Recovery of TNT and RDX from bulk composition B explosives
AssigneeGradient Technology
InventorsKym B. Arcuri, Duane A. Goetsch, Steve J. Schmit, Ryan M. Smith, Paul Miller
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Abstract
A continuous process for the separate recovery of TNT and RDX from a mixture of TNT and RDX. The mixture is introduced into a first vessel wherein TNT is separated from the RDX by use of a solvent that is effective for dissolving TNT but not RDX. The TNT in solvent is passed to a separation stage wherein the solvent is recovered a recycled to the first vessel. A slurry of RDX and water are passed to a second vessel where the water is displaced with a desensitizing agent for desensitizing RDX.
Claims16
A process for separately recovering 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine from a blend of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine, without melt-out of the 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, which process comprises:
- a) conducting said blend of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine into the upper section of a contact vessel containing a solvent phase at its upper section and a water phase at its lower section wherein solvent is continuously introduced into said vessel above the water phase and wherein water is continuously introduced into said vessel to maintain a predetermined level;
- b) dissolving at least a portion of the 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene in the solvent phase, thereby resulting in a solvent/2,4,6-trinitrotoluene solution and wherein solid cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine particles settle through the solvent phase and into the water phase resulting in an upper solvent/2,4,6-trinitrotoluene phase and a lower cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine solids/water slurry phase;
- c) conducting said solvent/2,4,6-trinitrotoluene solution from said contact vessel to a separation zone wherein solvent is separated from said 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and wherein said solvent is recovered separately from the 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene;
- d) conducting said cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine solids/water slurry to a recovery vessel that contains a desensitizing agent effective for desensitizing the cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine wherein said desensitizing agent is continuously introduced into said recovery vessel;
- e) displacing said water in said slurry with said desensitizing agent to result in an upper water/desensitizing agent phase and a lower cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine solids/desensitizing agent phase;
- f) collecting said cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine solids/desensitizing agent phase;
- and
- g) conducting said water/desensitizing agent phase to a separation zone wherein the water is separated from the desensitizing agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.