Patent ID: 7423187
Filing Date: 2008-09-09
Classification: C07C,C07D

Abstract:
1. A process for separately recovering 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine from a blend of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine, without melt-out of the 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, which process comprises: a) conducting said blend of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine into the upper section of a contact vessel containing a solvent phase at its upper section and a water phase at its lower section wherein solvent is continuously introduced into said vessel above the water phase and wherein water is continuously introduced into said vessel to maintain a predetermined level; b) dissolving at least a portion of the 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene in the solvent phase, thereby resulting in a solvent/2,4,6-trinitrotoluene solution and wherein solid cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine particles settle through the solvent phase and into the water phase resulting in an upper solvent/2,4,6-trinitrotoluene phase and a lower cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine solids/water slurry phase; c) conducting said solvent/2,4,6-trinitrotoluene solution from said contact vessel to a separation zone wherein solvent is separated from said 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and wherein said solvent is recovered separately from the 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; d) conducting said cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine solids/water slurry to a recovery vessel that contains a desensitizing agent effective for desensitizing the cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine wherein said desensitizing agent is continuously introduced into said recovery vessel; e) displacing said water in said slurry with said desensitizing agent to result in an upper water/desensitizing agent phase and a lower cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine solids/desensitizing agent phase; f) collecting said cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine solids/desensitizing agent phase; and g) conducting said water/desensitizing agent phase to a separation zone wherein the water is separated from the desensitizing agent.