Simple, effective, high yield trinitrotoulene
Often times I have seen very poor directions for TNT synthisis. The better ones need a true lab environment. I ran accross a beauty that was written
for the USASDDS in Virgina.
****field expedient method****
Procedure: Synthesis of TNT, Procedure 11-01E (pp196)
Place 191 grams of 70% nitric acid into a beaker, and then gradually add over a period of 2 hours, 420 grams of 98% sulfuric acid. (Total; 611gr of
mixed acid) Then place the beaker into a cold-water bath and cool to 10 to 15 Celsius. When the acid mixture reaches a temperature of about 10 to 15
Celsius, pour 96 milliliters of this acid mixture into a clean separate beaker, and then cool to 10 to 15 Celsius by means of a cold water bath. When
the temperature of this 96-milliliter portion of acid mixture reaches 10 to 15 Celsius, slowly add 46 grams of toluene over a period of 4 hours while
rapidly stirring the acid mixture and maintaining its temperature at 10 to 15 Celsius. After the addition of the toluene, continue stirring the
reaction mixture for an additional 2 hours while keeping the reaction temperature at 10 to 15 Celsius. After which, add the remaining acid mixture
obtained at the start of the procedure, to the reaction mixture and then after the addition, raise the temperature of the reaction mixture to 70
Celsius, and hold this temperature while rapidly stirring the reaction mixture for 2 hours. After 2 hours, raise the temperature to 80 Celsius, and
heat at 80 Celsius for 2 hours while rapidly stirring the reaction mixture. After heating the reaction mixture to 80 Celsius for 2 hours, remove the
heat source, and allow the reaction mixture to cool to room temperature. Then add the entire reaction mixture to 1000 milliliters of cracked ice,
allow precipitation for at least one hour and then filter-off the precipitated TNT product. After which, wash the TNT precipitate with 1000
milliliters of water, and then vacuum dry or air-dry the TNT precipitate. Resultant is crude TNT; yield is over two ounces. Suggested is the freezing
of “ice container” prior to filling w/ ice and precipitation of mixed acid composition.
Afterward to refine product into reagent-grade material, place 400 grams of 70% sulfuric acid into a beaker, and then add the dry TNT product.
Afterwards, stir the mixture to form a slurry. Continue to stir the slurry for 2 hours at room temperature, and then filter-off the TNT product, wash
with 1000 milliliters of cold water, and then vacuum dry or air-dry the TNT product.
NOTE: temperature 70c = 158f, 80c = 176f. Nitric Acid & Toluene are both close as measurements to one ml = one gram, Sulfuric acid is a very small
fraction heavier.
*************Done*********
I thought it may be one of the best single step methods I have EVER seen.
-And I have seen a few so far.....
Johnny
CaCN2 + NH4NO3 = CH5N3.HNO3 .....simple.
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