Removal and Destruction of Tetranitromethane from Nitric Acid

ACS Symposium Series

Volumn 623, Issue , 1996, Pages 187-200

  Guggenheim, T L ^a   Evans, C M ^b   Odle, R R ^a   Fukuyama, S M ^c   Warner, G L ^d  

^a GE Plastics   (United States)

^b Chemetics International Company Ltd   (Canada)

^c GE Plastics   (United States)

^d GE GLOBAL RESEARCH   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 1542475502     PISSN: 00976156     EISSN: None     Source Type: Book Series    
DOI: 10.1021/bk-1996-0623.ch017     Document Type: Article

References (26)

1. The Sigma-Aldrich Corporation material safety data sheet for TNM shows that the oral LD50 (rat) is 130 mg/kg, inhalation LC50 (rat) is 18 ppm/4h, and it can cause methemoglobinemia.
2. Urbanski, T., Chemistry and Technology of Explosives, Pergamon Press, Oxford, England, 1985, Vol. 1.
3. Holahan, F.S.; Castorina, T.C; Autera, J.R.; Helf, S.; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1962, Vol. 84, 756.
4. Holahan, F.S.; PATR 2695, AD 241129, July, 1960.
5. Evans, C.M.; 'Practical Considerations in the Recovery and Concentration of Nitration Spent Acids', presentation at the Anaheim American Chemical Society meeting, Nitration Symposium, 4/4/95
6. Mundy, R.A.; Gilbert, E.E.; US Army Armament Research and Development Command, Large Caliber Weapon Systems Laboratory, Dover, New Jersey; Technical Report ARLCD-TR-78027, 'Nitroform Recovery and Isolation Studies', May 1978.
7. A similar method of TNM removal from trinitrotoluene waste gas streams has been patented: Gilligan, W.H.; Hall, T.N.; US Patent 4,003,977, January 18, 1977.
8. Glover has studied the destruction of TNM in water with sodium hydroxide and sodium nitrite, Glover, D.J.; The Journal of Physical Chemistry, 1970, 74, 21. Glover, D.J.; US Patent, 3,125,606, March 17, 1964.
9. Glover has studied the destruction of TNM in water with sodium hydroxide and sodium nitrite, Glover, D.J.; The Journal of Physical Chemistry, 1970, 74, 21. Glover, D.J.; US Patent, 3,125,606, March 17, 1964.
10. Miki, T.; Obata, K.; Japanese Patent, Kokai Patent No. SHO 57(1982)-156445, September 27, 1982.
11. Japanese Patent, Patent No. 57-302, January, 6, 1982.
12. Cook N.C.; Davis, G.C., US Patent 3,981,933, September 21, 1976.
13. Schroeder, B.; Thelen, B; Auge, W.; Thiem, K.-W., US Patent 4,261,908, April 14, 1981.
14. Odle, R.R., Groeneweg, P.G.; US Patent 4,902,809, February 20, 1990.
15. There are many parameters to consider when evaluating the explosive hazards of materials. An introduction to the processes used in these evaluations can be found here: C. Grelecki, in his course notes, 'Fundamentals of Fire and Explosion Hazards Evaluation', AIChE Today Series, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 345 East 47 Street, New York, N.Y. 10017. Experts need to be consulted to aid in these types of evaluations.
16. Hager, K.F.; Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 1949, 2168. This paper details the production of TNM via the reaction of acetylene with strong nitric acid in the presence of mercury nitrate. A pilot plant employing this process was built in Newark, NJ and was destroyed by an explosion in 1953 (see ref. 2, Urbanski, Vol. 3, page 299). Hager showed that trinitromethane is stable in 85% nitric acid. Trinitromethane is rapidly converted to TNM in excess 99% nitric acid.
17. The destruction of TNM with alcohols and inorganic ions has been studied, S.L. Walters; T.C. Bruice; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1971, 93, 2269.
18. Fossan, K.R., US Patent 3,781,374, Dec. 25, 1973.
19. Chin, C.-H.; Edmonds, A.C.F.; Evans, C.M., US Patent 4,713,232, December 15, 1987.
20. Frank, A.J.; Henglein, A.; Berichte der Bunsen Gesellschaft, 1976, 7, 590.
21. The Merck Index, Ninth Edition, Edited by M. Windholz, Published by Merck and Co., Inc., 1976, p. 1248.
22. Brown, L.H.; Geckler, R.D.; 'Research in Nitropolymers and their application to Solid Smokeless Propellants', Aerojet Engrg. Corp., Quarterly Summary Report 371, April, 15, 1949. Trinitromethane explodes when heated rapidly. Mixtures of organic material and pure trinitromethane should be avoided as they may be potentially unstable.
23. Nazin, G.N.; Manelis, G.B.; Dubovitskii, F.I.; Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khim. 1969, 5, 1035.
24. Mellor, J.W.; "Mellor's Comprehensive Treatise on Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry", volume VIII Supplement II, N (Part II), John Wiley and Sons Inc., N.Y., N.Y., page 363.
25. Ibid. Page 229.
26. A patent has recently been filed covering some of the concepts described in this chapter, notably the removal of TNM from mixed acid systems, and destruction of TNM in weak nitric at elevated temperatures in the presence and absence of sodium nitrite or NOx.