Nathan, Thomson and Rintoul process

As compared with the Nobel process for nitroglycerine manufacture certain innovations were introduced in this method, namely  

The nitrator-separatoT used in the Nathan, Thomson and Rintoul process is a cylindrical vessel with a conical cover carrying a small chimney (Fig. 32). 

In the nitration house two nitrators are situated with the primary washing tank between them (Fig. 33). 

When the separation is complete spent acid is introduced upwards into the nitrator through the pipe (5) to displace the nitroglycerine, the latter passing through the overflow (4) into a washer filled with cold water stirred by means of compressed air. There are some plants where the separation of nitroglycerine and acid is repeated after a lapse of at least 2 hr after the end of nitration, water then being added as described below. When the nitroglycerine has been removed from 

While one of the nitrators is in use as a separator, nitration is carried out in the other one and vice versa thus maintaining uninterrupted operation. 

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The method of Nathan, Thomson, and Rintoul was used only in a few factories and generally on the Continent a combined process incorporating the advantages of the Nobel process with those of the Nathan, Thomson and Rintoul process was used. 

The process of manufacture now about to be described is the outcome of a long series of improvements which have been made at intervals upon the methods originally adopted by Alfred Nobel, the pioneer in the commercial production of this substance. The nitrator-separator in its present form was first used at Waltham Abbey in the Royal Gunpowder Factory, and is the subject of the British Patent 15,983 of 1901, taken out by Colonel Sir Frederic L. Nathan, R.A., Mr J. M. Thomson, F.I.C., and Mr Wm. Rintoul, F.I.C. 

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