Kinetics of Ethylene Glycol Nitration

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Technical Assessment Team Report

“…For instance, ethylene glycol may be nitrated with "mixed acid" to yield ethyleneglycol dinitrate (EGDN) if the water content in the nitrating mixture is <15%. [Roth 1958] If the water concentration is greater than 15% little or no nitration occurs. This is due to the fact that alcohol and amine nitrations are equilibrium reactions and it is necessary to keep the concentration of the acids very high to push the equilibrium to the nitrated species.…”