Nitroglycerin with ethanol

The solubility of nitroglycerine is related to the temperature of solvents and water contents. In anhydrous ethanol, the solubility is increased with temperature. At 50 °C, nitroglycerine can be mutually dissolved into 96 % or anhydrous ethanol. Table 5.30 shows the solubility of nitroglycerine in ethanol. 

To an appredable extent the solubility of nitroglycerine in ethyl alcohol depends on the temperature of the solvent and its water content. In the cold a limited quantity of nitroglycerine is dissolved in absolute alcohol, whereas at temperatures of about 50°C it mixes with absolute or 96% alcohol in all proportions. The solubility of nitroglycerine decreases as water is added to the ethanol. In consequence, when water is poured into an alcoholic solution, nitroglycerine is precipitated step by step. This precipitation becomes very considerable after the alcohol has been diluted from 50 to 25% concentration. 

DNAN forms colorless crystals with a melting point of 120 Celsius. It is fairly soluble in hot water, hot ethanol, methanol, and acetone. It is less soluble in cold water, cold ethanol, and insoluble in chloroform, benzene, ether, and petroleum ether. DNAN is somewhat hygroscopic, and moisture slowly decomposes it—should be stored in a desiccator. A small sample bums leaving a residue of carbon when ignited—a small sample can be detonated by the blow of a hammer. DNAN can be used in explosive compositions when alloyed with TNT, or other low melting secondary explosives, gun propellants with nitrocellulose, nitro starch, or nitroglycerine, and rocket propellants when mixed with ammonium perchlorate. DNAN also demonstrates usefulness for priming mixtures with lead azide, lead styphnate, or diazodinitrophenol, and for use in fireworks. ... 

The ability of nitroglycerine to burn is now being utilized (on a large experi mental scale) to inipiovc the burning of ethanol being used as a fuel for ca engines in Brasil.. A small proportion (ca. 3%) is added to ethanol for this pu pose, so far with a positive result (108). 

The alcoholic nitroglycerin solution 10 mg/g contains 90 % / ethanol (= 86.5 % m/m). The nitroglycerin infusion concentrate thus contains 86.5 mg ethanol per ml. It has an osmotic value of 1,800 mosmol/1 and is thus hyper osmotic, but at the same time hypotonic because ethanol can pass the erythrocyte membrane freely. This solution can only be administered when it is mixed with NaCl 0,9 % or glucose 5 %. 

To a solution in ethanol, containing approximately 0 01 g of glyceryl trinitrate and through which is passing a current of carbon dioxide to expel air, add 25 ml of approximately 0-05N titanous chloride. Set aside for ten minutes, then boil for ten minutes and finally cool in ice for ten minutes. Titrate the excess of titanous chloride with 0 05N ferric alum using 5 ml of 5 per cent ammonium thiocyanate solution as indicator. Carry out a blank experiment simultaneously. 1 ml 0 05N = 0 000631 g of nitroglycerin. 

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