Influence of Nitrate Acid and Chlorine Ion on the Decomposition of Ammonium Nitrate in Aqueous Solution with High Temperature

Many domestic and overseas scholars made lots of research on the dangers of Ammonium Nitrate (AN), however, very little study was on the dangers of its aqueous solution. Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) and Reaction Calorimeter (RC1e) were employed to study the thermal decomposition hazard of AN aqueous solution and the influence of impurity on its stability under high temperature. Decomposition of analytical ammonium nitrate (AN) and an aqueous solution containing 90% (w/w) AN was evaluated by DSC, it indicated that the thermal explosion risk of the aqueous solution containing 90% AN (w/w) is similar to that of the analytical reagent. The RC1e experiment on the aqueous solution containing 90% AN at the temperature between 140℃ and 180℃ showed that the decomposition of AN solution was restrained to some extent with the presence of nitric acid or chlorine ion. However, when both of them present in the solution, the thermal stability of AN aqueous system would be reduced obviously. These results were of important reference to the hazard control in the process of AN production and handling.