a method to extract and recover nitramine oxidizers from solid propellant ing liquid ammonia employs four basic steps which are : propellant removal by cutting or eroding into small pieces , followed by , solution of the oxidizers by liquefied gas solvent ammonia , separation of the insoluble binder , metal fuel , and additive components by filtration and recovery of the solid oxidizer by evaporation of the liquefied gas solvent ammonia , and recompression to liquefy the gas solvent for reuse . the process is a closed system with no release of solvent to the environment . cycle 1 reduces propellant size to 1 / 4 inch or less to achieve efficient extraction in cycle 2 where insoluble ingredients are separated from soluble ingredients . insolubles are recovered and the solubles are recovered in cycle 3 by evaporation of the liquefied gas solvent ammonia . cycle 4 is a solvent liquefaction and recycling of the liquid ammonia to the closed system . washing the extracted ingredients in ethanol separates insolubles , nitramine and impurities from solubles , degraded nitroglycerine and other plasticizers . standard acetone / water or cyclohexanone / water solution is employed for recrystallization of nitramine which are recovered in high purity .