Olin Corporation

Debra Y Hernandez

Ronald L Dotson

Ronald A Sasse

A process for reducing excess nitric acid in an aqueous hydroxylamine nitrate solution. The process is conducted by reacting the aqueous hydroxylamine nitrate solution with a basic neutralizing agent such as nitric oxide, hydroxylamine vapor or a mixture thereof or by contacting the aqueous hydroxylamine nitrate solution with an anion exchange resin having a pKa in the range of from about 5 to about 9. The aqueous hydroxylamine nitrate solution may be produced by the electrolysis of nitric acid.

Method of reducing excess nitric acid in aqueous hydroxylamine nitrate

A solution of hydroxylamine nitrate is electrolytically produced in an electrochemical cell having a cathode compartment, an anode compartment, and a separator between the cathode compartment and the anode compartment. The process comprises feeding a catholyte consisting essentially of an aqueous nitric acid solution to the cathode compartment. An anolyte solution is fed to the anode compartment. The catholyte is electrolyzed while maintaining the cathodic reaction temperature below about 50.degree. C. and a cathode half-cell potential at from about -0.5 to about -3 volts to produce a hydroxylamine nitrate solution which is recovered from the cathode compartment. The novel process of the present invention directly produces highly concentrated hydroxylamine nitrate solutions of high purity, i.e., suitable for use in a monopropellant.

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Debra Y Hernandez