Guanidine nitrate, as an essential chemical compound, finds extensive uses across various domains. Its unique properties lend it diverse applications, spanning from automotive to pharmaceuticals and industrial production.
Guanidine nitrate presents as a white crystalline solid, soluble in water. It requires some effort to ignite, but once ignited, the fire intensifies with expansion. If it comes into contact with combustible materials, it accelerates combustion. Prolonged exposure to open flames or high temperatures may lead to explosions. Basic information about guanidine nitrate is outlined in the table below.
| Substance | Chemical formula | CAS Number | Molecular weight | Relative density | Melting point |
| Guanidine Nitrate | CH6N4O3 | 506-93-4 | 122.08 | 1.44 | 217 ℃ |
In the backdrop of rapid national development, scientific technology and chemical processes have undergone substantial advancements, leading to an increasing demand for guanidine nitrate. The types of guanidine nitrate, including regular, refined, specialized ultrafine, and reagent grades, have expanded its applications, broadening its coverage. What is guanidine nitrate used for?
One of the most common guanidine nitrate uses nitrate is in gas generators, notably in automotive airbags. Gas generators in airbags are vital components, comprising a sensing system, electronic control unit, gas generator, fabric bag, and bracket, among others. What is guanidine nitrate in air bags? Of these, the gas generator's gas generator, especially the gas generating agent, is crucial for the airbag's operation. In China, research and development efforts, particularly concerning the urea method, have increased guanidine nitrate production, meeting domestic demands. Consequently, the combustible materials in the gas generators for automotive airbags have transitioned to guanidine nitrate, guanyl guanidine, carbamate guanidine, and melamine; oxidants to nitrates, potassium perchlorate, copper oxide, iron oxide, and copper nitrate; and additives to adhesives, coolants, and combustion regulators and catalysts. By adjusting the proportions of these raw materials, they can effectively function in automotive airbag applications, ensuring the efficacy of guanidine nitrate.
Guanidine nitrate holds potential applications in the aerospace industry, although it's not extensively utilized currently. It serves as a monopropellant, meaning it can decompose into hot gases to provide thrust without the need for an oxidizer. This makes it attractive for straightforward applications, such as attitude control systems for satellites or launch vehicles. Guanidine nitrate is mass-produced and used as a precursor to nitroguanidine, a fuel used in pyrotechnics and gas generators.
Guanidine nitrate has been employed as a unit propellant in the Jetex engines of model aircraft. It boasts high gas output and low flame temperature, making it appealing. Its specific impulse is higher at 177 seconds (1.7 kN·s/kg).
Guanidine nitrate finds utility in synthesizing pharmaceuticals like lomefloxacin hydrochloride. Additionally, it serves as a versatile chemical raw material, acting as a crucial intermediate in producing drugs like sulfamethoxazole and sulfadiazine.
Using guanidine nitrate as the raw material, Song Weiguo et al. conducted a ring-closing reaction with 2-methylacetoacetic ethyl ester to obtain 2-amino-4-hydroxy-5,6-dimethylpyrimidine (3). After chlorination with phosphorus oxychloride and condensation with 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, they synthesized 2-amino-4-[3,4-dihydro-1-methyl-2-(1H)-isoquinolinyl]-5,6-dimethylpyrimidine (5). Further acetylation, condensation with p-bromofluorobenzene, and deacetylation yielded the target product.
Narayan Chandra Deb Nath et al. introduced guanidine nitrate (GuNO3) as an additive into I?/I3? based electrolytes and investigated its photoelectrochemical effects on dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Compared to DSSCs without additives, GuNO3 enhances the energy conversion efficiency (PCE) by approximately 21% by increasing the photocurrent density and open-circuit voltage (Voc). Simultaneously, the adsorption of guanidinium cations (Gu+) leads to the positive shift of the conduction band edge of TiO2 nanoparticles (ECB,TiO2) towards the electrochemical potential by approximately 110 mV. The presence of NO3? in the electrolyte, replacing SCN?, results in the reverse shift of ECB,TiO2 by about 40 mV, equivalent to an additional increase of approximately 30 mV in Voc for DSSCs containing GuNO3 compared to those with GuSCN. Substituting GuNO3 for GuSCN as an additive improves the PCE of DSSCs by around 6%, attributed to the relatively higher Voc values and significantly enhanced ion conductivity of the electrolyte.
Xu Zhichang et al. utilized guanidine nitrate as a precipitant for sodium tungstomolybdate B, investigating parameters such as the amount of guanidine nitrate, pH of precipitation, and concentration of sodium tungstomolybdate B. They conducted experiments on the concentration and content analysis of tungsten and molybdenum in the filtrate and precipitate phases. The analysis results indicate that at precipitant amounts of 1.063 to 1.068 times the theoretical quantity, precipitation pH of 7.70 to 7.79, sodium tungstomolybdate B concentration of 0.500 to 0.600 mol/L, temperature of 20 to 30°C, precipitation time of 0.75 hours, and aging time of 2 hours, the separation coefficient between tungsten and molybdenum reaches Bw/Mo=459.23 to 460.31. Additionally, using a high-concentration solution of ammonium nitrate-ammonia, they optimized the precipitation of guanidine tungstomolybdate to form guanidine nitrate and ammonium tungstate.
Guanidine nitrate, as a multifunctional compound, plays significant roles in various fields such as chemical engineering, medicine, agriculture, and high-tech industries. Its wide-ranging applications and diverse fields of use make it a subject of considerable research interest, providing substantial support for the development and innovation across industries. With continuous advancements in science and technology, the prospects for the application of guanidine nitrate in more fields are expected to expand further.
[1] Song Weiguo, Xu Wenfang, Yang Dawei, et al. Synthesis process of lofluprodine hydrochloride [J]. Chinese Journal of New Drugs, 2013, 22(14): 1694-1696.
[2] Xu Zhichang, Zhang Ping. Study on the process of separating tungsten and molybdenum by precipitation method of paratungstate B-guanidine salt [J]. China Molybdenum Industry, 2016, 40(06): 28-32. DOI: 10.13384/j.cnki.cmi.1006-2602.2016.06.006.
[3] Yu Xiaohong. Study on the process of improving the yield of guanidine nitrate [J]. Contemporary Chemical Research, 2024, (05): 176-178. DOI: 10.20087/j.cnki.1672-8114.2024.05.056.
[4] Hu Donglin. Analysis of the production method and application of guanidine nitrate [J]. Shanxi Chemical Industry, 2022, 42 (01): 40-41+44. DOI:10.16525/j.cnki.cn14-1109/tq.2022.01.014.
[5] Wang Xuezhi. Study on the thermal runaway mechanism of guanidine nitrate [D]. China University of Petroleum (East China), 2017.
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanidine_nitrate
[7] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/10481
[8] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013468616305266
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