Process for simultaneously crystallizing components of EAK explosive

Claim 2

A process for forming an explosive composition comprising ammonium nitrate, ethylene diamine dinitrate, and potassium nitrate, comprising the steps of: A. forming an aqueous solution of ammonium nitrate, ethylene diamine dinitrate, and potassium nitrate; B. cooling said solution sufficiently to concurrently crystallize said ammonium nitrate, ethylene diamine dinitrate, and potassium nitrate, thereby forming a crystallized composition; and C. separating said crystallized composition from the remainder of said aqueous solution.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1, wherein step A is performed by replenishing said aqueous solution of step C, thereby providing a cyclical process which produces substantially no waste products.

Claim 4

The process of claim 2, wherein the aqueous solution of step C is replenished for each cycle by adding stoichiometric proportions of potassium hydroxide, ammonia, water, nitric acid, and ethylene diamine in adequate amounts to replace the material removed by crystallization during the previous cycle.

Claim 5

The process of claim 3, wherein said potassium hydroxide, ammonia, water, nitric acid, ethylene diamine and aqueous solution of step C are continuously fed into a reactor, thereby providing a continuous process.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution of step A comprises about 34% by weight water, about 35% by weight ammonium nitrate, about 23% by weight ethylene diamine dinitrate, and about 8% by weight potassium nitrate, said solution of step A is maintained at about 50° C., and is cooled in step B to about 30° C., thereby forming a supersaturated solution.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution of step A is formed by mixing stoichiometric proportions of potassium hydroxide, ammonia, water, nitric acid, and ethylene diamine.

Claim 8

The process of claim 6 wherein said potassium hydroxide, ammonia, water nitric acid, and ethylene diamine are continuously fed into a reactor, thereby providing a continuous process.

Claim 9

The process of claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution of step A comprises about 100 parts by weight water, about 100 parts by weight ammonium nitrate, about 72 parts by weight etylene diamine dinitrate, and about 20 parts by weight potassium nitrate, said solution of step A is maintained at about 50° C., and is cooled in step B to about 20° C., thereby forming a supersaturated solution.

Claim 10

The process of claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution of step A comprises about 100 parts by weight water, about 90 parts by weight ammonium nitrate, about 59 parts by weight ethylene diamine dinitrate, and about 17 parts by weight potassium nitrate, said solution of step A is maintained at about 40° C., and is cooled in step B to about 20° C. thereby forming a supersaturated solution.

Claim 11

The process of claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution of step A comprises about 100 parts by weight water, about 115 parts by weight ammonium nitrate, about 82 parts by weight ethylene diamine dinitrate, and about 25 parts by weight potassium nitrate, said solution of step A is maintained at about 60° C., and is cooled in step B to about 30° C., thereby forming a supersaturated solution.

Claim 12

The process of claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution of step A comprises about 100 parts by weight water, about 142 parts by weight ammonium nitrate, about 109 parts by weight ethylene diamine dinitrate, and about 29 parts by weight potassium nitrate, said solution of step A is maintained at about 80° C., and is cooled in step B to about 30° C., thereby forming a supersaturated solution.

Claim 13

A process for forming an explosive eutectic composition comprising about 46% ammonium nitrate, 46% ethylene diamine dinitrate, and about 8% potassium nitrate, comprising the steps of: A. Forming an aqueous solution of about 34% by weight water, about 35% by weight ammonium nitrate, about 23% by weight ethylene diamine dinitrate, and about 8% by weight potassium nitrate, maintained at a temperature of about 50° C.; B. Cooling said solution to about 30° C., thereby super-saturating said solution with respect to each solute thereof; C. Passing said supersaturated solution in counter-current to a stream of nucleating crystals, thereby growing crystals having eutectic proportions; D. Separating said crystals from the residual mother liquor; E. Recycling said mother liquor; and F. Adding to said mother liquor stoichiometric proportions of potassium hydroxide, ammonia, water, nitric acid, and ethylene diamine in adequate amounts to replace the material removed by crystallization during the previous cycle, thereby reforming the solution in step A above.

Claim 14

A process for forming an explosive eutectic composition comprising about 46% ammonium nitrate, 46% ethylene diamine dinitrate, and about 8% potassium nitrate, comprising the steps of: A. Forming an aqueous solution of about 34% by weight water, about 35% by weight ammonium nitrate, about 23% by weight ethylene diamine dinitrate, and about 8% by weight potassium nitrate, maintained at a temperature of about 50° C.; B. Cooling said solution to about 30° C., thereby super-saturating said solution with respect to each solute thereof; C. Passing said supersaturated solution in counter-current to a stream of nucleating crystals, thereby growing crystals having eutectic proportions; D. Separating said crystals from the residual mother liquor; E. Recycling said mother liquor; and F. Adding to said mother liquor stoichiometric proportions of potassium hydroxide, ammonia, water, nitric acid, and ethylene diamine in adequate amounts to replace the material removed by crystallization during the previous cycle, thereby reforming the solution in step A above.