A professional who tends vats that wash and treat nitroglycerin to neutralize acids remaining from nitrating process in explosives manufacture. Respnsibilities include:

• Admits warm water to vat of nitroglycerin, and introduces stream of air from bottom of vat to agitate and mix product for specified interval.
• Turns off water and air to allow mixture to settle and opens drain cock to draw off wash water.
• Admits prepared aqueous solution of soda ash to vat to neutralize remaining acids, and starts agitating airflow.
• Tests mixture with litmus or other chemical indicator, rewashes nitroglycerin when it tests neutral, and transfers it to storage or processing areas.
• May prepare soda-ash solution, according to formula or proportion table.