). I dont think that it is pure though because black powder made with it burns slower than the normal mix. Is there anyway i can easily purify this to make it usable?
Inpure KNO3
Started by jsoh019, Nov 11 2006 12:02 AM
19 replies to this topic
#1
jsoh019
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Posted 11 November 2006 - 12:02 AM
I have just found a bin full of KNO3 in one of my gradparent's sheds(there must be 30kg of it in there ). I dont think that it is pure though because black powder made with it burns slower than the normal mix. Is there anyway i can easily purify this to make it usable?
). I dont think that it is pure though because black powder made with it burns slower than the normal mix. Is there anyway i can easily purify this to make it usable?
#2
Mortartube
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Posted 11 November 2006 - 12:54 AM
Is it damp? lay some in a dry warm place on some newspaper for a few days.
Mill it in a coffee grinder or grind it in a mortar & pestle to get it as fine as talcum powder. If these fail then it may be contaminated, but I reckon it's too coarse to burn quickly. You can sieve it through a sieve made from an old plastic tub with a hole in the bottom which is covered with some material from a pair of womens tights. (individual components only don't screen an explosive mixture through them.) This produces very fine KNO3.
BTW the sulphur and charcoal should also be this fine.
Mill it in a coffee grinder or grind it in a mortar & pestle to get it as fine as talcum powder. If these fail then it may be contaminated, but I reckon it's too coarse to burn quickly. You can sieve it through a sieve made from an old plastic tub with a hole in the bottom which is covered with some material from a pair of womens tights. (individual components only don't screen an explosive mixture through them.) This produces very fine KNO3.
BTW the sulphur and charcoal should also be this fine.
Edited by Mortartube, 11 November 2006 - 12:56 AM.
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#3
rocket
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Posted 11 November 2006 - 12:56 AM
The KNO3 may be fine, it might just be the way you’re making you BP. What method are you using to make the BP and what charcoal are you using?
#4
shadowpyro
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Posted 11 November 2006 - 11:02 AM
Well if all fails, you could always use it for in rocket engines instead of wasting the good kno3, just that you wont need to add extra charcoal to this rocket fuel. (Thats what i did with my bad kno3 anyway and it works fine in a rocket motor.)
There is no such thing as failure, either learn or succeed!
#5
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Posted 11 November 2006 - 11:40 AM
...and of course, don't forget a nice fountain or two!
Just think, with 30kg of kno3, you can make 1000s of fountains and save your expensive good stuff for places where it is needed.
Everyone seems to want fast, fast, faster BP which is actually no good for fountains. (Unless you massively slow it down with extra charcoal, in which case you might as well start with slower stuff in the first place.)
I once had a fountain with a too small choke and too energetic powder go BANG on me once, so fast is not only not needed, it can be dangerous!
Just think, with 30kg of kno3, you can make 1000s of fountains and save your expensive good stuff for places where it is needed.
Everyone seems to want fast, fast, faster BP which is actually no good for fountains. (Unless you massively slow it down with extra charcoal, in which case you might as well start with slower stuff in the first place.)
I once had a fountain with a too small choke and too energetic powder go BANG on me once, so fast is not only not needed, it can be dangerous!
#6
BigBang
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Posted 11 November 2006 - 12:20 PM
And if all else fails, you can always use it on your strawberries! 
#7
jsoh019
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Posted 11 November 2006 - 10:19 PM
I have tried grinding it very fine but i dont have a ball mill atm. I have tried drying it with silica gel and just leaving it in a warm place but nothing works. I think it has some sort of fire retardent in it. any idears on how i could get rid of it? could someone please explain how the precipitation method of using black powder works, maybe if i could get the pure KNO3 to crystalize or use fractional crystalisation?
Josh
Josh
Edited by jsoh019, 11 November 2006 - 10:22 PM.
#8
BigBang
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Posted 11 November 2006 - 11:14 PM
Josh....it really isnt worth it mate. KNO3 is sooo cheap, its not worth all the trouble. You could go to all the trouble of trying to purify it, and it still may be useless for pyro.
You can buy it for about £1kg! (if you are prepared to buy 25kg).
You can buy it for about £1kg! (if you are prepared to buy 25kg).
#9
jsoh019
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Posted 12 November 2006 - 11:27 AM
I know its cheap and all but it seems like such a waste. I new it was to good to be true 
#10
EnigmaticBiker
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Posted 12 November 2006 - 12:58 PM
Are you sure it's KNO3? (Rather than a mixed fertiliser)I know its cheap and all but it seems like such a waste. I new it was to good to be true
Was there a brand name on it?
If you're determined to use it, recrystallising it from a hot saturated solution is probably the best way.
"how the precipitation method of using black powder works"
Do you mean the CIA (crystallisation in alcohol) method?
#11
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Posted 12 November 2006 - 01:14 PM
Last time I did that, I got high as a kite on the fumes from the meths vapours!
NOTE: Best done OUTSIDE!
#12
jsoh019
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Posted 12 November 2006 - 06:19 PM
Yes the CIA method. Surly if you drain the bp of liquids all of the KNO3 is disoved in the water and there for lost? Does this mean the alchol makes the KNO3 crystalise? As for a brand name it was in a bin labled saltpeter
sorry for the bad grammar I am in a rush.
sorry for the bad grammar I am in a rush.
#13
EnigmaticBiker
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Posted 12 November 2006 - 07:18 PM
Yes, if done correctly, the alcohol removes much of the water and the KNO3 crystallises out as it is not really soluble in alcohol.Yes the CIA method. Surly if you drain the bp of liquids all of the KNO3 is disoved in the water and there for lost? Does this mean the alchol makes the KNO3 crystalise? As for a brand name it was in a bin labled saltpeter
sorry for the bad grammar I am in a rush.
#14
BigBang
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Posted 12 November 2006 - 07:55 PM
If its a mixed fertiliser, that wont solve the problem. When it dries out, you'll have a 'drier' mixed fertiliser!
Take my advise and chuck it. I know it seems a waste, but IMO thats the best thing to do.
You shouldnt really be mixing up comps. without knowing exactly what chems you are dealing with. You could possibly end up with an unstable comp.
Take my advise and chuck it. I know it seems a waste, but IMO thats the best thing to do.
You shouldnt really be mixing up comps. without knowing exactly what chems you are dealing with. You could possibly end up with an unstable comp.
#15
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Posted 13 November 2006 - 04:13 PM
Its not mixed, but it is 3 years old. Its been in an open bin for that time. My grandad says he baught it from a company called Avon Crop, they mainly deal with large farming businesses. so i am guessing that it isnt just off the shelf low grade ferts. it has a slight tint of yellow in it though, a sort of light cream colour, is that normal?
Edited by jsoh019, 13 November 2006 - 04:14 PM.
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