10 replies to this topic

[Pepsi]

Hi All,
Today while Ball-Milling a small amount of KnO3 (aprox 500G) after about 2 hours it started to give off Slight Fumes Of Ammonia..!

The Ball mill was clean beforehand, and Was using Lead/Antimony balls.

Local Air Temperature was about 24Deg C & ambient humidity around 20%
Has anyone else come accross this & anyone know why..??

Many thanks
Regards
Pepsi

[karlfoxman]

Hi All,
Today while Ball-Milling a small amount of KnO3 (aprox 500G) after about 2 hours it started to give off Slight Fumes Of Ammonia..!

The Ball mill was clean beforehand, and Was using Lead/Antimony balls.

Local Air Temperature was about 24Deg C & ambient humidity around 20%
Has anyone else come accross this & anyone know why..??

Many thanks
Regards
Pepsi

I think it could be contamination, what has been in your mill? I mean everything that has been in it.

[Pepsi]

I think it could be contamination, what has been in your mill? I mean everything that has been in it.

Hi K, than'ks for your reply.

KnO3, S, Charcoal, I'm afraid that's about it, I only use this barrel for the above,as I use different barrells for different Chem's. Pardon my expression but maybe I have Dirty Balls... :-(

Regards
Pepsi

[alany]

Are you sure it is actually KNO3?

[Pepsi]

Are you sure it is actually KNO3?

Hi Alan,
Absolutly, only Pot Nitrate. Just had a thought, the Balls I'm using are actually sinker's with a hole through them, I have used the same balls for milling Pot Chloride. Although I normallly wash and dry the balls after each use...

73'
De Pepsi

[karlfoxman]

Hi Alan,
Absolutly, only Pot Nitrate. Just had a thought, the Balls I'm using are actually sinker's with a hole through them, I have used the same balls for milling Pot Chloride. Although I normallly wash and dry the balls after each use...

73'
De Pepsi

You must be careful, if i was you i would get media for every jar. We never ever mix media or have multi uses for milling jars/media. Pot chloride is incompatible with stronger oxidisers so do be careful!! Could be the problem, just a thought.

[Pepsi]

You must be careful, if i was you i would get media for every jar. We never ever mix media or have multi uses for milling jars/media. Pot chloride is incompatible with stronger oxidisers so do be careful!! Could be the problem, just a thought.

Well another Lesson Learnt, thank's Karl for the Valuable info.

Kindest regards
Pepsi.

[Pepsi]

Well another Lesson Learnt, thank's Karl for the Valuable info.

Kindest regards
Pepsi.

BTW I did say Pot Chloride AND NOT Pot Chlorate

Regards

Pepsi

[alany]

Potassium Chloride wouldn't make any difference, it is a common impurity in fertilizer KNO3. I've used that as-is in BP milling and never had Ammonia production.

[maximusg]

They only thing I can think of... What was the container used befor a milling jar? I know one of my milling jar still smells of washing detergent, as that's what its was used as before milling, even though its been washed thoroughly several times.

[EnigmaticBiker]

Hi All,
Today while Ball-Milling a small amount of KnO3 (aprox 500G) after about 2 hours it started to give off Slight Fumes Of Ammonia..!

The Ball mill was clean beforehand, and Was using Lead/Antimony balls.

Local Air Temperature was about 24Deg C & ambient humidity around 20%
Has anyone else come accross this & anyone know why..??

Many thanks
Regards
Pepsi

Yes I have come across this phenomena myself, several times and posted about it.

First, while hand grinding wet BP mix using "garden" sulphur, food grade KNO3, art grade willow charcoal.

Then with carefully washed sulphur, food grade KNO3 and pine charcoal, milled in a PET jar with glass marbles.

Also with recrystallised KNO3 (from Ca(NO3)2 and K2SO4)

Again with same ingredients and PE and PET jars with copper/lead alloy media.


I'm interested to hear of ammonia release with KNO3 on its' own.

I'd previously thought it was a consequence of impurities in charcoals, I'll have to re-research that one.

My best guess is that there might be trace quantities of NH4NO3, which can sublime to NH3 and HNO4.
pH monitoring might be a good way of checking that idea.

Simon