US Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Jerry S Salan

Neha Mehta

Jon G Bragg

Matthew L Jorgensen

Andrew G Pearsall

John William Fronabarger

Gartung Cheng

Jason B Pattison

Karl Oyler

Lily F W Walsh

Daniel W Ward

R Hunter Muir

Shannon Lenahan

The present invention is directed to a process for continuous production of copper (I) nitrotetrazolate (DBX-1) by reacting aqueous copper salt with aqueous 5-nitrotetrazolate salt in the presence of a reducing agent. All the reactants are introduced into a continuous flow reactor system, which is composed of a temperature controlled tubular reactor and a mixer that allows for radial mixing. An optional stirred tank reactor may also be incorporated into the process to complete the reaction and allow for crystal growth.

Continuous manufacture of DBX-1

The present invention is directed to a method for preparing 5-nitrotetrazolate using a strongly acidic ionic cation exchange resin that has improve yields over prior art methods. The methods disclosed herein can be used either in a batch process or continuous flow reactor. In one exemplary process, starting material sodium 5-aminotetrazolate in solution is added into a reaction vessel containing a strongly acidic ionic cation exchange resin to facilitate production of 5-nitrotetrazolate. Multiple reactors containing resins may be connected in series to improve 5-nitrotetrazolate yields and purity levels.

Method for preparing sodium nitrotetrazolate using cation exchange resin

A method of manufacture of the primary explosive material copper(I) 5-nitrotetazolate (DBX-1) by a synthesis starting with 5-aminotetrazolate (5-AT); wherein, the synthesis provides intermediates acid copper salt of 5-NT and sodium 5-nitrotetrazolate (NaNT) sodium 5-nitrotetrazolate (NaNT)&#x2014;that are both, free of any 5-aminotetrazolate (5-AT) starting material&#x2014;such that the subsequent production of the DBX-1 is not inhibited. Further, this method utilizes an internal filter within the reactor&#x2014;to minimize handling of explosively dangerous intermediates.

Synthesis of copper(I) 5-nitrotetrazolate

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Centerbrook, CT, United States of America

Jerry S Salan