Making Nitric Acid

For our lithium from phone batteries extraction we planned in the last video, we're going to need some nitric acid.
We can make this with a relatively simple (but intricate) reaction between potassium nitrate and sodium bisulfate, which generates red fuming nitric acid ready for distillation.
Ideally, I've made enough nitric acid to last a while, so hopefully I won't have to do this again for a long time.

If you want to see more detail on this process, you can check out Nurdrage's video on the topic here:

[hanleypc]

Measure the density of your acid, i'm guessing it will be around 80% given the water content in your bisulfate.

[BackYardScience]

6:10, slow distillation also ensures that your acid won't break down into as much nitrogen dioxide as it would if you cranked the heat. Leading to more product and slightly better yields. Thanks for sharing! Not many know that HNO3 can be made this way, so it's good to see you (and others) showing this method, which really helps those who either can't get or have a really hard time finding sulfuric acid that isn't extremely diluted. Great job! 😃

[ElectraFlarefire]

Safety steps not shown or mentioned to viewer:
* Hose nearby.
* Bicarb nearby.
* Dog on leash.
* Snakes chased away from work area.
* Friends (And self) limited to one bottle of cider/beer.
* Pants.

[leeroy]

I didn't properly dry my potassium nitrate on my first attempt making nitric acid and it wouldn't start gloves on fire. I was a little disappointed.
I dried it in an oven for 4 hours on very low heat and put it in a dessicator for a day. The sulfuric I used was also almost pure.(on my second attempt)
Much better results.

[kastonmurrell]

Another good video. Like Mike Hanley mentioned, I'd suggest measuring the density to figure out the acid content. I'm not sure exactly how concentrated you're needing it but if you do have a bit of sulfuric acid and need it stronger you can always mix it in and distill from the mixed acid for a quick upgrade.

I can see a yellow glow in your acid but did it look greenish in person to you? I've done this method with sodium bisulfate and sodium nitrate and when I ran just the salts together the acid I was collecting was greenish. Teflon tape for sealing the joints was an interesting idea I might try if I do it again. I was using sulfuric acid as a joint grease.

[leeroy]

Nice workaround for the lack of sulfuric. Great video.

[willowpine]

I hope I caught you to tell you 2 important things 1st if your acid is concentrate enough you must store it In brown glass because nitric acid tends to be decomposed from UV radiation(thats why your distillation apparatus got full of red fumes (nitrogen dioxide) because the sun decompose your product) and 2 you may be careful because sealed fuming nitric acid botle tends to builds up pressure and maybe it explodes on your face when you trying to open or even touch it ! I personal be lucky 1 month ago by the same accident.. i was in my homemade lab ☺️ and searching for some glass apparatus to find when i heard a Sharp pop sound from the sample cabinet. When i open it i find the bottle in pieces and fumes everywhere.... Imagine to open the cabinet that time what would happen to me!! I clean up my mess and Search it ... And now i tell you to be careful!!! Thumbs up for your videos! also this bottle problems i think all fuming acids have it i am not sure but i search for it!!!

[michschep]

Add ice to your water make recovery more efficient

[murkyseb]

That was very interesting, excellent video as always :) do you have to make your nitrate ? If so that would make an interesting video

[enoh]

You might want to use a thermometer to avoid overheating the nitric acid vapors which will lower your yield.

[AlessandroArza-tvsj]

Mmh Is not pure that acid. Mine is more strong and there is not more nitrogen dioxide inside the receiving flask.
My receiving flask is just with a yellow nitric acid, maybe because I put aluminium foil around the tube too. And maybe the temperature is too hot and water is going into the nytric acid. The distillation process have to to go up 80°C or water will ruin the purity grade.
And be carefully with the tube that go into the water. Because a bit of water will return into the little flask cause the pressure.
Enjoy :)

[chinmayk]

Cool video.
Never even think of quiting YouTube

[.adithianvb]

I want the REFFERANCE that you used ... Please it's argent 😢

[jethrotull]

Your first equation is incorrect:the products formed are nitric acid and potassium bisulfate not potassium sulfate

[ihatecath]

o i ruv doing this efvery thuwday night!@!

[ClownWhisper]

There's a product called Rooto professional drain cleaner it's cleaner than most technical grade sulfuric acids on the market I don't know what country you're in however. They're manufacturing facilities about 10 now maybe 20 miles from me. 48 or $10 you can get 500 ml a very very very clean sulfuric acid

[randomergy]

I'm going to do this pretty soon myself. Nitric acid is nearly impossible for me to find in any concentration and the prices online are kind of insulting. So I've stocked up on potassium nitrate and sulfuric acid and am just waiting on a day where it isn't raining or snowing to do it haha. I have the opposite issue you have with the sulfuric acid, I have a choice of like 5 different kinds where I'm from for drain cleaner, but I cannot find sodium bisulfate anywhere.

[drmarine]

Magnificent. Love watching acid videos.

[dimitrylowa]

Nice demonstration, as always :)
If you protect your apparatus from UV-light (with aluminium foil for example), less nitric acid can decompose into nitrogen dioxode, and the yield of your highly concentrated nitric acid will be (slightly) better at the end.
Would it be possilbe for you to messure the concentration of the highly nitric acid, would be really interested in it. I always used to use sulfuric acid, but it would be a blessing for me to be able to use sodium bisulfate when still getting the same (or at least similar) results.

Btw, is the perchlorate cell video already in plan?
;)

[VeritySnatch]

Douwe Egberts make some of my lab apparatus too