Ammonium nitrate explosion hazards

• Main Authors: Negovanović Milanka, Kričak Lazar, Milanović Stefan, Đokić Nikola, Nikola Simić
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Faculty of Mining and Geology, Belgrade 2015-01-01
• Series: Podzemni Radovi
• Subjects: ammonium nitrate; explosion; accident; handling; storage; transport
• Online Access: http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0354-2904/2015/0354-29041527049N.pdf

Ammonium nitrate (AN) primarily is used as a fertilizer but it is also very important compound in the production of industrial explosives. The application of ammonium nitrate in the production of industrial explosives was related with the early era of Nobel dynamite and widely increased with the appearance of blasting agents such as ANFO and Slurry, in the middle of the last Century. Throughout the world millions of tons of ammonium nitrate are produced annually and handled without incident. Although ammonium nitrate generally is used safely, accidental explosions involving AN have high impact resulting in loss of lives and destruction of property. The paper presents the basic properties of ammonium nitrate as well as hazards in handling of ammonium nitrate in order to prevent accidents. Several accidents with explosions of ammonium nitrate resulted in catastrophic consequences are listed in the paper as examples of non-compliance with prescribed procedures.