The decomposition of spent PETN nitration acids
- 1 April 1963
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering
- Vol. 41 (2) , 87-90
- https://doi.org/10.1002/cjce.5450410214
Abstract
The decomposition of PETN in pure nitric acid and of spent acids from nitrating pentaerythritol (PE) was followed by a continuous differential temperature measurement against a blank. Decomposition was more rapid as the temperature was raised and attained a maximum rate between 65–75% HNO3. Spent nitrating acids decomposed more rapidly than pure acids with PETN, due to the presence of about 0.5% dipentaerythrital hexanitrate (DiPEHN) formed from dipentaerythritol in the original PE. The decomposition of PETN in nitric acids was strongly catalysed by NO2, especially at high acid strength. The course of the decomposition as deduced from this evidence appeared to embrace (1) hydrolysis, (2) oxidation of hydrolysis products liberating NO2, (3) destruction of PETN by a mechanism catalysed by NO2in which hydrolysis plays no part.This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- OBITUARYBMJ, 1946