I'm not sure if this subject really fits itno the HE forum...
I've bought lots of ping-pong balls for making the NC-laquer.
The NC of these balls <g> isn't nitrated very much. More of a slow burn. Could one improve that stuff with nitrating it all over again?

Same question with HMTD: If I have a batch of HMTD that acts much slower than usual - would it be possible treating the HMTD the same as hexamine - and thus gaining a higher brisance HMTD?

Recycling: Whenever I make a batch of HMTD I pour away much liquid. Could this liquid be re-used for making just another batch of HMTD with it?

I don't think you can recycle the liquid that is left over from HMTD fanufacture, as it contains oxidated Aceton, Acid and H2O2...

but anyway, when you are making NC you can recycle the acid to make nitrostarch.

Well, I see a discussion being closed because of the nitrostarch issue.
This really tickles me since long, guys... I have searched about nitrostarch and came up only with megalomania's method which calls for highly concentradet nitric acid. I recall having read somewhere a method using H2SO4 and saltpeter for preparation of nitrostarch. I've lost this file and can't find any other source of this. I know nitrostrach is a bit dangerous because it's hard getting all the acid out of it.
Anyways I truly hope this thread won't be closed if I am asking for a link or something alike that discusses making of said substance with H2SO4 and Saltpeter.

hi, i did a nitration calculation for that. to have the same amount of nitrate ions as 100ml of 100% HNO3 u will need 243g KNO3. that is theoretical so i sugest useing more like 250 or 260.

here is a method i made up.

add 255g KNO3 to 138ml H2SO4 slowly. after tha addition let it cool in an ice bath to 10-12*C. add the starch very slowly and dont let the temp go over 30*C. after the addition is complete. let it stand overnight. now drown it in lots of water. filter it out. wash well with sodium bicard solution. disolve it in ethly alchahol and filter. discard the stuff in the filter and keep the alcahol. evaporate it. wash it well and maybe boil it as described by mega.

other things u could do:
keep ice water near by to stop a runaway. this CAN runaway just like nitrocelulose and NG. be careful
acetone can be used as the solvent but it makes it gooey, i have herd that etly alcahol is the best.
let it sit in sodium bicarb for a couple days (right after u filter out the crude product) it will help neutralize it and eliminate some KHSO4 from the nitration.