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Show Use for Explosives r I HE destruction of v egetation by ex- H I plosives has always been the result of war, but a new phase of tho sub- H Ject has recently come to light the con- H version or explosives Into fertilizers The jjjl problem of disposing of tho large stocks of explosives left on the hands of the bc-llig- erent Powers at the end of the war has been iLlaiH occupying the attention of experts in the JsLLfl various countries for some time past, says a British writer Great quantities of such H compounds as trinitrotoluol arc said t. B have been buried . or dumped into the sea, B ae there was no possibility of utilizing them for peace purposes on economic lines. The H enormous stocks of propcllant explosives and of ammonal and other mixtures of til-nitrotoluol til-nitrotoluol with ammonium nitrate, how-ever, how-ever, represented an important quantity of nitrogen in a form particular!) valuable in B view of its application for fertilizing pur- H poses in agriculture. H Acting under orders from the Italian Gov- H ernment experiments have been carried out by Slghor F. Qarelll of Turin, with a view H to converting the ammonium nitrate in sur- H plus explosives Into a form suitable for uso in agriculture In separating the nitrate oi gS ammonia from the explosive mixture ad g vantage baa been taken of the great solu- v I blilty of the former in water. A fixed per- LB ccntage of water was added to the ex- gaaaiiiiiiil plosive mixture, which was then allowed to stand in special receptacles. A concentrated ggggfl solution of nitrate of ammonia was thus gagagaH obtained, which was separated by decanta- ggggfl tlon. A quantity of powdered pent was then gigigfl mixed with the solution, which, after drying gaiiiiiiifl lakes the form of a fertilizing material gggH which has teen called by Signor Qarelll sLLffsfl "nitric peat," it has the following compos!- tlon: Water. 17.8 per Cent ; ash, S.S per gggl cent.; nitrate of ammoniu. 42.8 pr-r rent- BLLffiffl matter. 20 c Per cent i he product aaaaaaaaaaS In appearance Is n blackish powder and tsLfsH contains 16.4 per cent, of nitrogen, together LLfsH with One, per cent, of phosphorus anhvdrid- M and I S of potash H r - -l V |