Potassium Nitrate Production

Potassium nitrate (saltpeter) can usually be found on the civilian market. It is used as a fertilizer supplement, a diuretic and for stump removal. If you can't obtain any it can be extracted from nitrate bearing soil. The yield ranges from .1 to 10% by weight, depending on the fertility of the soil.

Sources:

Nitrate bearing earth or other soil containing old decayed materials, about 3-1/2 (13-1/2 liters) gallons vegetable or animal matter.

Manure piles which have been left to sit for several months.

Earth from old burial grounds.

Decayed stone or mortal buildings.

Foundations.

Caves.

Materials Required:

Fine wood ashes, about 1/2 cup totally burned whitish wood ash powder.

Bucket or similar container about 5 gallons (19 liters) in volume (plastic, metal, or wood)

2 pieces of finely woven cloth, each slightly larger than bottom of bucket

Shallow pan or dish, at least as large as bottom of bucket

Shallow heat resistant container (ceramic, metal, etc.)

Water - 1-1/3 gallons (6-3/4liters)

Alcohol about 1 gallon (4 liters) ( rubbing alcohol, etc.)

Heat source (fire, electric heater, etc.)

Note: Only the ratios of the ingredients are important. Thus, for twice as much potassium nitrate, double quantities used.

Procedure:

  1. Punch holes in bottom of bucket. Spread one piece of cloth over holes inside of bucket.
  2. Place wood ashes on cloth and spread to make a layer about the thickness of the cloth. Place second piece of cloth on top of ashes.
  3. Place dirt in bucket.
  4. Place bucket over shallow container..
  5. Boil water and pour it over earth in bucket a little at a time. Allow water to run through holes in bucket into shallow container. Be sure water pours through all of the earth. Allow drained liquid to cool and settle for 1 to 2 hours.

Note

Do not pour all water at once, since this may cause stoppage.

  1. Carefully drain off liquid into heat resistant container. Discard any sludge remaining in bottom of the shallow container.
  2. Boil mixture over hot fire for at least 2 hours. Small grains of salt will begin to appear in the solution. Scoop these out as they form, using a strainer.
  3. When liquid has boiled down to approximately half its original volume, remove from fire and let sit. After half an hour add an equal volume of alcohol. When mixture is poured through paper, small white crystals will collect on top of it.
  4. To purify the potassium nitrate, re-dissolve the dry crystals in the smallest possible amount of boiled water. Remove any salt crystals that appear (step 7); pour through an improvised filter made of several pieces of paper and evaporate or gently heat the concentrated solution to dryness.
  5. Spread crystals on flat surface and allow to dry. The potassium nitrate crystals are now ready for use.

Procedure

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Pub: 22 Jun 2023 16:43 UTC
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