I posted before that I was taking a little chemistry crash course in order to produce sn from sodium nitrate tree stump remover that I found (I manifested that shit. A .380 was not gonna work for my final call. I wanna go quietly. I've always been too loud) and I figured out a much better way to do this. Instead of trying to oxidize it with lead or iron filings, I looked into aluminum powder and it is actually better for me because with this method, you don't have to stir anything or be constantly careful to heat it within the strict temperature parameters,etc. you mix a stoichiometric amount of aluminum powder with your sodium nitrate. Making sure it's very blended with a mortar and pestle or hammer (or mallet) and multiple Ziploc bags covered with a towel. Anyway I am going to start over and lay it out step by step (fire explaining stoichiometric measurements because that was the chemistry/math part of this. I honestly can't even really explain it but it is a ratio of the reactant (aluminum powder in this case) to the nitrate. I will give you the ratio I got for the batch I am making 35 grams of sodium nitrate) so unless you intend to copy this recipe to the letter, you will have to figure it out yourself but I feel like this is good for relatively small batches at a time. And since it is a chemical reaction, feel better about making small batches and saving and testing what I come up with.. anyway.... Here you go:
Sodium Nitrate: 35.0g
Aluminum Powder: 3.7g (Calculation: 35g * 9g / 85g = 3.7g)
Theoretical Yield: This reaction should theoretically produce 28.5g of Sodium Nitrite.
Mixing Procedure (The Most Important Step):
*Safety: Wear a dust mask or bandana over your nose and mouth. Aluminum powder is fine and you don't want to inhale it.
Method:
Place the 35g of Sodium Nitrate and 3.7g of Aluminum Powder into a clean, dry glass jar with a secure lid.
Shake Vigorously: Seal the lid and shake the container for a full 3-5 minutes. Stop periodically to tap the sides and break up any clumps.
Option A: Electric Hotplate (Most Controlled & Recommended)
This is the safest and most predictable method for this batch size.
Setup: Place your cold, dry cast iron skillet on the hotplate. Pour the entire 38.7g of mixed powder into the center, forming a loose, even mound.
Heating:
Turn the hotplate to a medium-high setting (e.g., 4 or 5 out of 6).
Watch the stages:
Melting (~308°C): The powder will liquefy into a clear, watery slurry.
Approaching Ignition: The liquid will become thicker and more syrupy. You may see small bubbles.
Ignition: Suddenly, a bright flash will erupt from one point and sweep across the entire mound in less than a second.
Completion: The reaction is instant. Turn off the hotplate. Let the skillet cool completely, undisturbed, for at least 45 minutes. Once the skillet is cool to the touch, scrape the entire solidified mass into a large glass jar or bowl.
Add 200-250ml of hot distilled water.
Stir thoroughly for several minutes until the water is fully saturated.
Filter:
Set up a funnel lined with a coffee filter over a second, clean large jar.
Slowly pour the mixture through. You will be left with a grey sludge of aluminum oxide in the filter and a clear-to-slightly-yellowish liquid in the jar. This liquid is your sodium nitrite solution.
Crystallize:
Option 1 (Slow, Best Purity): Loosely cover the jar and let it sit undisturbed for 3-5 days for the water to evaporate and large crystals to form.
Option 2 (Fast): Place the jar on your hotplate on the lowest possible setting to gently evaporate the water. Do not boil it. Stop as soon as crystals are well-formed.
Dry and Store:
Pour off any remaining liquid.
Spread the wet crystals on paper towels and let them air dry completely.
Store in a clearly labeled, airtight container.
***Expected Outcome for a 35g Batch
Yield: With a good mix and a clean reaction, you can realistically expect a 70-80% yield.
Expected Product: 20g - 23g of Sodium Nitrite.
Purity: After this single filtration and evaporation, the product will be approximately 80-85% pure.
Safety Summary for This Batch Size
Reaction is Bigger: A 35g batch will have a larger, brighter flash than a 17g batch. Do not hover over it.
More Heat:
The skillet will stay hot longer. Give it ample time to cool.
Fire Risk: The risk is proportionally higher. Ensure your fire extinguishing method is ready and your workspace is completely clear of flammable materials.
I am going to make several batches and filter and recrystallize them two or three times because that will increase the purity to laboratory grade sn.
I am pretty hell bent and just have to get a few things together to do it. My dilemma is the hotplate since it is electric and I wanna do it outside and live in a city so I was considering propane or a torch but I will keep you updated if I change any part of this method. It won't be long because I actually feel driven for the first time in a long time.
Sodium Nitrate: 35.0g
Aluminum Powder: 3.7g (Calculation: 35g * 9g / 85g = 3.7g)
Theoretical Yield: This reaction should theoretically produce 28.5g of Sodium Nitrite.
Mixing Procedure (The Most Important Step):
*Safety: Wear a dust mask or bandana over your nose and mouth. Aluminum powder is fine and you don't want to inhale it.
Method:
Place the 35g of Sodium Nitrate and 3.7g of Aluminum Powder into a clean, dry glass jar with a secure lid.
Shake Vigorously: Seal the lid and shake the container for a full 3-5 minutes. Stop periodically to tap the sides and break up any clumps.
Option A: Electric Hotplate (Most Controlled & Recommended)
This is the safest and most predictable method for this batch size.
Setup: Place your cold, dry cast iron skillet on the hotplate. Pour the entire 38.7g of mixed powder into the center, forming a loose, even mound.
Heating:
Turn the hotplate to a medium-high setting (e.g., 4 or 5 out of 6).
Watch the stages:
Melting (~308°C): The powder will liquefy into a clear, watery slurry.
Approaching Ignition: The liquid will become thicker and more syrupy. You may see small bubbles.
Ignition: Suddenly, a bright flash will erupt from one point and sweep across the entire mound in less than a second.
Completion: The reaction is instant. Turn off the hotplate. Let the skillet cool completely, undisturbed, for at least 45 minutes. Once the skillet is cool to the touch, scrape the entire solidified mass into a large glass jar or bowl.
Add 200-250ml of hot distilled water.
Stir thoroughly for several minutes until the water is fully saturated.
Filter:
Set up a funnel lined with a coffee filter over a second, clean large jar.
Slowly pour the mixture through. You will be left with a grey sludge of aluminum oxide in the filter and a clear-to-slightly-yellowish liquid in the jar. This liquid is your sodium nitrite solution.
Crystallize:
Option 1 (Slow, Best Purity): Loosely cover the jar and let it sit undisturbed for 3-5 days for the water to evaporate and large crystals to form.
Option 2 (Fast): Place the jar on your hotplate on the lowest possible setting to gently evaporate the water. Do not boil it. Stop as soon as crystals are well-formed.
Dry and Store:
Pour off any remaining liquid.
Spread the wet crystals on paper towels and let them air dry completely.
Store in a clearly labeled, airtight container.
***Expected Outcome for a 35g Batch
Yield: With a good mix and a clean reaction, you can realistically expect a 70-80% yield.
Expected Product: 20g - 23g of Sodium Nitrite.
Purity: After this single filtration and evaporation, the product will be approximately 80-85% pure.
Safety Summary for This Batch Size
Reaction is Bigger: A 35g batch will have a larger, brighter flash than a 17g batch. Do not hover over it.
More Heat:
The skillet will stay hot longer. Give it ample time to cool.
Fire Risk: The risk is proportionally higher. Ensure your fire extinguishing method is ready and your workspace is completely clear of flammable materials.
I am going to make several batches and filter and recrystallize them two or three times because that will increase the purity to laboratory grade sn.
I am pretty hell bent and just have to get a few things together to do it. My dilemma is the hotplate since it is electric and I wanna do it outside and live in a city so I was considering propane or a torch but I will keep you updated if I change any part of this method. It won't be long because I actually feel driven for the first time in a long time.
