Industrial Synthesis and Handling of a Highly Explosive Material – Nitroglycerine as Example Industrielle Synthese und Umgang mit einem hochexplosiven Produkt am Beispiel des Nitroglyzerins

Abstract

The first synthesis of nitroglycerine was achieved by Sobrero in 1846 by treating glycerine with a mixture of sulphuric and nitric acid. It is a powerful explosive, but because of many accidents its use in a pure form was forbidden in 1873. Alfred Nobel solved the problem of the high sensitivity to shock by absorbing the liquid in kieselguhr – the dynamite was invented.The risks of nitroglycerine can be summarised as follows:– Risks during synthesis (overheating, incomplete reaction, instability under acidic conditions)– Risks during handling (mechanical shock, rapid heating especially under confinement, freezing below 13°)– Toxicological effects.Most risks can be managed by the following means:– Safety distances to endangered people– Automatic safety systems for nitration plants– Good neutralisation and washing of nitroglycerine– Regular control of stability (Abel Test) and of pH– Transportation only in diluted form, for short distances in emulsions with water– Protection methods for the people exposed to nitroglycerine.