Can Fat Be Used To Create Dynamite?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of using fat, specifically human fat, to create explosives such as nitroglycerin. Participants explore the chemical processes involved, the differences between types of fats, and the safety and legality of such actions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant references a scene from the movie Fight Club, questioning whether it is possible to boil fat, collect glycerine, and add nitric acid to create nitroglycerin.
  • Another participant questions the necessity of using human fat over pig fat, suggesting there may be differences in composition.
  • A different participant mentions that glycerine can also be obtained from vegetable oil as a by-product of biodiesel production.
  • One participant asserts that sulfuric acid is required in the process, emphasizing the dangers and legal issues associated with making explosives at home.
  • Another participant distinguishes between nitroglycerin and trinitrotoluene (TNT), noting the complexities and risks involved in handling explosives.
  • A later reply discusses alternative methods for creating rocket fuel, highlighting the dangers of making explosives and the likelihood of legal repercussions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility and safety of creating explosives from fat, with some arguing against the practicality and legality of such actions while others explore the chemical processes involved. No consensus is reached regarding the initial question of feasibility.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various chemical processes and safety concerns, but there are unresolved assumptions about the specific chemical reactions and the properties of different types of fat.

blimkie
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In the great movie, Fight Club, tyler and the narrator travel go to the lypo suction clinic and gather up human fat. They boil the fat and then let it harden in the refriderator. Tyler then says they could scoop off a layer of glycerine from the top and add nitric acid to create nitro glycerin. then i forget what he says but he says another ingredient which would make dynamite

anyways I am not planning on going to lypo suction clinic and stealing bags of fat, but is this concept actually possible, if one were so inclinced could fat be boiled, gylcerine collected then nitric acid added?
 
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Why human fat? Is a pig's fat that different?
 
i don't know, apprently human fat has a higher salt count or sumthing?
 
you can get glycerine out of vegetable oil as well. It is a by-product of making bio-diesel.
 
blimkie said:
if one were so inclinced could fat be boiled, gylcerine collected then nitric acid added?
No. One needs to add sulfuric acid as part of a dehyration reaction. And one normally uses chemically pure glycerine. DO NOT ATEMPT THIS AT HOME! Besides the fact that it is illegal to make explosives in one's home, it is very dangerous.
 
Tri Nitro Toluene
and
Nitro Glycerin

are pretty different chemicals. I haven't heard of making one out of the other. But i believe there was that explosive cotton which was a cousin to each.

besides this would be completely stupid to make in your house. Even terrorists don't try. Their job is to bomb someone else. Not themselves. If you don't have high quality equipment making it, a very good chance it could explode. Which is by any possible trigger which adds energy. A Shake, heat, friction, etc.

The process and handling of the explosive is much to tricky. which is why they try to use other alternatives.

Say for example. You could easily make a bunch of rocket fuel. Aluminum+iron+ammonium percholrate. this usually burns very very hot. So hot that water can be used as a fuel source. hydrogen and oxygen separate and just burns hotter. So you can have your main burn in the rocket. With water as a booster. Which in my area water is pretty cheap, not to far away from the great lakes. So in essence this explosive power is strong. but not that problematic as nitro.

but again to make any significant amount of these explosives. FBI or the Mounties will come meet you asking what your doing with it. Highly suggest you don't do anythingstupid.