General Description
A slurry of a yellow water-insoluble crystalline solid. Can burn, although difficult to ignite. When water has been driven off or evaporated the residue is easily ignited, burns vigorously, and is highly explosive . Produces toxic oxides of nitrogen during combustion. May explode under exposure to intense heat. Primary hazard is blast of an explosion, not flying projectiles or fragments.
Reactivity Profile
TRINITROTOLUENE may begin a vigorous reaction that culminates in a detonation if mixed with reducing agents, including hydrides, sulfides and nitrides. May explode in the presence of a base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide even in the presence of water or organic solvents.
Health Hazard
Some are toxic and may be fatal if inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through skin. Contact may cause burns to skin and eyes. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution.
Potential Exposure
TNT is used as an explosive, that is,
as a bursting charge in military explosive shells, bombs,
grenades, and mines; and an intermediate in dyestuffs and
photographic chemicals.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the
skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately
with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately.
If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure,
begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including
resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if
heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical
facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get
medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce
vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.
Shipping
UN1356 Trinitrotoluene, wetted with not <30%
water, by mass, Hazard Class: 4.1; Labels: 4.1-Flammable
solid. UN0209 Trinitrotoluene or TNT, dry or wetted with
< 30% water, by mass, Hazard Class: 1D; Labels:1DExplosive
(with a mass explosion hazard); D-Substances or
articles which may mass detonate (with blast and/or fragment
hazard) when exposed to fire.
Incompatibilities
Sensitive to shock and heat. Incompatible
with initiating explosives, combustible materials. Aromatic
nitro compounds, such as trinitrobenzene, range from slight to
strong oxidizing agents. Keep away from strong reducing
agents, including hydrides, alkali metals; aluminium and
other metal powder; phosphorus; sulfides and nitrides, alkaline
material, strong bases; contact may initiate vigorous reactions
that culminates in a detonation. The aromatic nitro
compounds may explode in the presence of a base such as
sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide even in the presence
of water or organic solvents. The aromatic nitro
compounds may explode in the presence of a base such as
sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide even in the presence
of water or organic solvents. Incompatible with
strong oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates,
perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact
may cause fires or explosions.
Chemical Properties
TNT exists in five isomers; 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene
is the most commonly used. It is a colorless to pale yellow
odorless solid (pellets, cast blocks, and cast slabs) or
crushed flakes.
Chemical Properties
Yellow, monoclinic needles. Soluble in alcohol and ether; insoluble
in water.
Waste Disposal
TNT is dissolved in acetone
and incinerated. The incinerator should be equipped with
an afterburner and a caustic soda solution scrubber.
Physical properties
Colorless to light yellow, odorless monoclinic crystals
History
TNT is the abbreviation of the aromatic nitrated aromatic compound 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene. It is a pale-yellow crystalline solid that was first synthesized in 1863 by the German chemist Joseph Wilbrand (1811 1894), but it was not immediately used as an explosive. TNT is made by nitrating toluene using nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and oleum (a mixture of sulfuric acid and SO3). Nitration of toluene occurs in stages, with the nitro units added sequentially in a stepwise process as the reaction proceeds. The last nitro unit is accomplished by using oleum (SO3 dissolved in sulfuric acid). After nitration, unused acids are recycled, and the product is washed with sodium sulfite and water to remove impurities.
TNT is one of the most common explosives. Unlike nitroglycerin, TNT will not explode when subjected to signifi cant shock and friction. It is classifi ed as a secondary explosive, which means it requires an initiating explosive to detonate. The Germans began production of TNT in the last decade of the 19th century, and it was used in the mining industry. Military engineers adapted mining explosives for use in warfare, and TNT started to be incorporated in munitions in 1902. The first widespread use of TNT occurred during World War I. Between World War I and II, TNT replaced picric acid as the explosive of choice in munitions.
It was also mixed with other compounds to produce more powerful explosives with
unique characteristics. Amatol is a mixture containing between 40% and 80% ammonium
nitrate and TNT. Pentolite is a mixture of PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) and TNT.
Another common explosive mixture is RDX (cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine) and TNT. RDX
is an abbreviation for Royal Demolition Explosive.
Definition
A yellow crystalline solid. It is a highly unstable substance, used as an explosive. The
compound is made by nitrating methylbenzene and the nitro groups are in the 2, 4,
and 6 positions.
Definition
ChEBI: A trinitrotoluene having the nitro groups at positions 2, 4 and 6.
Definition
triton: A nucleus of a tritium atom,consisting of a proton and two neutronsbound together; the ion T+ formed by ionization of a tritium atom. See also hydron.
Fire Hazard
TNT is a high explosive. In comparison to many other high explosives, it is insensitive to heat, shock, or friction. Small amounts may burn quietly without detonation. However, when heated rapidly or subjected to strong shock, it detonates. Its detonation temperature is 470°C (878°F) and its velocity is between 5.1 and 6.9 km/s. In combination with other explosives, TNT is widely used as a military and industrial explosive. Amatol, cyclonite, and tetrytol are some of the examples of such explosive combinations. Amatol is a composition of 80% ammonium nitrate and 20% TNT by mass. TNT itself has a very high brisance.
Products from the detonation of 1.5-2.0 kg of TNT in air- and oxygen-deficient atmospheres consisted of low-molecularweight gases and high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Johnson et al. 1988). Greiner and associates (1988) examined the soots produced from the detonation of cast composites of TNT mixed with nitroguanidine or RDX in 1 atmosphere of argon. The soot contained 25 wt% diamond 4-7 nm in diameter, the IR spectrum and particle size of which resembled those from meteorites.
.
Carcinogenicity
In bacterial and mammalian in vitro cell
systems TNT is a direct-acting mutagen.
However, inclusion of exogenous metabolic
activation appears to abolish the genotoxicity.
In vivo assays of TNT have not shown it to be
genotoxic, suggesting that TNT may be
reduced to nonmutagenic metabolic products
in the whole animal.
Source
Generated as a waste from munitions and defense industries, leaching from unexploded
land mines.
Drinking water standard: No MCLGs or MCLs have been proposed, however, a DWEL of 20
μg/L was recommended (U.S. EPA, 2000).
Environmental Fate
Biological. 4-Amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene and 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene, detected in
contaminated groundwater beneath the Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot, NV, were reported
to have formed from the microbial degradation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (Pereira et al., 1979). 2,4,6-
Trinitrotoluene (220 μM) degraded in aerobic sludge containing molasses (3.3 g/L). Though 2,4,6-
trinitrotoluene disappeared completed in 15 h, only 0.1% was mineralized to carbon dioxide.
Under aerobic conditions, intermediate compounds reported in the biotransformation of 2,4,6-
trinitrotoluene to 2,4,6-triaminotoluene were 4-hydroxyamino-2,6-dinitrotoluene, 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene,
2,4-diamino-6-nitrotoluene, 2-hydroxyamino-4,6-dinitrotoluene, 2-amino-4,6-
dinitrotoluene, 2,6-diamino-4-nitrotoluene. Under abiotic conditions (pH 2 to 3), the following
hydroxylated compounds formed: 2-hydroxy-4,6-diaminotoluene, 2,6-dihydroxy-4-aminotoluene,
4-hydroxy-2,6-diaminotoluene, 2,4-dihydroxy-6-aminotoluene, and 2,4,6-trihydroxytoluene.
Under biotic conditions (pH 7.0), two azo derivatives were produced: 2,2′,4,4′-tetraamino-6,6′-
azotoluene and 2,2′,6,6′-tetraamino-4,4′-azotoluene (Hawari et al., 1998).
Chemical. Although no products were identified, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (1.5 x 10-5 M) was
reduced by iron metal (33.3 g/L acid washed 18 to 20 mesh) in a carbonate buffer (1.5 x 10-2 M) at
pH 5.9 and 15 °C. Based on the pseudo-first-order disappearance rate of 0.0330/min, the half-life
was 21.0 min (Agrawal and Tratnyek, 1996). 2,4,6-Trihydroxytoluene was detected after 2,4,6-
trinitrotoluene in water was heated to 100 °C (Hawari et al., 1998).
Will detonate upon heating (NIOSH, 1997).
2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene will not hydrolyze in water because it does not contain a hydrolyzable
funcational group.
storage
TNT is stored in a permanent magazine, separated from combustible and oxidizable materials, initiators, and heat sources. It is shipped in amounts not exceeding 60 lb (27 kg) in weight in metal containers enclosed in wooden or fiberboard boxes.
Purification Methods
Crystallise TNT from *benzene and EtOH. Then fuse (CARE) and allow to crystallise under vacuum. Gey, Dalbey and Van Dolah [J Am Chem Soc 78 1803 1956] dissolved TNT in acetone and added cold water (1:2:15), the precipitate was filtered off, washed free from solvent and stirred with five parts of aqueous 8% Na2SO3 at 50-60o for 10minutes. This was filtered, washed with cold water until the effluent was colourless, and air dried. The product was dissolved in five parts of hot CCl4, washed with warm water until the washings were colourless and TNT was recoverd by cooling and filtering. It was recrystallised from 95% EtOH and carefully dried over H2SO4. The dry solid should not be heated without taking precautions for a possible EXPLOSION. Work with small quantities. [Beilstein 5 H 347, 5 I 172, 5 II 268, 5 III 767, 5 IV 873.]
Toxicity evaluation
TNT increases UDP glucuronyl transferase in the liver and
kidneys. It increases renal epoxide hydrolase activity. Animal
studies have suggested covalent binding between TNT and
macromolecular proteins, including serum albumin, hemoglobin
(Hb), hepatic and renal proteins, and possibly lens
protein. The Hb adduct was dose dependent. Macromolecular
binding is likely to be correlated with toxic effects; however, it is
unclear if a cause and effect relationship can be established.
Formation of organic nitro radicals was also hypothesized
based on hemolysis in glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase
(G6PD)-deficient TNT workers. G6PD is a limiting factor in the
maintenance of cellular glutathione, which protects against
oxidative damage. TNT was also found to be oxidized oxyhemoglobin,
resulting in methemoglobin formation.
