THE 
AMERICAN  JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
JUNE,  1872. 
GUN  COTTON  AND  ITS  PREPARATIONS. 
By  Charles  H.  Mitchell. 
From  an  Inaugural  Essay  by  the  Author. 
A  number  of  experiments  were  tried,  with  a  view  of  ascertaining 
the  relative  proportions  of  cotton  and  acids,  together  with  the  proper 
time  for  maceration  necessary  to  produce  a  cotton  which  should  com- 
bine the  largest  yield  with  the  highest  explosive  power  and  solubility. 
The  following  formula  was  at  length  adopted : 
Raw  Cotton   2  parts. 
Carbonate  Potassa.   1  " 
Distilled  Water   100  " 
Boil  for  several  hours,  adding  water  to  keep  up  the  measure ;  then 
wash  until  free  from  any  alkali,  and  dry.    Then  take  of: 
Purified  Cotton   7  oz.  av. 
Nitrous  Acid,*  s.  g.  1-42   4  pts. 
Sulphuric  Acid,  "    1-84   4  " 
Mix  the  acids  in  a  stone  jar  capable  of  holding  2  gals.,  and  when 
cooled  to  about  80°  Fahr.,  immerse  the  cotton  in  small  portions  at  a 
time ;  cover  the  jar  and  allow  to  stand  4  days  in  a  moderately  cool 
place  (temp.,  50°  to  70°  Fahr.).  Then  wash  the  cotton  in  small  por- 
tions, in  hot  water,  to  remove  the  principal  part  of  the  acid ;  pack  in 
a  conical  glass  percolator,  and  pour  on  distilled  water  until  the  wash- 
ings are  not  affected  by  sol.  chloride  barium. ;  drain  and  dry.  Yield, 
11  oz.  av. 
This  cotton  is  perfectly  white,  of  a  harsh,  gritty  fibre,  very  explo- 
*  Nitric,  saturated  with  nitrous  acid. — Editor  Amer.  Jour.  Pharm. 
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