is a patent method of producing metal (alkali metals) cyanides from the corresponing nitrate or nitrite.

http://www.geocities.com/timsonguk/cyanide.pdf (http://www.geocities.com/timsonguk/cyanide.pdf)


Title: Re: Cyanides from Nitrates/Nitrites
Post by: Aurelius on December 13, 2001, 10:22:00 PM
does anybody have a practical way of using this patent with limited supplies availability?
Title: Re: Cyanides from Nitrates/Nitrites
Post by: timsong on December 14, 2001, 11:58:00 AM
How are your supplies limited ?

It isn't too hard to make a small electric arc furnace, you just need some fire brick/fireclay, graphite welding rods and a decent power supply (arc welder).
Title: Re: Cyanides from Nitrates/Nitrites
Post by: Aurelius on December 14, 2001, 01:40:00 PM
do you have graphic version of what you just said (and no, that doesn't mean verbally graphic)  thanks for the help.
Title: Re: Cyanides from Nitrates/Nitrites
Post by: timsong on December 14, 2001, 01:53:00 PM
The furnace would be very simular to one needed to make phosphorus, check out some of the phosphorus threads, I remember one decribing the making a small arc furnace out of a clay flowerpot !
The arc furnace is decribed in detail in most good chemistry books, just scale down.
Title: Re: Cyanides from Nitrates/Nitrites
Post by: Osmium on December 15, 2001, 01:13:00 PM
> do you have graphic version of what you just said (and
> no, that doesn't mean verbally graphic)  thanks for the
> help.

What is your problem? Look at the link, it contains all you need. It helps to check page two if you know what I mean.
Title: Re: Cyanides from Nitrates/Nitrites
Post by: timsong on January 09, 2002, 01:57:00 PM
After reading the patent US6207024 regarding the preparation of phosphorus in which a mixture of phosphoric acid and carbon reductant are heated in microwaves at a much lower temperature than what would be needed in an electric furnace. It leaves me to believe that microwave heating of nitrite and carbon would give cyanide results at a much lower temperature too.
Obviously the microwave heating would have to be done in a non oxidising atmosphere (nitrogen/argon/helium).
Doing the same using nitrates and carbon may cause some problems as I can imagine the mix burning like gunpowder when rapidly heated in the microwaves.
The reaction chamber could consist of a fireclay container as this would not be affected by the microwaves.

What do you think bees ?

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