Re: Liquid Explosives used aboard airliners

I'm not a chemist but this essay below was posted on a bulletin board.
Do the chemists here concurr that the following is true? This was
written by a fellow with a PHD in chemistry...

{
"According to the official government story, TATP (triacetone
triperoxide) was the explosive these conspirators were planning to
manufacture aboard the airliners.

"This story is not plausible for a number of reasons, but let's
take a quick look at just enough of the science so as not to provide
anybody with a guide to making an actual bomb: TATP is made from
hydrogen peroxide solution, acetone and sulfuric acid. The reaction
can be carried out with just about any concentration, but is best done
with concentrated solutions of both peroxide and acetone.

"The peroxide and acetone can be pre-mixed, but the acid must be
added, a drop at a time, to the solution, all the while continuously
stirring it and keeping it continuously chilled. This step of the
process will take several hours, during which the fumes given off will
be substantial and quite overpowering, thus a lab-quality air
evacuation system is required. (ES: right here, the whole idea of a
TATP bomb becomes ludicrous. Difficult in a lab, but impossible in an
airplane due to the environment - the toilet - and the time
requirement.)

"One then must let the resulting solution stand for an extended
period at temperatures above the freezing point, but definitely below
10 Celsius (50 Fahrenheit). Above 10 Celsius, the TATP does not form;
instead, diperoxide forms, which is so unstable it cannot be worked
with. The time required for the reaction to go to completion is at
least 24 hours and often several days.

"Once the TATP forms, it crystallizes as snowflakes from the
solution and must be harvested by filtration and the liquid discarded.
The TATP then is dried and carefully stored until needed. It must be
stored below 10 Celsius or it converts spontaneously to the unstable
diperoxide.

"There is neither the time, the workspace nor the other materials
required to make TATP on an airliner. The time required, the
temperatures required, the workspace required and the need to dry the
chemical prior to use preclude this story being reasonable. This
chemical process is much more sensitive than making, for example,
nitroglycerin."
}

.