Ethylene glycol mononitrate

The simpliest laboratory method of preparing mononitroglycol consists in reacting ethylene bromohydrin with silver nitrate [5] in acetonitrile solution [6]  

Ethylene glycol dinitrate (EGDN, GDN, or nitroglycol respectively) is a transparent liquid characterized by the following physical parameters freezing point —22.3 or —22.8°C boiling point 197.5, 105.5 (19 mm Hg) or 70°C (2 mm Hg)  

Different authors have published divergent values for the volatility of nitroglycol. Thus Moreschi [7] reported a vapour pressure of 0.3 mm Hg at 20°C. According to Rinkenbach [8] at a temperature of 22°C the vapour pressure is 0.0565 mm Hg. The data quoted are cited both by Naoum and Meyer [9] and by Crater [10]. The most accurate values are those published by Marshall [11] for the temperature range 0-100°C  

According to the work of Brandner [12] the vapour pressure of nitroglycol at different temperatures is as follows  

The vapour pressure of solutions of nitroglycol in nitroglycerine has been reported on p. 44 (Table 13). 

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It has been pointed out that the water present in a slurry explosive must be vaporised during detonation and thus absorbs energy. Although the water vapour increases the total volume of gas produced the nett effect is still a reduction in strength. Many attempts have therefore been made to find a soluble additive which will replace part of the water to give both increased power and sensitivity. One such substance which has found success is ethylene glycol mononitrate. This when pure is explosive, but for... 

Slurry explosives consist of saturated aqueous solutions of ammonium nitrate with sensitizing additives.[i-3] Nitrates such as monomethylamine nitrate, ethylene glycol mononitrate, or ethanolamine mononitrate are used as sensitizers. Aluminum powder is also added as an energetic material. Table 4.15 shows a typical chemical composition of a slurry explosive. It is important that so-called micro-bubbles are present within the explosives in order to facilitate the initial detonation and the ensuing detonation wave. These micro-bubbles are made of glass or polymeric materials. 

A mixture of AN and water forms a low-strength explosive referred to as a slurry or emulsion explosive. Since a mixture of AN and water cannot be detonated by initiation with a moderate detonation strength, to formulate practical slurry explosives nitrate esters such as monomethylamine nitrate, ethylene glycol mononitrate, or ethylamine mononitrate in conjunction with aluminum powder are added as sensitizers that facilitate the initiation of detonation. 

Al, aluminium C, carbon DNT, dinitrotoluene EGMN, ethylene glycol mononitrate MMAN, monomethyl-anine nitrate NG, nitroglycerin P, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol S, sulphur. 

This substance was obtained by T. Urbanski and Taraniowicz [US]. The aim was to produce an explosive of a greatei power considering that the acetylenic bond increases exothermic properties of the substance. In lead block it gave a belter performance (385 cm ) than tetryl and ethylene glycol mononitrate. 

Ethylene glycol mononitrate was in use in Canada and an accident occurred in Belocil in 1975 86 J. As glycol mononitrate was considered to be safe to handle no special precautions were taken and it was pumped with two Moyno pumps. The detonation which destroyed the factory probably started through friction in a pump. 

MDL, minimum detectable level EGMN, ethylene glycol mononitrate MNT, mononitrotoluene. 

In 1982, Yip used short, mixed liquid phases and combined packed capiUaiy columns to separate EGDN, EGMN (ethylene glycol mononitrate), and NG at levels of 10 g/mL (216). A method has been reported using a packed column with dual detection using an ECD and photoionization detector (PID) and response ratios for the identification of TNT, RDX, Tetryl, and NG (217). 

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