If you go to the link posted earlier, the one that shows the abstract,
just click on "Original Document" in the menu on the left.
On 7/28/2019 8:20 AM, (Redacted sender jkraieski for DMARC) wrote:
Thanks Dr. Terry,
Exactly what I was looking for. It does appear that this may be a dead end and
I'll just have to heat the water the "old fashion" way. Is there a link you can send me
so I can get a copy of the patent to add it to my archives?
Regards - John
-----Original Message-----
From: Terry McCreary <tmccreary@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: arocket <arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sun, Jul 28, 2019 8:14 am
Subject: [AR] Re: exothermic heating of water
John,
FWIW I'm not really a chemist, just taught and wrote university textbooks on the subject for 36 years (you know, "those who can, do; those who can't, teach" :-)***). I went to the actual patent rather than the abstract, and this part is of some interest:
I'd hazard a guess that this may be the actual combination that was used, since it says "tested, in particular". The other combinations may just be the kind of smokescreen used in writing patents, especially since some of them are right out based on the patent claims. The product of the reaction would be ammonium sulfate, (NH4)2SO4, which is very soluble in water and pretty much innocuous to the skin.
That being said...over the years I've occasionally worked with some fairly nasty/energetic chemicals and combinations (not as nasty or energetic as others on the list have used...right, Anthony?:-)). The combination in the patent is not one that I'd be interested in pursuing. Some very good PPE including a self-contained breathing apparatus would be necessary; concentrated ammonia that's even in the same room as fuming sulfuric is going to generate very fine ammonium sulfate dust, so fine that it remains suspended almost indefinitely. Ammonium sulfate may be innocuous to the skin but isn't too breathable. And of course the SO3 that's coming off the sulfuric acid forms more sulfuric acid whenever it hits water, including water vapor and the moisture in the skin, mucous membranes, and lungs...
Anyone who hasn't had formal training and extensive experience working with concentrated acids and bases is looking to get hurt with this combination.
Just my opinions -- Terry
***"those who can't teach, teach teaching; those who can't teach teaching, administrate...";-)
--
Dr. Terry McCreary
Professor Emeritus
Murray State University
Murray KY 42071
