Preparing Nitroglycerin (This article was banned from wikipedia because "kids might find it." lel).
Materials
*HNO3 (nitric acid)
*H2SO4 (sulphuric acid)
*Glycerol
*Salt-ice bath
*1000 mL beaker
*Jug of ice water
*Glass burette
*Separatory funnel
*Glass rod
*Thermometer
*Safety equipment, minimally including heavy leather gloves, impact-resistant goggles,
hearing protection, and face shield.
Synthesis
(NOTE: The following describes an extremely dangerous process. The risk of explosion during the
production process is one of the reasons even skilled professionals purchase their nitroglycerin
rather than make it themselves. Do not attempt without having received the necessary training.)
Nitroglycerine is prepared by nitration of glycerol (also known as glycerin).
-First, you must create a nitrating solution. Slowly mix 200 ml of 98 to 100% nitric acid with
300 ml of 98-100% sulphuric acid into a 1000 ml beaker which is submersed in a salt-ice bath.
Make sure to cool down the mixture to 10 °C before the next step.
-Next, add 112 ml of glycerol, which has previously been cooled to 15 °C, very slowly
(i.e. drop by drop using a burette suspended over the beaker) to the nitrating solution.
Slowly stir it, with extreme care not to tap the stirring device against the side of the beaker,
as the impact of the stirring rod against the container has been known to create enough pressure
to detonate the nitroglycerin. Carefully monitor the temperature while adding the glycerol; the
temperature should never rise above 20 °C and should be kept below 15 °C as a safety precaution.
If the temperature starts rising, stop adding glycerol and stir slowly until the temperature goes
back down.
(CAUTION: Keep a jug of ice water nearby and if at any time the temperature rises above 20 °C or
red fumes are noticed, carefully dump the solution into the ice water immediately.)
-Once all of the glycerol has been added, let the mixture cool down to 15 °C and let it stand for
15 minutes. Then pour this mixture into a large container containing an equal amount of water at
room temperature. Add this mixture to a separatory funnel. The nitroglycerine will settle onto
the bottom of the funnel.
-Drain out the nitroglycerine layer and then add to a clean funnel, with plenty of water at
approximately 38 to 45 °C and wait for it to separate. Then, drain out the nitroglycerine layer
again. Repeat the washing process above with a 4% sodium carbonate solution instead of water.
Then wash with water again three more times. Give it one more wash with a concentrated sodium
chloride solution and then test with litmus for acidity. It should be neutral or it will explode.
Keep washing until it tests neutral with litmus.