Manufacturing of Explosives

PoIIuta.ntReduction. Pollutants from explosives are primarily produced by waste from the explosives manufacture, such as the acids used ia nitration (qv). Pollutants may also be produced dufing iacorporation of the explosives ia munitions, ia the use of iadustrial explosives, and ia clean-up and disposal operations. Table 4 fists the most common types of pollutants found ia the manufacture of explosives, as well as effects and various procedures for reduction (41—54). 

Industrial. Nitric acid is itself the starting material for ammonium nitrate, nitroglycerin [55-63-0] trinitrotoluene [118-96-7]., nitroceUulose [9004-70-0] and other nitrogen compounds used in the manufacture of explosives (see Explosives and propellants). Nitric acid is made by oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen dioxide [10102-44-0] which is subsequently absorbed by water. 

In the manufacture of explosives, sodium nitrate is used mainly in blasting agents. In slurries and emulsions, sodium nitrate improves stabiUty and sensitivity. It also improves the energy balance because sodium nitrate replaces water, so that more fuel can be added to the formulation. Sodium nitrate reduces crystal size of slurries, which in turn increases detonating speed. In dynamites sodium nitrate is used as an energy modifier. Typical content of sodium nitrate is 20—50 wt % in dynamites, 5—30 wt % in slurries, and 5—15 wt % in emulsions. Sodium nitrate is used also in permissible dynamites, a special type of dynamite for coal (qv) mining. 

Spreng-stUck, n. fragment (from bursting), specif, shell fragment, -technik, /. technics or manufacture of explosives, -trichter, m. explosion crater sprinkling rose. 

According to Urbanski (Ref 35. p 473) In the second half of the nineteenth century, Picric Acid was very widely used as a fast dye for silk and wool. The first definite suggestions as to the application of Picric Acid for the manufacture of explosives go back to the early second half of the nineteenth century. They referred... 

N.E.C. is the major manufacturer with a complete range of explosives and accessories, with factories in Scotland, Wales and England. Explosives and Chemical Products Ltd., with factories in England, is the other manufacturer of explosives for sale. The major commercial manufacturer of ammunition is Imperial Metal Industries (Kynoch) Ltd. at Witton near Birmingham. The British Government has of course a number of Royal Ordnance Factories and establishments to cover all aspects of military explosives. 

The ethylene oxide had many uses for the Krauch-Schneider-Buetefisch Sparte. It was also the silent, colorless assistant of the Ter Meer Sparte. Ter Meer s pharmaceutical division could take the excess methanol, produced by Schneider for his anti-freezes and fuels, and turn it into shaving lotions and liniments. Methanol could be converted, in solid forms, to two deadly explosives — nitropenta and hexogen. And Ter Meer could make glycol (Prestone) react doubly with itself to produce diglycol, an intermediate in the manufacture of explosives. 

Uses Organic synthesis propellant additive manufacture of explosives intermediate in the manufacture of polyurethanes. 

An application well-suited for IMS is the decommissioning and cleanup of sites where extensive manufacturing of explosives has taken place in the last century and where widespread contamination of soils and waters has occurred [74]. Decontamination of model metal scrap artificially contaminated with TNT and of decommissioned mortar rounds stiU containing explosives residue was followed by sampling surfaces with analysis by a portable mobility spectrometer. Mixed anaerobic microbial populations of bioslurries were employed in decontamination of scrap and the mortar rounds, and the IMS analyzer was seen as a sensitive field... 

Toluene Industrial solvent used in the manufacture of explosives, dyes, coatings and other organic substances and as a gasoline additive. 

TNB is classified as an ERA hazardous waste and disposal must be carried out according to ERA regulations (HSDB 1994). Wastes generated in the manufacture of explosive components such as 1,3- DNB and 1,3,5-TNB are also characterized as hazardous wastes and ERA regulations for disposal must be followed (ERA 1990a). For more information on the regulations that apply to... 

Woollen BH, Hall Mg, Craig R, et al Trinitrotoluene Assessment of occupational absorption during manufacture of explosives. Br J ltd Med 43 465 73, 1986... 

Continuous Methods of Manufacture of Explosives. The first successful method was invented by Schmid of Austria, but some attempts were made as early as 1864. Description, with flow sheets is given in Vol 3 of Encycl, pp C501 to C510 for the methods of Schmid, Biazzi, German and Bofors... 

An early French patent claims the manufacture of explosives based on hypophosphites mixed with oxidizers (Ref 1)... 

As aqueous solution, it is used as a parent compound for preparation of numerous chemicals used in industry, such.as in the manufacture of explosives, plastics, resins (eg phenol-formaldehyde resins) etc (See... 

Some nitric acid is used for the manufacture of explosives and chemicals, but much is converted on-site to the potentially explosive high nitrogen fertilizer ammonium nitrate (Section 2.11). Ammonia gas from the Haber plant is absorbed in aqueous HN03, and the NH4N03 solution is evaporated to a liquid melt (< 8% H20) for crystallization, but care must be taken to keep the pH of the solution above about 4.5 and to exclude any material (chlorides, organic compounds, metals) that might catalyze the explosive decomposition of NH4N03. It is also wise to keep the melt mass low and to vent it to avoid pressure buildup. The solid product should be stored well away from the main plant. 

Ammonium nitrate has a sharp, bitter, unpleasant taste. Its physiological action has been studied by T. Case.18 The salt is used in making freezing mixtures in the manufacture of explosives and in the preparation of nitrous oxide gas. 

A. M. Sokolov, Manual of Manufacture of Explosives, Ushakov and Lebedev (Ed.), (in Russian), Goskhimizdat, Moskva-Leningrad, 1934. 

It might be of interest to include here a list of powdery explosives, developed under the name of Standard Dynamites between WWI and WWlI at rhe laboratory of Apache Powder Company, Benson, Arizona, leading manufacturers of explosives for die Western USA. This was obtained from the late Dr I.A. Grageroff, former employee of... 

Table 7.1 Examples of nitrating agents for the manufacture of explosives...

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