Working With Potassium
compiled from TM 31-210 and high school physics lessons
Check with local, state and federal codes before making any of these substances. Some of the following compounds may be classed as explosives and considered illegal. Blah, blah, blah...
CAUTION: The following are instructions detailing the manufacture of flammable or explosive material. Persons not equipped or trained to handle such substances should not attempt to make them. The following is being presented for information purposes in the event of an extreme emergency ONLY. Following these instructions without the use of common sense is very dangerous. The Independent American, it's writers and staff are not responsible for the misuse of the following information.
Potassium in it's various compounds has become a necessity of modern life. So much so that it must be considered beneficial to have a basic knowledge of it's different uses and methods to create it's compounds. For the independent American, this will prove a valuable resource in remaining self sufficient or to help in one's own survival.
Potassium nitrate is a major ingredient in black powder. It is also a major ingredient in explosive fillers and is used as a coating in some smokeless powders.
Potassium chloride occurs naturally in great quantities. It is used mainly for the manufacture of fertilizers and as a sodium free salt substitute. It is also necessary in the manufacture of potassium chlorate.
Potassium chlorate is a major ingredient in the manufacture of explosives, primers and matches.
POTASSIUM NITRATE
Potassium nitrate (saltpeter) can be extracted from many natural sources and can be used to make nitric acid, black powder and many pyrotechnics. The yield ranges from .1 to 10% by weight, depending on the fertility of the soil.
MATERIALS
Nitrate bearing earth or other material, about 3-1/2 gallons (13-1/2 liters)
Fine wood ashes. about 1/2 cup (1/8 liter)
bucket or similar container, about 5 gallon. (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 - 1-3/4 gallons (6-3/4 liters)
Awl, knife, screwdriver, or other hole producing Instrument
Alcohol about 1 gallon (4 liters)
(whiskey, rubbing alcohol, etc.)
Heat source (fire, electric heater, etc.)
Paper
Tape
SOURCE
Soil containing old decayed vegetable or animal matter
Old cellars and/or farm dirt floors
Earth from old burial grounds
Decayed stone or mortar ; building foundations
Totally burned whitish wood ash powder
Totally burned paper (black)
NOTE: Only the ratios of the amounts of ingredients are important. Thus, for twice as much potassium nitrate, double quantities used.
PROCEDURE:
Punch holes in bottom of bucket. Spread one piece of cloth over holes inside of bucket.
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. Bucket may be supported on sticks if necessary.
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 goes through all of the earth. Allow drained liquid to cool and settle for 1 to 2 hours.
NOTE Do not pour all of the water at once, since this may cause stoppage.
6. Carefully drain off liquid into heat resistant container. Discard any sludge remaining in bottom of the shallow container.
Boil mixture over hot fire for at last 2 hours. Small grains of salt will begin to appear in the solution. Scoop these out as they form, using any type of improvised strainer (paper. Etc.).
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Spread crystals on flat surface and allow to dry. The potassium nitrate crystals are now ready for use.
Potassium Chloride
Potassium chloride's major contribution is as an ingredient in the creation of potassium chlorate. Potassium chloride exists naturally in such quantities that the expedient manufacture of the compound is unnecessary. To obtain potassium chloride, it is best to purchase it in the form of a sodium free salt substitute. Read the ingredient label of the salt substitute carefully to be certain that it does not contain sulfur compounds or other impurities.
Potassium Chlorate
Potassium chlorate can be created from bleach and potassium chloride. It is an ingredient in corrosive primers, matches, blasting caps and expedient plastic explosives.
Materials
Distilled water
1 Quart jar
Bleach (5.25% sodium hypochloride solution)
Potassium Chloride (as salt substitute)
Heat source (Hot plate or stove. NO OPEN FLAME!)
Dry powder scale
Battery testing hydrometer
Large glass sauce pan capable of holding 1 gallon of liquid
Large gallon glass jar
Small glass jar
Glass or wood rod
Rubber gloves
Coffee filter paper
PROCEDURE:
[WEAR RUBBER GLOVES WHEN WORKING WITH THE BLEACH SOLUTION]
1. Pour 1 gallon of bleach into large glass sauce pan and place on heat source. Activate heat source and bring bleach to a gentle boil. (Do not allow boil to become overactive such as a rolling boil.)
[CAUTION! DO NOT BREATH IN BLEACH FUMES! ALWAYS HEAT BLEACH IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA!]
2. While bleach is warming, use dry powder scale to measure 2.2 ounces or 63 grams of potassium chloride. Pour the potassium chloride into the warming bleach solution and stir with glass or wood rod.
3. Continue gentle boil of solution. Occasionally test solution with battery testing hydrometer. When battery testing hydrometer reads "GOOD" or "FULLY CHARGED" take solution from heat and turn off heat source.
4. Allow solution to cool to room temperature or cooler, but not to freezing. A refrigerator may be used, but be certain that no contaminates enter the solution.
5. While cooling, crystal will form in the solution and fall to the bottom of glass sauce pan. Place a paper coffee filter over the mouth of the large gallon glass jar and slowly pour the bleach solution through the coffee filter into the large gallon glass jar filtering the crystals onto the coffee filter.
Place the crystals into the small glass jar.
You may repeat procedures 1 through 6 until sufficient quantities of crystals (2 or more ounces) are collected.
7. Clean large glass sauce pan and glass or wood rod.
8. Use the quart glass jar to pour one quart of distilled water into the cleaned large glass sauce pan. Place large glass sauce pan back on heat source and warm.
9. Use dry powder scale to weigh 2 ounces of the previously formed crystals and add to the distilled water, stirring with glass or wood rod.
10. Bring distilled water/crystal solution to a boil. Upon reaching a rolling boil, remove from heat source and turn heat source off. Allow to cool.
11. While cooling more crystals will form. These are purified potassium chlorate crystals. Filter as before with clean coffee filters and clean jar. Remove filtered crystals and store in a cool, dry area in small quantities. Best method of storage is in a small colored glass jar.
When ready for use, take a few potassium chlorate crystals at a time and place in a ceramic mortar. Very gently powder with a pestle.
[CAUTION! POTASSIUM CHLORATE IS FRICTION AND SHOCK SENSITIVE! DO NOT GRIND! VERY GENTLY ADD A ROLLING PRESSURE WITH PESTLE TO POWDER!]
It is crucial to powder only a very few crystals at a time. If the potassium chlorate is ignited, there will not be enough to cause a large fire or explosion.
Potassium chlorate should be powdered to consistency of fine corn starch.