Abstract: A method for the retraction of an explosive component from a high explosive, including the steps of loading a high explosive containing an explosive component into an striping down vessel; supplying a supercritical fluid to the striping down vessel; contacting the high explosive with the supercritical fluid at a temperature below the melting point of the explosive component and at a pressure sufficient to strip down the explosive component; and inducing a sonicating process on the striping down vessel simultaneously at a frequency of 2 MHz to 10 MHz.

Abstract: A method for the retraction of an explosive component from a high explosive, including the steps of loading a high explosive containing an explosive component into an extraction vessel. A supercritical fluid is supplied to the extraction vessel. The high explosive is contacting with the supercritical fluid at a temperature below the melting point of the explosive component and at a pressure sufficient to extract the explosive component.

Abstract: Improved micro machined (MEMs scale) heaters, which are particularly suitable for use in MEMs scale preconcentrators. Preferably the heater possess a trapping medium, in particular a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs). There is further provided devices comprising the preconcentrator, and methods of preparation and use. There is particular benefit directed to the use of a MEMs scale heater coated with the PIMs for use in hand-held or field portable chemical detection devices. The heater comprises a number of electrically conducting paths which have been engineered so that the electrical resistance of all the electrically conducting paths are substantially equal, to provide a more uniform heat distribution.

Abstract: A process for preparing trinitrololuene (TNT) in which toluene is treated with nitric acid having a concentration of about 90% to about 99%, and preferably about 98% to about 99%, by weight at a temperature of less than about 60° C., and preferably less than 30° C., to produce high purity dinitrotoluene. The resulting dinitrotoluene is then treated with nitric acid having a concentration of about 98% to about 99% by weight and trifluoromethane sulfuric acid to produce high purity TNT.

Abstract: A continuous process for the separate recovery of TNT and RDX from a mixture of TNT and RDX. The mixture is introduced into a first vessel wherein TNT is separated from the RDX by use of a solvent that is effective for dissolving TNT but not RDX. The TNT in solvent is passed to a separation stage wherein the solvent is recovered a recycled to the first vessel. A slurry of RDX and water are passed to a second vessel where the water is displaced with a desensitizing agent for desensitizing RDX.

Abstract: A method for making trinitrotoluene is described, and which includes the steps of providing a source of aqueous nitric acid having a concentration of less than about 95% by weight; mixing a surfactant with the source of aqueous nitric acid so as to dehydrate the aqueous nitric acid to produce a source of nitronium ions; providing a supercritical carbon dioxide environment; providing a source of an organic material to be nitrated to the supercritical carbon dioxide environment; and controllably mixing the source or nitronium ions with the supercritical carbon dioxide environment to nitrate the organic material and produce trinitrotoluene.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly picric acid explosive comprising, providing a nitromalondialdehyde, providing a dinitroketone, reacting the nitromalondialdehydes with the dinitroketone to produce a mixture, and subjecting the mixture to a cyclodehydrative mechanism to produce environmentally friendly picric acid explosive. Embodiments of the present invention include the picric acid explosive produced by the methods of described above.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly methods for making 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) compounds comprising, providing nitromalondialdehydes, providing dinitro-compounds, reacting the nitromalondialdehydes with the dinitro-compounds to produce aldol-intermediate compounds, and subjecting the intermediate compounds to a cyclodehydrative mechanism to produce 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) compounds in an environmentally friendly manner. Another embodiment includes an environmentally friendly method for making 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) compounds comprising, providing nitromethylamino-hexafluorophosphates, providing dinitro-compounds, reacting the trimethinium hexafluorophosphates with the dinitro-compounds to produce aldol-intermediate compounds, and subjecting the intermediate compounds to a cyclodehydrative mechanism to produce environmentally friendly 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) compounds. Embodiments of the present invention include the 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) compounds produced by the methods of described above.

Abstract: Environmentally-polluting nitrocresol values are removed from admixtures of nitroaromatic compounds comprised thereof, notably the media of nitration of aromatic compounds by reacting same with aqueous HNO.sub.3 /H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, by first intimately contacting such nitroaromatic compound admixtures with an oxidizing agent comprising hydrogen peroxide, javelle water, or mixture thereof, and thereafter with a neutralizing agent; the nitroaromatic aromatic compounds thus purified are conveniently catalytically hydrogenated into aromatic amines.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing a light organic compound from a liquid composition comprising said light organic compound in admixture with a nitroaromatic compound, said light organic compound having a partial vapor pressure in said composition that is greater than the partial vapor pressure of said nitroaromatic compound in said composition, said process comprising contacting said composition with steam or a gas to cause at least a portion of said light organic compound to pass out of said composition and into admixture with said steam or gas.

Abstract: An aromatic compound is polynitrated in a continuous process in a single apparatus under adiabatic conditions in an emulsion as the reaction medium. From 1.3 to 3.5 mol of HNO.sub.3 per mol of aromatic compound are introduced in the form of a nitronium ion solution into the reactor with the aromatic compound under conditions such that an emulsion forms. The emulsion, which has a tendency to coalesce, is maintained by repeated dispersion. The first dispersion of the liquid streams to produce the emulsion takes place in less than one second. At least 20% of the total amount of HNO.sub.3 to be used should generally be present during this first dispersion. It is preferred, however, that the total amount of nitronium ion solution to be used be present at the time the aromatic compound and nitronium ion solution are first dispersed.

Abstract: A process for the preparation and purification of nitroaromatics by nitration of the corresponding aromatics and subsequent melt crystallization. The residual melts which occur are recycled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing an aromatic nitro compound by introducing a nitrogen oxide gas and ozone-containing oxygen or air into a halogenated organic solvent dissolving or suspending therein an aromatic compound, thereby subjecting the aromatic compound to nitration. By the use of a system comprising the nitrogen oxide and ozone-containing oxygen or air as the nitrating agent, the aromatic nitro compound can be produced under mild conditions without using any mineral acid. In addition, the various disadvantages due to the use of mineral acid in the conventional process can be avoided by the process of the present invention.

Abstract: Pure or substantially enriched 2,4- and 2,6-dinitrotoluene can be isolated from a mixture containing these isomers if such a mixture is distilled under a pressure of 0.5 to 20 mbar at a temperature of 80.degree. to 200.degree. C. with exclusion of reducing conditions.

Abstract: Described herein is a process for separating an acid impurity from a solution containing acid and a nitro substituted aromatic compound by contacting the solution with at least one molten nitrate salt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of eliminating or substantially reducing the amount of cyanide formed in a polynitroaromatic, e.g. dinitrotoluene process. The invention comprises removing the nitrophenolic material from the mononitroaromatic formed in a first stage nitration of toluene prior to feeding the mononitroaromatic to the subsequent nitration zones.

Abstract: The explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is desensitized by dissolving it in oleum of from 10 to 40% (by weight) in strength. The solutions formed preferably contain at least 400 g and at most 480 g of dissolved TNT per liter of oleum in oleum of 20-25% strength. They are especially useful for the preparation of phloroglucinol.

Abstract: A process for recovering pure 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from a crude TNT ixture containing unsymmetrical TNT isomers which comprises forming a homogeneous powder of the crude TNT and silica gel, introducing said powder at the top of a silica gel packed column, and resolving the TNT mixture into its component isomers by contacting said powder with a developing solvent system which is not reactive with the component isomers selected from the group consisting of polar organic solvents, non-polar organic solvents, and mixtures thereof having an energy of adsorption adequate to selectively adsorb the individual TNT isomers, such as a mixture of polar acetonitrile and non-polar trichloro trifluoroethane.

Abstract: A polymer having aromatic or heterocyclic rings as the only structural elements said aromatic or heterocyclic rings containing at least two nitro groups is disclosed as well as a method of preparing the same. The polymers are useful as binding agents for thermo stable propellants and can be easily formed into films. They remain thermally stable up to temperatures of at least 200.degree. C.