ETN

[nuclearrabbit]

Anyone have my old synth? Uses conc. H2SO4 as the limiting reagent.

Also, ITT: ETN

[jbvenom777]

bump.
good luck finding it. this place is a fucking ghost town.: [

[nuclearrabbit]

O HAY, I found a mention of it.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:5Lu3BDYZOncJ:ysatel.net/ftp/roguesci/www.roguesci.org/theforum/archive/index.php/t-2712-p-14.html&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&client=opera
Here is the procedure I followed (from azidechem x10):

-240 grams of ammonium nitrate is slowly added to 175 ml sulfuric acid while keeping the temp below 25 celsius.
-75 grams of erythritol is slowly added to the acid/nitrate mix while keeping the temp 10-15. This is stirred vigorously.
-While still keeping the temp between 10 and 15 degrees celsius, 330 ml sulfuric acid is added while stirring vigorously
-This is allowed to react for 30 minutes, then crashed into 4 liters of ice water and filtered

I got about 120 grams of ETN from this.

[Pain killer]

WHY AM I SUBSCRIBED TO THIS THREAd???

[SB15]

Also, ITT: ETN

Did somebody say ETN?

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/3981/img2540v.jpg

[nuclearrabbit]

Did somebody say ETN?

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/3981/img2540v.jpg

:drool: So fluffy and delicious...

[SHARP]

^^Bwhahahaha, nice one!

[PyroPeanut1776]

Why use the XNitrate method of nitration? Preparing Nitric acid is so much cleaner. The AN is so hydroscopic and using all that sulfuric acid makes it difficult to control the temp. Eh' IMO anyway.

[nuclearrabbit]

I do it for instant gratification. Which is also the reason why I use what I synth as soon as possible.

[nuclearrabbit]

ORLY?

Well, I don't.

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab160/Canadian_Pyro/IMG_2652.jpg

Before someone goes apeshit and tells me I'm a moron for storing over half a pound of ETN, it's twice recrystallized from methanol and stabilized with urea.

Every time I see the NFPA diamond it reminds me of my old unit patch.
http://www.antiqueemporium.co.nz/images/Army-Badge-5.jpg

Also shouldn't it be labeled as an oxidizer because it's OB+?

[nuclearrabbit]

Erythritol Tetranitrate
ETN is the tetranitrate form of the 4 carbon polyol erythritol. It is somewhat similar to PETN though easier to manufacture at the cost of being more sensitive.

General Info
Formula: C4H6N4O12
Molar mass: 302.11g/mol
MP: 61° C
BP: 160° C Decomposes
VOD: 7650m/s @ 1.6g/cc

Chemicals for this synthesis
7.5g Erythritol
50.0mL 98% (18 M) H2SO4
30.0g KNO3

Step one
Chill 17mL of sulfuric acid on an ice bath to 0° C then slowly add 30g KNO3, it wont fully dissolve. The mix will become thick and produce white nitric acid fumes.
Stir in 7.5g of erythritol keeping the temperature below 15° C.

Step two
While stirring the acidified erythritol mix slowly pour in the remaining 33 milliliters of H2SO4 at a rate of about 1mL every few seconds. The mix will become easier to stir as more sulfuric acid is added.

What's happening in this reaction?
Sulfuric acid is stripping away hydroxyl groups from the erythritol and the protonated hydrogen from nitric acid and absorbing the water that is produced. Concentrated sulfuric acid is acting as the limiting reagent, once it has absorbed enough water it will no longer attack the polyol. This means less chance of destroying unnitrated or partially nitrated erythritol.

HO- + H+NO3- → NO3- + H2O

The ETN is left to nitrate for 15 minutes after the last addition of H2SO4, stirring occasionally.

Filtration, washing and purification
Crash the acidic ETN into 0.5 liters of cold water and stir it around until all the solubles have dissolved. A fine white precipitate of ETN will appear.
http://i44.tinypic.com/14icrq0.jpg
Snow-like precipitate of ETN.
Filter and thoroughly wash the ETN before neutralizing and washing again.
To purify simply dissolve the ETN crystals in excess acetone, heat until boiling then crash into cold water and filter.

Safety
Store dry away from heat and light.
ETN slowly decomposes if stored in a warm or acidic environment.

Uses
Detonation occurs as 2 C4H6N4O12(s) → 6 H2O(g) + 8 CO2(g) + 4 N2(g) + O2(g) OB: +5.30

ETN can be substituted for PETN in many applications, like detonating cord. It is soluble in nitroglycerine which makes a very oxygen rich plasticizer.
Making use of its very low melting point, ETN can be melted and cast into casings by heating with steam or hot water.

References
http://www.roguesci.org/theforum/showthread.php?t=3132
http://www.geocities.com/houseofK9/etn.htm
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=7209