Non-caking composition of 2-nitro-2-methyl-1-propanol
United States Patent [191 Chandler et al.  
 [ Apr. 22, 1975 NON-CARING COMPOSITION OF Z-NlTRO-Z-METHYL-l-PROPANOL [75] Inventors: Ollie W. Chandler. Terre Haute&#39;.  
 Richard S. Egly, West Terre Haute. both of Ind.  
 [73] Assignee: Commercial Solvents Corporation,  
 Terre Haute. Ind.  
 [22] Filed; Feb. 23, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 228,764  
 [52] U.S. Cl. 260/6325; l8/l21252/384;  
  260/632 N [51] Int. Cl. C07c 31/02 {58] Field of Search 260/6325. 632 N; 252/384 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/l94l Vanderbilt 260/632 N 2.245.040 6/l94l Marks 252/384 2.589.330 3/1952 Bradford ct al i i 252/384 3.009.882 ll/l96l Clarke ct al, 252/384 Primary Examiner.loseph E. Evans Atmrney. Agent, or Firm-Robert H. Dewey; Howard E. Post [57] ABSTRACT A pelleted composition consisting of 2-nitro2-meth \&#39;l- 1-propanol. and particulate stearic acid. 0.5-5.0 percent by weight 2 Claims, No Drawings NON-CAKING COMPOSITION OF Z-N lTRO-Z-METHYL- l -PROPANOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a non-caking composition of Z-nitro-Z-methyl-l-propanol. In a particular aspect this invention relates to a pelleted composition of Z-nitro-Z- methyll propanol.  
  Z-Nitro-Z-methyl-l-propanol is a crystalline material. highly soluble in water. It is shipped in paperboard drums in amounts of up to about 225 lb. This material cakes badly on storage and sets up to a hard mass which is difficult to break up. Even after breaking the mass into lumps. the lumps continue to be troublesome because they are difficult to dissolve in a sohent. eg. water. Accordingly there is a need for a product free front caking.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the discovery of this invention to pro\ide a pel leted composition consisting of Lnitro-Z-methyl-L propanol (NMP) and from 0.5 to 5.0 percent by weight stearic acid which is free from caking on storage.  
 DETAILED DESCRlPTlON The composition of the present invention is a physical mixture obtained by blending NMP crystals with stearic acid particles in blending equipment known in the art. Examples of suitable equipment include but are not limited to ribbon blenders. double cone blenders and twin shell or V-tube blenders. The blended mixture is then passed through a pellet mill to provide pellets of one-eighth to one-fourth inch diameter. preferably about three-sixteenths inch.  
  The stearic acid employed in the practice of this invention is preferably of good commercial quality having an iodine value in the range of 5-H). preferably 7-8. Either double-pressed or triple-pressed stearic acid can be used. and triple-pressed is preferred. The amount of stearic acid used must be at least 0.5 percent by weight of the NMP. There is no limiting upper concentration. but no advantage is obtained above 5 percent. Preferably the composition consists of about 99 percent NMP with l percent stearic acid. The stearic acid must be in particulate form. such as crystalline. but it need not be finely divided Commercial grade material is satisfactory.  
  Pelleting ofthe mixture can be effected by use of any suitable pelleting mill. many of which are known. A satisfactory pellet is formed under conditions such that the friction produced by extrusion of material through the die hole results in heating the material to a temperature about 40C or above but below about 90C. the melting point of NMP. Thus a temperature range of about 40 to about 85 yields suitable pellets but 45-65C is a preferred range. Generally it has been found that a 5 inch thick die yields satisfactory pellets of one-eighth to threesixteenths inch in diameter and a 1 inch thick die yields satisfactory pellets of threesixteenths to one-fourth inch.  
 EXAMPLE Using a Model CL Type 3 pellet mill manufactured by the California Pellet Mill Co., I800 Folsom St. San Francisco. California. commercial grade NMP was pelleted. first without additive and then with stearic acid as shown in the following table. In both cases the material was blended in a ribbon blender before passing into the millv The stearic acid used was Neo-Fat 1859 marketed by Armour Industrial Chemical Co. Chicago. lllinois. it had an iodine value of 8.1.  
 Feed Pellet Run No. Stearic Acid Ratev lh/hr Quality I ll l7U Poor 1 U 238 Poor (1 12h Poor 4 l) 25 Poor 5 5&#39;1 (149 (iood l 410 (mod 7 l 33) (mod 5 l 34K (iood 9 l 235 (itmLl Run No. l was made with a l inch thick die but the remainder were made with 11% inch die. The diameter of the holes in the die in each run was three-sixteenths inch.  
  The quality was determined by crushability between the fingers and durability on storage. Storage life of 2 mos. without significant disintegration or caking of the pellets was adopted as the criterion for good quality of pellet. The pellets made without additive appeared satisfactory the first day and were packaged in a 5 gallon paperboard drum. By the second day. however. the material had caked into one large mass which could not be easily removed from the drum. The caked material was not friable and broke up very little when dropped from about 3 feet onto a concrete floor. It was apparent that without additive. the pellets would cake excessively and would not be useful.  
 We claim:  
  I. A non-caking pelleted composition consisting of Z-nitroQ-methyl-l propanol blended with from about 0.5 to about 5 percent of particulate stearic acid based on the weight of the Z-nitro-Z-mcthyl-l-propanol.  
  2. The composition of claim I wherein the stearic acid is present in an amount of about I percent based on the weight of the Z-nitro-lmethyl-l-propanol.