Sulphuric acid concentration – for explosives and propellants

All major explosives and propellants are based on nitrated compounds. Examples are nitrocellulose (NC), nitroglycerin (NG), nitroglycols, trinitrotoluene (TNT), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), HMX (Octogen), RDX (cyclonite; hexogen, T4) and many others. The nitro group is the main factor for providing oxygen to the compound for a quick reaction / explosion. During the production of the above compounds, nitric acid or mixed acid (nitrating acid) is used, and nitrogen oxides are developed.

Bertrams acid recovery systems offer the full range for the recovery of these substances to ensure a maximum recycling rate of the non-consumed acids.

The technology consists of:

• Denitration system to separate the spent acids into concentrated nitric acid and diluted sulphuric acid
• A stabilization step to extract or decompose organic impurities, if required
• A sulphuric acid concentration system to concentrate the diluted sulphuric acid up to the required product concentration.
• An NOx recovery system to clean the exhaust NOx fumes and recover as nitric acid by scrubbing the exhaust gases into water.

The above processes lead to an optimum recovery of the non-consumed raw materials and avoid waste and environmental contamination.