The Silica Gel Process: Small Scale Studies. Part 1. Comparison of Catalysts and Labelling Experiments

Abstract

Small scale experiments using silica gel, ammonium nitrate and urea show that formation of guanidine nitrate becomes erratic if insolubles build up on the catalyst surface. The rate of production of insolubles increases rapidly with temperature, so that a trade-off between low conversions at lower temperatures and insoluble formation at higher temperatures is possible. The yield/temperature relationship is a property of the silica gel used. Yields of guanidine nitrate can be higher than predicted, possibly because by-product water is removed in the form of ammonium silicates rather than ammonium carbamate. Experiments with N15 and 018 suggest that guanidine nitrate does not result from the direct combination of cyanamide and urea: oxygen (or hydroxyl groups) of the silica gel plays an important role. The rate of formation of guanidine nitrate is second order (first order in both urea and ammonium nitrate). The phase diagram for the ternary system has been investigated.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0908525

Entities

People

  • F. A. Armstrong
  • R. T. Fraser

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ammonium Nitrate
  • Catalysts
  • Gels
  • Government (Foreign)
  • Governments
  • Guanidine Nitrates
  • Guanidines
  • Nitrates
  • Phase Diagrams
  • Rate Of Formation
  • Rocket Oxidizers
  • Silica Gels
  • Silicon Dioxide

Readers

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Theoretical Analysis.
  • Toxicology/Environmental Toxicology