testimento - 27-9-2013 at 15:41
The TM 31-210 is one of the several sources that cite that manure-laden soil near cattlehouses is rich in nitrates. This gave me an idea of using urea
instead of. Urea is complicated aside of ammonium nitrate because it slowly breaks down into ammonia gas and losses in field irrigation could be
substantial. This reaction could be put into good use by nitrobacteria. Essentially the concept is to obtain a container, for ex. 200L rainwater
barrel, fill it partially with fermenting soil, and add several buckets of urea and water, mix thoroughly and let it sit for a month or two and add
more water and agitate once a week if necessary, and finally dump it into large bucket-filter and flush water through the soil and evaporate off the
water.
This idea is not for mass production of nitrates, at least not for a single chemist's point of view, but just a concept because the post-medieval
people in Europe and other countries used this method with animal and human waste to product saltpeter(NaNO3 + potash = KNO3) for gunpowder needs.
bismuthate - 28-9-2013 at 17:18
ok thats an idea but where will you put it to use?
12AX7 - 29-9-2013 at 03:01
Tradition I believe used a compost heap with straw, dirt, ashes and so on, supplied by a variety of nitrogenous sources (urine, manure, rotten
meat..). White crust would form (potassium coming from the ashes), which was scraped off and refined.
Tim
argyrium - 29-9-2013 at 12:56
I think you want to look at this thread.
Don H posted the Sphagnum moss piece many years ago on PML