I mixed mannitol with nitric acid and sulfuric acid by chilling.The ratio was 10:50:60 or10:35:65 or 10:30:50 and ever was the yield 0,8-1,2g of product of 1g manitol.The ideal ratio should be 1g Mannitol+2,9ml 65%nitric acid+3,7ml conc. sulfurig acid.

This product (melting point 82C)is a mixture of Pentanitromannitol and 5% of Hexanitromanitol.The PNM is not able to be stabilised like HNM with recrystalisation of ethanol,it must be stabilised like PETN-from aceton solution(PNM is more soluble in aceton than PETN)into the cold water with 5%Na2CO3.Then is the PNM stable and very powerfull HE like PETN or HNM.


The Hexa nitro mannitol-HNM-can be prepared only with fuming nitric acid and the best ratio is 10g Mannitol +55ml fum.HNO3+55ml conc.H2SO4.Stabilsation with recrystalisation of ethanol,ratio 600ml ethanol+90gHNM. Special stabilsators are 5%of Na,Li or K-salicylate.

Are you sure about this? I've read the original memories of Ascanio Sobrero and he first used the 70%HNO3 method, and the process seems to yield HNM.. after, He modified the procedure by using fuming nitric acid, I think due to a better yield

please check the melting point (82C is much lower than 120 by HNM)and try the recrystalisation of ethanol (you will have the yellow liquid without crystals).
It seems me to be like the "d-mannose pentanitrate"publicated by Will and Lenze,Ber.31,68 (1898)

Yes you right,in the memories Sobrero wrote "HNO3 and H2SO4 both concentrated",probably he meant 100% nitric acid...
I've prepared PNM ,and it isn't sensitive to shock or friction ,but it can be fully detonated by heating with confinement,or with HMTD detonator.

The mixtures with PNM seems me be better than with HNM in many cases,because the PNM is very good soluble in NG and gelatines too.NG make headache,therefore the ideal plastic HE seems me be the mixture of liquid Hexanitrosorbitol +NC+PNM (the consistence)+ HNM(oxygene bilance)+big crystals of RDX(density).Its density is very,really very high.