Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
5.3.5 Other Dibasic Alcohol Nitrates
5.3.5.1 Property and Preparation of Methylene Glycol Dinitrate [
79
,
80
]
Molecular formula: CH
2
N
2
O
6
Chemical structure:
ONO
2
H
2
C
ONO
2
Molecular weight: 138.04
Oxygen balance: 34.8 % (CO
2
-based)
Nitrogen content: 20.29 %
Methylene glycol dinitrate, or called nitri
ed methylene glycol, is oily liquid
with boiling point of 75
C under 20 mmHg. It is a liquid explosive with
collodion-dissoluble and strong explosion strength. It is easy to be hydrolyzed. In
early years, methylene glycol was considered as a useless substance because its
stability is poor but the explosion property is strong.
The simple procedure to prepare methylene glycol is described below. Form-
aldehyde-sulfuric acid solution is dropwisely added into a mixed acid of nitric acid
and sulfuric acid slowly at 2
77
°
-
C. An oily product will be formed and separated
out. The product will be washed by water and treated for stability. The yield of the
5
°
-
final product is 35 %.
5.3.5.2 Property and Preparation of 1,3-Propanediol Dinitrate
Molecular formula: C
3
H
6
N
2
O
6
Chemical structure:
O
2
NO
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
ONO
2
Molecular weight: 166.09
Oxygen balance:
28.9 % (CO
2
-based)
Nitrogen content: 16.87 %
1,3-propanediol dinitrate is an oily liquid with a boiling point of 180
−
°
C under
20 mmHg. It has a density of 1.393 at 20
C, and a higher volatility and a lower
viscosity than nitroglycerine. The mutually soluble regents with 1,3-propanediol
dinitrate are the same as nitroglycerine. It can dissolve collodion very well. It would
not be decomposed at 75
°
C for 600 h.
1,3-propanediol dinitrate is a strong liquid explosive with explosion heat of
4763.5 J/g (water vapor). The explosion point is 225
°
C and the shock sensitivity is
low. The characteristic height is 100 cm with 2 kg falling weight. Its lead-block
value with water
°
filling is 540 cm, equal to 90 % of nitroglycerine. The 93 %
