Extraction of Nitroguanidine (NQ) from Triple-Base Gun Propellant
Abstract
Laboratory-scale solubility and extraction studies were carried out to investigate the feasibility for recovery of nitroguanidine (NQ) from M30 triple-base gun propellant. The recovery process that was investigated involved stripping nitroglycerine (NG) from M30 propellant using supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2), followed by aqueous extraction of NQ. The solubilities of NQ and NG in supercritical CO2 were investigated. NQ was found to be relatively insoluble. NG was found to be up to six orders of magnitude more soluble than NQ in supercritical CO2. The solubility of NQ in water was investigated at atmospheric pressure. Data were taken over a range of temperatures from 28 deg C to 75 deg C. The solubility data were found to follow an exponential function of 1/T over a range of 0 deg C to 100 deg C. The solubility of NQ varies by almost two orders of magnitude over this temperature range. A significant matrix effect was observed for the extraction of NG from M30 propellant. Prior micromilling of the propellant considerably enhanced the extraction of NG using supercritical CO2. NQ was readily extracted from NG-depleted M30 propellant using hot water. The bulk of the NQ was recovered by precipitation at 1 deg C. A small amount of NQ remained unrecovered in the extraction solution.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA400163
Entities
People
- Jeffrey B. Morris
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory