Scribd
Upload
135 views5 pages

Nitrocellulose Plant Process Diagram

The document describes the process for producing nitrocellulose (guncotton) through nitration of cellulose. It involves two main zones: 1. A linter purification zone where raw cotton linter undergoes chemical and mechanical cleaning steps including treatment with caustic soda and bleaching solutions to produce purified, dried linter. 2. A nitration and stabilization zone where the dried linter is immersed in a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids to produce nitrocellulose, which is then stabilized by washing and neutralizing treatments before being dried and processed into a finished product.

Uploaded by

Engr. Asif malik
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
135 views5 pages

Nitrocellulose Plant Process Diagram

The document describes the process for producing nitrocellulose (guncotton) through nitration of cellulose. It involves two main zones: 1. A linter purification zone where raw cotton linter undergoes chemical and mechanical cleaning steps including treatment with caustic soda and bleaching solutions to produce purified, dried linter. 2. A nitration and stabilization zone where the dried linter is immersed in a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids to produce nitrocellulose, which is then stabilized by washing and neutralizing treatments before being dried and processed into a finished product.

Uploaded by

Engr. Asif malik
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

BLOCK DIAGRAM NITRO-CELLULOSE PLANT

Inter Purification Zone

Bleaching Powder
Ca (OCl) 2 Mixing Tank Ca (OCl)2
>0.4%
H2O
Dilution Tank
98%H2SO4

Solid NaoH [Link]


Mixing
Wash water Tank (0.2-0.4%) Dilution
Tank

Caustic sol.

2.45-2.65% wash water (0.5%H2SO4)


98%H2SO4 H2O

Steam Chemically Mechanically


KIER Black Rotary
Pure linter Washer Pure Linter Bleacher
Raw linter

Kiering time

(6hr @65psi)

Wet P.B. Linter

Black Liquor

(0.5-1.0% NaOH) Centrifuge


Bucket type
Dryer P.B. linter

40% moisture
Nitration and Stabilization Zone

Dryer

D Dried P.B. Linter 1-7% moister


Soda Ash Water
(Na2CO3)`
(H2O)

Steam Diluting Water at Conical Outlet Mixed Acid

Water

Pre- Boiled Boiling Un stabilized


Beater Emersion Centrifuge Nitrator
Pre-Stabilized N-C Vats N.C. Slurry
Tub Linter: Acid
N-C
1:40
Acid: water

1:10 Spent acid to storage tank

H2O Na2CO3 Steam Chalk (CaCO3)

Direct Stabilized
Stuff Chest Blender
separator Boiling tub N.C.
&drum
concentrator

Removal of Light &

Heavy impurities N.C.

Pusher
centrifuge

N.C. finish product (33% Moisture)


GUN COTTON

Guncotton is made by treating cotton (used as the source of cellulose) with


concentrated sulfuric acid and 70% nitric acid cooled to 0 °C to produce cellulose tri-
nitrate.
Appearance: Yellowish white cotton-like filaments
Chemical formula: [C6H7(NO2)3O5]n

Flash point: 4.4 °C (39.9 °F; 277.5 K)

Synthesis of Nitrocellulose

Introduction
Nitrocellulose is a highly flammable polymer made from Cellulose. Burning small
quantities of it makes a very entertaining flash. It is also relatively safe to burn, as you
will see, making it a great compound for demonstrations or just to amaze someone. It is
also known as Flash Paper, Flash Cotton or Guncotton.

Reagents

 Source of Cellulose – cotton, 100% cotton paper, 100% cotton clothes, etc.
 Nitric Acid 60% (greater concentration can also be used but quantities must be
adjusted.
 Sulfuric Acid 98%;
 Sodium Bicarbonate (Sodium Carbonate can also be used, as well as the Potassium
variants.
Procedure;

For the synthesis of guncotton we use different stepwise zones, two main steps are
involved in the synthesis of guncotton;

 Linter purification zone


 Nitration &stabilization zone

Linter Purification zone;

1. Mixing tank

Here we use two mixing tank one is use to mix bleaching powder and
water send to dilution tank to produced bleaching solution of
viscosity(>0.4). 2nd one is used to mix solid NaOH and water to produced
caustic solution of viscosity (2.45-2.65%).
2. KIER

This unit is used to clean the raw linter. Raw linter is introduced into kier
and caustic soda and steam @65psi is also used to clean the raw linter in
this way black liquor (0.5-1.0% NaOH) is separated from it in [Link]
chemically pure linter is step forward to black washer.
3. Washer Black

In this unit wash water is introduced into it to wash the linter and it contain
holes at the bottom to remove the water from [Link] this way mechanically
pure linter is send to rotary bleacher.
4. Rotary Bleacher

This is the important zone in purification of guncotton, in this zone


bleaching solution (0.1-0.2%) is added and from the other dilution tank
0.5% H2SO4(dilution of 98% H2SO4 & H2O) is also [Link] its becomes
wet purified bleaching linter.
5. Centrifuge Bucket Type

Wet purified linter is sent is store here by convare and store in it for 3
minutes to remove water from here then P.B. linter just contain 40%
moisture in it then it is sent to dryer.
6. Dryer
Dryer is used to reduced the moisture of linter to an extent of (1-7%).
Nitration and stabilization zone

You might also like