• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2015

This study was performed to investigate the manufacturing process of the Yeomcho(potassium nitrate), a necessary raw material for making gunpowder using soils and ashes by our ancestor. 10 types of soils including underfloor soil and 6 kinds of ashes including mugwort ash were collected, referencing the historical record. The ionic components extracted from the soils and ashes were analyzed by ICP(inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer) and IC(ion chromatograph). Nitrate ions and potassium ions were dominantly contained in soils and ashes, respectively. In particular, nitrate ions were found in the highest lebels in underfloor soil which often has much exposure to human living environments and accumulated fine organic matter. Potassium ions contained in ash was affected significantly by the type of plant and the growth environments and the measured levels were the highest in mugwort ashes. Yeomcho of 68% purity was obtained from the soil and ash mixture of 1:1 and thid purity was improved by about 14% by fractional crystallization method.