7/28/2019 Hexamine fuel tablet.doc

1/4

Hexamine (Hexamethylenetetramine)Hexamine is an organic, heterocyclic chemical compound. Heterocyclic organic

compounds are composed of at least one atom of carbon bound to at least one other

element, such as oxygen or sulfur. The atoms are arranged in a ring structure.

Hexamine goes by several other names, including methenamine, urotropine, andhexamethylenetetramine. Among other applications, hexamine is used as an

antibiotic.

The reaction of formaldehyde and ammonia yields the crystalline hexamine. Its

molecular formula is C6H124. Particles of hexamine tend to range in size from 80 to

800 micrometers; a strand of human hair is about 100 micrometers wide. It is soluble

in water and in most organic substances, and it has a cage-like structure.

Medical uses

Medical professionals use hexamine as an antibiotic to treat urinary tract

infections. The specific medication used is called methenamine hippurate. It is alsoused for the suppression of bacteruria in patients who have neurological diseases. In

acidic urine, methenamine hydrolyzes into ammonia and formaldehyde, a nonspecific

antibiotic. As this reaction is activated by acid in the urine, methenamine is often

ineffective as an antibiotic in those whose urine is not acidic.

As the mandelic acid salt (generic methenamine mandelate tablets, USP it is used for the

treatment of urinary tract infection: hexamethyltetramine ("methenamine") decomposes at an

acid pH to formaldehyde and ammonia, and the formaldehyde is bactericidal; the mandelic

acid adds to this effect. Urinary acidity is typically ensured by co-administering vitamin C

(ascorbic acid) orammonium chloride. Its use had temporarily been reduced in the late

1990s, due to adverse effects (notably chemically-induced hemorrhagic cystitisin overdose.

but its use has now been reapproved because of the prevalence ofantibiotic resistanceto

more commonly used drugs. This drug is particularly suitable for long-term prophylactic

treatment of urinary tract infection, because bacteria do not develop resistance to

formaldehyde: however, it should not be used in the presence of renal insufficiency.

Hexamine fuel tabletA hexamine fuel tablet is a form ofsolid fuel in tablet form. The tablets burn smokelessly,

have a high energy density, do not liquify while burning and leave no ashes. Invented inMurrhardt, Germany, in 1936, the main component is hexamine, which was discovered

byAleksandr Butlerovin 1859. Some fuel tablets use1,3,5-trioxane as another ingredient.

A number of alternative names are in use, including heat tablet and Esbit. Esbit (which

stands forErich Schumms Brennstoff in Tablettenform orErich Schumm's Fuel in Tablets) is

a genericized trademark as it is used to refer to similar products made by other companies.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-organic-compounds.htmhttp://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-organic-compounds.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandelic_acidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascorbic_acidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_chloridehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemorrhagic_cystitishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemorrhagic_cystitishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotic_resistancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotic_resistancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_fuelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_fuelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexamethylenetetraminehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Butlerovhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Butlerovhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Butlerovhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1,3,5-Trioxanehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genericized_trademarkhttp://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-organic-compounds.htmhttp://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-organic-compounds.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandelic_acidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascorbic_acidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_chloridehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemorrhagic_cystitishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotic_resistancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_fuelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexamethylenetetraminehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Butlerovhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1,3,5-Trioxanehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genericized_trademark

7/28/2019 Hexamine fuel tablet.doc

2/4

Uses

The tablets are used for cooking by campers, the military and relief organizations. They are

often used with disposable metal stoves that are included with field rationpacks. Backpackers

concerned with ultra light gear tend to buy or make their own much lighter stove. AnEsbit beverage-can stove can be made by cutting off the bottom of an aluminum soft drink

can, and turning it upside down to support the fuel tablet. A pot can be supported above this

with a circle ofchicken wire or metal tent pegs. The burning tablets are sensitive to wind, so a

simple windscreen should be used, such as a strip of aluminum foil curved in a circle around

the pot and stove. If necessary, the fuel tablet can be placed on a rock or on the dirt, with a

pot supported above it by rocks, but this is less than ideal.

Another common use is to provide a relatively safe (see disadvantages below) heat source for

model steam engines, such as those manufactured by Wilesco andMamod, and other

external combustion engines such as Stirling engines and pop pop boats.

Advantages and disadvantages

Sample of Esbit still usable after decades of storage

Hexamine is prepared by the reaction of formaldehyde and ammonia. In an acid

environment hexamine is converted to formaldehyde, which is toxic.

Fuel tablets are simple, ultra-lightweight compared to other stove options, and compact; the

entire stove system and fuel can be stored inside a small 850ml cooking pot. As with trioxane,

hexamine has an almost infinite shelf life if stored properly. However, the heat given off

cannot be easily adjusted, so water can be boiled, but cooking requiringsimmering is more

difficult. Tablets are not a particularly powerful stove fuel, and are sensitive to wind and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_rationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage-can_stovehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_wirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_wirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilescohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_pop_boathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehydehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simmeringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simmeringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1960's_esbit.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_rationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage-can_stovehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_wirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilescohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_pop_boathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehydehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simmering

7/28/2019 Hexamine fuel tablet.doc

3/4

dampness. They are expensive and are not as widely available compared to alternatives such

as alcohol or petrol.

Esbit's Material Safety Data Sheet states combustion can

create formaldehyde, ammonia, nitrogen oxide, hydrogen cyanide and

ingestion may cause nausea,vomiting, gastrointestinal disturbances,and kidney damage.[1] When burned, the chemical oxidation of the fuel

yields noxious fumes, requiring foods being cooked to be contained in a

receptacle such as a pot or pan, and burned tablets will leave a sticky

dark residue on the bottom of pots. If they are stored or used under

damp conditions then they can break up while burning and shed

burning fragments.

Hazards Identification:

Acute Health Effects: Irritating to the skin and eyes on contact. Inhalation

will cause irritation to the lungs and mucus membrane. Irritation to theeyes will cause watering and redness. Reddening, scaling, and itchingare characteristics of skin inflammation. Follow safe industrial hygienepractices and always wear protective equipment when handling thiscompound.

Chronic Health Effects: Prolonged skin contact may produce a rash toaffected area(in particular the wrist, ankles, beltline, and collar area ofthe neck) similar in appearance to poison ivy. Hexamine maydecompose to formaldehyde in the presence of perspiration (slighlyacidic pH 4-6.5). The formaldehyde is trapped in the sweat pores of the

skin and then oxidized to formic acid, which is believed to be the actualagent responsible for the skin rash. (WARNING: Formaldehydemay be a potential cancer hazard).

Acute Health Effects: Hexamine could decompose to formaldehyde,

which is a listed potential carcinogen.

Hexamine TabletsIntroduction

The Solid fuel (Hexamine) Cooker is a new green environmental fuel set, its mainly use in army, military

training. Border forces with bad condition, as well as outdoor, seeking survival, going out for camping.

Material

1. The Hexamine Cooker is formed from tin and coated with high temperature resist lacquer to a matt

finish. Thus providing protection from rust.

2. The tin plate thickness is 0.4 mm. NW per piece: 140 grams (105 grams without the top stand)

Packaging

1. A 3.5 grams sleeve waxed paper bag each piece.

2. Each cooker holds 8 x 28g hexamine tablets in a waxed box.

3.48 units per outer, 400 x 260 x 210 mm, NW/GW 16.5/17.5 kgs

Usage Instructions

1. The cooker should be placed on a level, non-flammable, surface, serrated edge upwards.

2. Place one fuel tablet on the cooker base and ignite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehydehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammoniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_oxidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_cyanidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nauseahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vomitinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidney_damagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexamine_fuel_tablet#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexamine_fuel_tablet#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehydehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammoniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_oxidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_cyanidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nauseahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vomitinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidney_damagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexamine_fuel_tablet#cite_note-1

7/28/2019 Hexamine fuel tablet.doc

4/4

3. To extinguish, tip the tablet off the stand and cover to exclude air.

4. Provide over 10 minutes of burning time per tablet.