NITRIC ACID PRODUCTION AT THE LEUNA PLANT, LEUNA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A000900720001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 15, 2001
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 12, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2001/11/21 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA000900720001-2
*Army Declass/Release Instructions On File*
Declassification/Release Instructions on File
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
'COUNTRY
SUBJECT
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
2. The Soviets wished to change the process to operate atmospheric pressures so that
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
bug of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.B. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
25X1A
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
22 M 1953
NO. OF PAGES
2
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
cone 'shaped reactor under 5 + tm : essure. The mixed a=onia and air, was passed
through a platinum screen plsAoed at the widest point of the reactor and between
the two conical halves of the reactor. The noreen had platinum wires about 0.1
mdt. in diameter, and spaces about 0.1 mm. between these. This screen was
?1actr .oa ,ly heated to a '&lowing temperature of abate' 600 - 7000 C and the mixed
games were passed upwtax'd thxciotgh it. Me oatalyzed the oxidation proceed and, as
the heat of burning was s 'ficiert to cont:4nue the reaction, the platinum gauze
could be allowed to cool, once the reaction had started. The platinum catalyst
is not 1r'7y expensive as it ia. of light weight and is very durable.
they aculd use. iron catalyst. This would mean that the reactor would have
to be about five time larger to give the same production as in the process operating
at 5 atm. Base00-01/21: f the platinum catalyst and on the smaller reactors
required. process to the atmospheric process.
Ap CIA-RDP80-0081OA000900720001-2
In this .method of producing nitrogen by burning ammonia, some lower oxides
of nitrogen N02 and N204 are produced along with the' desired nitric said
East Cemany
Nitric. Acid Production at the
Let Plant, Let um
1. Nitric acid was produced at Leuna by the oxidation of ammoznis, with air in a double
 25X1X
must be kept at a minimum.,if the acid is to be used wl t.h rocket;
fuels as the ignition time is towered by the ferrJJ c ni. W.?ate
Normal or dilute concentrated nitric acid was required at
Leuna for the production of calcium nitrate and acorn ?nium nitrate
SECRET
"2-
for use as rocket fuel, The ferric nitrate formed when the ac ..d
i0' i ' contact with steels helps stabilize it. However, this
fertilizers., opinion,, r imonium nitrate prod] l