TNT: Trinitrotoluenes and Mono and Dinitrotoluenes

CHAPTER IV
THE MANUFACTURE OF TNT
THE complete manufacture of trinitrotoluene involves
the several processes of nitration, separation,
washing, crystallization and possibly purification.
The experimental stage has been passed in every one of
these various divisions in the manufacture of this product,
until the modern plant runs as smoothly as a welloiled
machine. The apparatus necessary to carry on
any one or all of the steps in the manufacture of TNT
is now well standardized, and many excellent machines
are on the market for accomplishing the end toward
which every manufacturer works—a pure product.
A detailed description of the necessary apparatus will
not be gone into, but a brief outline of the requirements
to be fulfilled by the various machines will be given in
their respective places.
The first step in the manufacture of TNT is the
the nitration. This reaction is carried out in a large
vessel called the nitrator. This nitrator is generally
a cylindrical kettle or tank, built of either an acid-proof
cast metal or of boiler plate. The material of which
the nitrator is built should be thoroughly tested with
the acids of various concentrations met with in the
manufacture of the product. The nitrator must be
well equipped with cooling coils and heating coils so
placed that the temperature of the reacting mixture
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