93 lines
3.1 KiB
Plaintext
93 lines
3.1 KiB
Plaintext
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Article#1: Extraction of Potassium Nitrate from soil
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Potassium nitrate can be extracted from many natural sources and can be
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used to make nitric acid, black powder, and many pyrotechnics. The yield ranges
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from.1 to 10% by weight, depending on the fertility of the soil.
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Materials Source
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--------- ------
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Nitrate bearing earth or other Soil contaying decaying animal or vegetable
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material, about 3-1/2 gallons. matter.
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Fine wood ashes, 1/2 cup. Totally burned wood products.
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5gallonbucket
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2 pieces of finely woven cloth,
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each slightly larger than the
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bottom of the bucket.
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Shallow pan or dish at least as
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large as bottom of bucket.
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Shallow heat resistant container
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ceramic or metal.
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Water,1-3/4 gallons.
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Awl, knife screwdriver or other
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hole producing instrument.
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Alcohol (ethyl or isopropyl)
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1 gallon
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Heat source, fire, stove.
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paper
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Tape
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Procedure
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1 Punch holes in the bottom of the bucket so that the entire surface is covered
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with them.
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2 Place cloth flat on bottom of bucket.
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Spread ashes on cloth.
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Place second piece of cloth on top of ashes
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3 Fill bucket with earth.
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4 Place bucket over shallow container. Support bucket with sticks if necessary.
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5 Boil water and pour it over earth in bucket a little at a
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time. Allow water to run through holes in bucket into shallow container. Be sure
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water runs through all of the earth. Allow liquid to cool and settle for 1 to 2
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hours.
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6 Carefully drain liquid into heat resistant container. Discard sludge at
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bottom of shallow container.
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7 Boil mixture over hot fire for at least 2 hours. Small grains of salt will
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appear in the solution. Scoop these out as they form and discard.
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8 When liquid has boiled down to about half of its original volume, remove from
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fire and let sit. After half hour add an equal volume of alcohol.
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9 Make an improvised strainer out of paper tape and bucket. Tape paper so that
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it covers the top of a clean bucket.
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10 Pour mixture through paper strainer. Small white salt crystals will collect
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on top of it. These are potassium nitrate.
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11 To purify the potassium nitrate, re-dissolve the dry crystals in the
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smallest amount possible of boiled water (make sure they all dissolve). Remove
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any salt crystals that appear (step 7) pour through an improvised filter made of
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several pieces of paper and evaporate or gently heat solution to dryness.
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12 Spread crystals on plat surface and allow to dry. The potassium nitrate
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crystals are now ready to use.
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This method was tested, it is effective. Large quantities (1 to 2 pounds) of
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potassium nitrate can be obtained this way! But be careful, and use common sense
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when making pyrotechnics. I am not responsible for what you do with this
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information.
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NEVER STORE IT AND BE CARFUL WHEN YOU'RE AROUND IT- SOUND, AIR MOVEMENTS, AND
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OTHER TINY THINGS COULD SET IT OFF.
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