Raw materials for nitroglycerine manufacture

As already mentioned above, the purity of the glycerine exerts a fundamental influence on the efficiency and safety of nitroglycerine manufacture. The so-called dynamite glycerine, a very pure water-free product, distilled several times under reduced pressure is produced for manufacture of nitroglycerine. 

According to the standards applicable in different countries, dynamite glycerine should meet the following requirements  

The most reliable method of determining the quality of glycerine is the laboratory nitrating test. This should be carried out under conditions that correspond as closely as possible to those prevailing in the plant. During the laboratory nitration, temperature, the rate of separation of the nitroglycerine and the acid layers, the contact surface of phases and so on should be recorded. 

After separating and washing the products as in large-scale operations the yield is determined. According to the temperature applied this should amount to  

For experimental nitration either the Schlegel-Novak apparatus [30] simulating a large scale nitrator or Hofwimmer s nitration burette [31] are usually used. Normal laboratory apparatus with a mechanical stirrer can also be used. 

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