Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate → Pentaerythritol

Participants

Reaction Steps

Sodium nitrate (400 grams) which had been ground in a ball mill and screened through a 35-mesh (Tyler) screen was incorporated into the emulsion at 23° C. by gentle stirring. Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) (1200 grams), wet with 63 grams of water at 23° C., was incorporated in the same manner, stirring having been accomplished with a wooden spatula. The PETN was a crude grade obtained by nitrating pentaerythritol, washing to neutralize the surface, and drying. The temperature of the emulsion then was 30° C.

Provenance & Evidence