Denver man indicted in alleged al-Qaida plot

[sinkingfeeling]

Source: MSNBC.com

NEW YORK - A grand jury has indicted terror suspect Najibullah Zazi for conspiring to detonate bombs, according to court documents released Thursday.

The new charge of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction was filed in New York. Authorities plan to transfer Zazi to the federal court in Brooklyn to face the new charge.

NBC's Pete Williams reported that federal officials say Zazi bought chemicals that could be used to make a bomb, purchasing them by himself and with the help of others in large quantities from beauty supply stores in the Denver area.

Zazi also twice rented a hotel room in the Denver area, one that includes a stove, and apparently used it to try to concentrate one of the ingredients — hydrogen peroxide — by heating it to boil away water, Williams cited those officials as saying.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33002562/ns/us_news-security/

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I still have some doubts if this was a serious endeavor.

[Ian David]

1. Doesn't hydrogen peroxide boil at a LOWER temperature than water?

<snip>

Concentrating Hydrogen Peroxide
I've seen a lot of information about concentrating both the 3% versions of hydrogen peroxide, and the 30%. I've seen the idea of boiling it (bad idea, due to vapor detonation), and I've seen freezing it (which seems somewhat less explosive) - however can someone explain to me the fine points of freezing hydrogen peroxide, and then removing the concentrated product. If I had the 3% solution, what temperature would it freeze at, and how would I remove the concentrated product, and what concentration would it be. If I use the 30% version (I would prefer this infinitely, as it would give me more peroxide, and I have no problem getting 30% Hydrogen peroxide) - again, the same questions as with the 3% variety.

As a disclaimer, please note that concentrated hydrogen peroxide is corrosive (especially to eyes) and is a very strong oxidizer - it should only be handled with appropriate safety equipment, and under the supervision of someone who is familiar with it's properties.

<snip>

I'm not sure of freezing, however, I do know that adding heat, will only increase the rate of decomposition, will it not, so technically, in boiling it down, it won't concentrate the solution due to the peroxides decomposition, which is rather unstable, at high temperatures, as many have already pointed out. There's good reason why people don't simply boil the peroxide, down to jet fuel concentrations. Because not only is it futile, but you run the risk of injuring yourself and those around you.


More:
http://www.scienceforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=40147




Also:
http://older.4hv.org/index.php?board=6%3Baction=display%3Bthreadid=22996

[Crabby Appleton]

2. Nope, higher BP temp

[Ian David]

3. You're right. Was just reading that.

However, the consensus seems to be that it's not a good idea to try it.