Solid-liquid phase equilibria of binary salt hydrate mixtures involving ammonium alum

Summary The solid-liquid phase diagrams of binary mixtures of ammonium alum with ammonium iron(III) alum, with aluminum nitrate nonahydrate and with ammonium nitrate and of aluminum sulfate hexadecahydrate with aluminum nitrate nonahydrate are presented. The alum rich branches of the former three-phase diagrams were fitted by the Ott equation. The specific enthalpy of fusion/freezing of some compositions of the former three mixtures was determined by differential drop calorimetry.     

Zur Kinetik der chloridkatalysierten thermischen Zersetzung von Ammoniumnitrat

On the Kinetics of Chloride Catalyzed Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Nitrate The activation energies and frequency factors of thermal decomposition reactions of ammonium nitrate and mixtures of ammonium nitrate and chloride have been determined by volumetric measurement of the gaseous decomposition products evolved on linear hcating. The rate constants obtained from these values show that thermal stability and initial decomposition temperature of ammonium nitrate are considerably reduced by addition of small amounts of chloride.     

改性硝酸铵爆轰安全性研究 Ⅰ.CaCO3和MgSO4对硝酸铵爆轰安全性的影响

将碳酸钙和硫酸镁改性的硝酸铵按照工业炸药配方配制成铵油(ANFO)炸药，以8号雷管起爆，对硝酸铵的爆轰安全性进行了评价。采用恒温热分解和示差扫描量热法，研究了改性硝酸铵及铵油炸药的热分解行为。测定了改性硝酸铵的比表面积以解释爆轰结果。得出如下结论：硝酸铵含40％的碳酸钙，或25％碳酸钙和5％硫酸镁的混合物，所配制的铵油炸药不能被8号雷管起爆。碳酸钙同硝酸铵发生复分解反应放出NH3、H2O和CO2气体，反应程度与碳酸钙的含量、温度和时间成正比。虽然硝酸铵中加入碳酸钙后提高了ANFO炸药的热稳定性，但由于上述气体的逸出增加了改性硝酸铵的比表面积。因此，在硝酸铵中加入少量的碳酸钙不能达到爆轰安全性的要求。硫酸镁与硝酸铵形成复盐，可减缓硝酸铵和碳酸钙之间复分解反应的速度．有利于降低硝酸铵的起爆感度。     

Thermal analysis for identification of E-Beam nanosize ammonium sulfate

Summary Thermal decomposition of nanosize ammonium sulfate obtained as a by-product in a new electron-beam technology cleaning up waste gases from thermal power stations was studied. DTA-TG-DTG curves were used to characterize thermal properties of the new products obtained under different technological conditions. High quality of ammonium sulfate from Merck was used as a reference material. Ammonium sulfate was the main component in all the products and their thermal behavior was similar to that of the reference. Only the solid product obtained with the highest norm of ammonia contained about 3.2% ammonium nitrate. Thermoanalytical methods can successfully be applied for control the quality of the by-products from E-beam desulfurization technology. It was found that the thermal stability of the nanosize ammonium sulfate was the same as that of the reference ammonium sulfate.     

Thermal-spectroscopic characterization of acetone peroxide and acetone peroxide mixtures with nitrocompounds

Triacetone triperoxide (TATP), also known as acetone peroxide, is a powerful homemade energetic compound, highly unstable and not detectable by traditional detection technologies. The calorimetric profiles of TATP mixtures with TNT, ammonium nitrate, and nitroguanidine were evaluated and compared to pure materials. Raman spectroscopy was used to identify possible interactions between mixture components that may arise on contact. Typical results show a shift of the TATP decomposition temperature to higher temperatures, as well as decomposition of the nitrocompound initiated by TATP decomposition. The vibrational spectra were used as spectroscopic signatures for these mixtures, which can be used to understand detection challenges and for the development of desensitization approaches.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of Thermal Decomposition of a Mixture of Ammonium Nitrate and Pyroxylin

The kinetics of heat release in thermal decomposition of a mixture of ammonium nitrate and pyroxylin was studied. To elucidate the mechanism of this process, the kinetics of heat release in oxidation of ammonium nitrate with nitrogen dioxide and of cellulose with a nitric acid solution was examined. The kinetic equations of the processes and the temperature dependence of the constants in these equations were established. The influence exerted by addition of diphenylamine on the rate of heat release in the system constituted by ammonium nitrate and pyroxylin was analyzed.__________Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Khimii, Vol. 78, No. 6, 2005, pp. 891–900.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Rubtsov, Kazakov, Kirpichev, Lempert, Manelis.     

Activation of phosphorite powder in the presence of physiologically acid additives

Effect of physiologically acid additives (ammonium sulfate, potassium chloride, and mixtures of these) on the activation of the phosphorite powder was studied.     

Thermal decomposition study of chloride-containing complex ammonium nitrate-based fertilizers by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry

Thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry were used to study the thermal properties of chloride-containing complex ammonium nitrate-based fertilizers produced with various degrees of phosphoric acid ammonization on the basis of ammonium nitrate. Isoconversion integral methods were used to calculate the dependence of the activation energy on the degree of exothermic decomposition. It was shown that the exothermic decomposition process occurs in several stages. A conclusion was made on the basis of the results obtained that the thermal decomposition of these types of fertilizers is affected by the degree of ammonization and by the component ratio.     

Method of separating uranium from iron and thorium

Acid leaching of uranium deposits is not a selective process. Sulfuric acid solubilizes iron(III) and half or more of the thorium depending on the mineralog of this element. In uranium recovery by solvent extraction process, uranium is separated from iron by an organic phase consisting of 10 vol% tributylphosphate(TBP) in kerosine diluent. Provided that the aqueous phase is saturated with ammonium nitrate or made 4–5 M in nitric acid prior to extraction. Nitric acid or ammonium nitrate is added to the leach solution in order to obtain a uranyl nitrate product. Leach solutions containing thorium(IV) besides iron are treated in an analogous fashion. Uranium can be extracted away from thorium using 10 vol% TBP in kerosine diluent. The aqueous phase should be saturated with ammonium nitrate and the pH of the solution lowered to 0.5 with sufficient amount of sulfuric acid. In other words, the separation of uranium and thorium depends on the way the relative distributions of the two materials between aqueous solutions and TBP vary with sulfuric acid concentration. Thorium is later recovered from the waste leach liquor, after removal of sulfate ions. Uranium can be stripped from the organic phase by distilled water, and precipitated as ammonium diuranate.     

Production and properties of double potassium-ammonium sulfate

Process in which double potassium-ammonium sulfate is produced from potassium chloride and sulfuric acid was studied. A thermal analysis of the compound KNH₄SO₄ was made and the melting and decomposition points of double potassium-ammonium sulfate were determined. An X-ray phase analysis revealed the processes occurring when double potassium-ammonium sulfate is calcined at temperatures of 330, 370, and 580°C. The chemical processes in which double potassium-ammonium sulfate decomposes to give ammonium hydrosulfate were examined.     

Enhancing the strength of granules and thermal stability of ammonium nitrate

The effect of sulfate ions on the physicochemical properties of ammonium nitrate with a dolomite additive was examined. Changes in the rate of the IV → III phase transition, granule strength, number of thermal cycles, and content of ammonium nitrate aerosol in air after the granulation tower were evaluated.     

Urea nitrate, an exceptionally easy-to-make improvised explosive: studies towards trace characterization

Urea nitrate is a powerful improvised explosive, frequently used by terrorists in the Israeli arena. It was also used in the first World Trade Center bombing in New York in February 1993. It is difficult to identify urea nitrate in post-explosion debris, since only a very small fraction survives the blast. Also, in the presence of water, it readily decomposes to its original components, urea and nitric acid. It is suspected that post-blast debris of urea nitrate can be confused with ammonium nitrate, the main solid product of urea nitrate thermal decomposition. In a comprehensive study towards identification of urea nitrate in post-blast traces, a spectrophotometric technique for quantitative determination of urea nitrate was developed, and conditions were found for extraction and separation of un-exploded traces of urea nitrate with minimal decomposition. Nevertheless, out of 28 samples collected from a series of three controlled firings of urea nitrate charges, only one gave the typical adduct ion by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. We found that urea nitrate can be extracted from solid mixtures to organic solvents by using Crown ethers as “host compounds.” The adducts thus formed are solid, crystalline compounds that can be characterized by microanalysis and spectroscopic techniques. Figure Adduct formation between urea nitrate and 18-crown-6     

Experimental determination of the NH4NO3/(NH4)2SO4/H2O phase diagram

We have studied the thermodynamic properties of the ammonium nitrate/ammonium sulfate/water system using differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy of thin films at low temperatures. This is the first study focused on low temperatures, as previous experimental work on this system has been at 273 K and above. We have combined our experimental results with melting point data from the literature at high temperatures to create a solid/liquid phase diagram of the ammonium nitrate/ammonium sulfate/water system for temperatures below 343 K. Using phase diagram theory and Alkemade lines, we predict which solids are stable at equilibrium for all concentrations within the studied region. We also observed the decomposition of a solid at low temperatures which has not previously been reported. Finally, we have compared our predicted solids and final melting temperatures to the Aerosol Inorganics Model (AIM).     

Thermal analysis of mechanoactivated mixtures of tunisia phosphorite and ammonium sulfate

The thermal behavior of Tunisia phosphorite and ammonium sulfate mixtures are examined by non-isothermal thermogravimetry in air atmosphere. It has been shown that the thermal stability of mixtures have different behavior after mechano-chemical treatment due to phase changes in the mixtures. New solid phases are confirmed by the stages and rate of mass changes and also by the heat effects observed. New phases are also confirmed by using X-ray diffraction method. Based on the data obtained by the mechanism of chemical transformations is proposed. The kinetics of mechano-activated mixtures decomposition is significantly influenced by the time of treatment and proceeds in few stages. Stage I is attributed to the effect of partially ammonia releasing, when the next stages are associated with the decomposition of apatite structures. Because of the interfacial interactions during mechano-chemical treatment insoluble phosphorous forms from apatite structures are transformed to the soluble forms suitable for plants nutrition. The results have shown that the soluble form can be controlled by the initial components ratio and conditions of treatment on the way to obtain slow releasing nutrition products. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Extraction of oxalic acid from solutions of electrolyte mixture

Extraction of oxalic acid with tributyl phosphate and triisoamyl phosphate from solutions of its mixtures with nitric, phosphoric, sulfuric, and hydrochloric acid and with ammonium nitrate and chloride was studied. In the extractability series, oxalic acid occupies the position between nitric and phosphoric acids, with sulfuric and hydrochloric acids acting as strong salting-out agents. Nitric acid salts drastically decrease the distribution ratios of oxalic acid.     

硫酸亚铁铵滴定法测定锰渣中的锰含量

研究了高氯酸氧化-硫酸亚铁铵滴定法测定锰渣中锰含量的主要影响因素。采用磷酸分解试样,通过控制试样质量和磷酸用量的比例,优化确定了最佳溶样温度和溶样时间,探讨了放置冷却时间对测定结果的影响程度,分析了共存离子的干扰。建立了硫酸亚铁铵滴定法测定锰渣中的锰含量的方法,方法用于对锰渣标准物质和样品进行分析,测定结果的相对标准偏差为0.21%～0.35%,准确度和精密度均能满足锰渣中锰含量的分析要求。     

Measurement of inorganic acids with rotating ball inlet mass spectrometry

Using a new acid resistant inlet we have evaluated the use of rotating ball inlet mass spectrometry (ROBIN-MS) as a tool for the measurement of inorganic acids in aqueous solution. EI-spectra of sulfuric, sulfurous, nitric, perchloric, bromic, iodic and boric acids were recorded and interpreted with respect to preionization decomposition and electron impact fragmentation. With the exception of sulfuric acid the detection limits for these acids were in the order of 1 mM and the response times are in the order of 1 s. Sulfuric acid had a significantly higher detection limit and response time than the other acids. No mass spectrum of phosphoric acid could be detected. High concentrations of phosphoric acid reduced the signals of other acids. HCl formed by decomposition of perchloric acid caused a strong and slowly recovering decrease of the sensitivity of the mass spectrometer. Sodium sulfate or sodium nitrate in neutral solution did not yield any mass spectrum. The intensity of the sulfuric acid peak of acid solutions of sodium sulfate was measured at different molar ratios of sodium and sulfate. The results indicate that the evaporation of such samples leaves a remnant containing three molecules of sulfuric acid per sodium ion. Similar measurements on acid solutions of sodium nitrate indicate that the remnant contains one molecule of nitric acid per sodium ion.     

Reactivity analysis of ammonium dinitramide binary mixtures based on ab initio calculations and thermal analysis

Ammonium dinitramide (ADN) is a promising high energy oxidizer for rocket propellants because it offers a good oxygen balance and has a significant energy content. As a result, ADN-based energetic ionic liquid propellants (EILPs) have been studied, based on ADN combined with urea and monomethyl ammonium nitrate (MMAN). The thermal decomposition of ADN in the condensed phase affects the combustion of both pure ADN and ADN-based EILPs; thus, it is important to understand the reactions of EILPs in the condensed phase. The present study assessed the reactivity of ADN mixtures in the condensed phase, focussing on hydrogen abstraction reactions with NO₂· formed from the thermal decomposition of ADN. The potential energy surfaces of these reactions were obtained using ab initio calculations. The effects of functional groups and of carbon chain length on hydrogen abstraction by NO₂· were examined. Mixtures of ADN with urea and acetamide (AA) as amide compounds, and with MMAN and monoethanol amine nitrate (MEAN) as nitrate salts, were examined. Thermal analysis was conducted to investigate the properties of these mixtures, using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The calculation results shows that AA and MEAN are more reactive with ADN than urea and MMAN, which is supported by the DSC data. Hydrogen abstraction by NO₂· is evidently an important condensed phase reaction in ADN mixtures, and substances having alkyl groups and longer carbon chains are more highly reactive.

     

Cerium catalyzed persulfate oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to quinones

A practical synthesis of polycyclic quinones from the parent hydrocarbons is described. The twophase oxidation of hydrocarbons was accomplished by using ammonium persulfate in the catalytic presence of cerium ammonium sulfate, silver nitrate, and sodium dodecyl sulfate. The reaction conditions and scope have been discussed in detail.     

Solid-State fermentation of phytase from cassava dregs

Phytases produced by numerous microorganisms and plants degrade phytic acid that has chelated with metal ions in food and feed. It is important to study phytase for the role of metal ions in nutrition of animals and humans as wellas in the reduction of organic phosphate content of a queous environment. This article reports on solid-state fermentation of phytase from a new substrate of cassava dregs. Large quantities of cassava dregs are produced in tropical areas as a by product of cassava starch processing. Protein and inorganic salts were found to be low in cassava dregs. Cassava dregs could be employed for phytase synthesis after the addition of a nitrogen source and mineral salts. Ammonium nitrate was the best nitrogen source among the nitrogen sources investigated, including beef extract, yeast extract, urea, ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate. Sodium dodecyl sulfate promoted phytase production from cassava dregs. A maximum phytase yield of 6.73 U/g of dry mass was obtained. The obtained phytase was stable at feed-processing temperature, since 70% of initial enzyme activity was maintained after 30 min of treatment at 75°C.