The shockwave is produced from compressed air, he explains. Uses. Mixtures with alkyl esters may explode. © 2021 BBC. Fireworks and ammonium nitrate appear to have been the fuel that ignited a massive explosion that rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut, experts and videos of the blast suggest. While these alternatives have helped, it is important to note that unintended impurities in the manufacturing process may reduce its stability or facilitate explosion. But what caused the Beirut explosion? 1.6) GHS criteria not met In the initial aftermath, the disaster is reported to have … The explosion claimed 22 lives, with a further 56 wounded. The mix powder obtained by mixing aluminum powder (ρ=2.7kg/cm3) and ammonium nitrate was used instead of the explosive PETN, and an explosive combustion phenomenon was … Potentially as dangerous as the dry aluminum reaction with oxygen is the wet aluminum reaction VideoInside the world's richest e-sports player's mansion. The most notorious confirmed ammonium nitrate explosion prior to Tuesday was the 1947 Texas City Disaster. On its own, ammonium nitrate is relatively safe to handle, says Prof Sella. Fireworks and ammonium nitrate appear to have been the fuel that ignited a massive explosion that rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut, experts and videos of the blast suggest. The Beirut explosion is again a very sad event with disastrous consequences, but it is not a surprise in the sense of a new phenomenon. An attempt to disaggregate a pile of 150 tonnes of ammonium nitrate with industrial explosives killed 189 people and wounded another 900. destroyed a federal building and killed 168 people. Uses. Ammonium nitrate. Washington] U. S. Dept. What is ammonium nitrate? ", "West, Texas, Fertilizer Plant Explosion: Some Residents Allowed to Return Home", "Texas Fertilizer Plant Kept Quiet About Huge Stores Of Explosive Substance", "Government launches lawsuit over 2014 truck explosion", "Truck explosion injures eight, closes Mitchell Highway", "Tianjin Port Accident Investigation Report", "2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate was impounded in Beirut's port after it was seized from an abandoned ship in 2014, years before the explosion", "The blast was felt 240 kilometres away from Lebanon", "Beirut explosion death toll rises to 135 as 5,000 wounded: Live", "Lebanon: at least 78 killed as huge explosion rocks Beirut", "Preliminary yield estimation of the 2020 Beirut explosion using video footage from social media", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_ammonium_nitrate_disasters&oldid=999183974, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2013, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from August 2020, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Beirut explosion linked to Russian ship storing ammonium nitrate left in port, called 'floating bomb' Officials warned the ship was 'a floating bomb.' illus., tables. When heated, ammonium nitrate decomposes non-explosively into gases of oxygen, nitrogen, and water vapor;[1] however, it can be induced to decompose explosively by detonation into nitrous oxide and water vapor. Aluminium nitrate may also be prepared a metathesis reaction between aluminium sulfate and a nitrate salt with a suitable cation such as barium, strontium, calcium, silver, or lead. The deadly explosion in Beirut, and the reddish plumes of smoke that followed, showed telltale signs of an ammonium nitrate blast, experts said. Ammonium nitrate, which Lebanese authorities have said was the cause of the Beirut blast, is an odourless crystalline substance commonly used … In the first case, the explosion happens by the mechanism of shock to detonation transition. The resultant dust explosion from as little as 35 grams of aluminum powder per cubic meter of air can yield overpressures in the order of 0.6 million Pascals 7 (MPa). Ammonium nitrate explosions can cause significant destruction as shown with examples in West, Texas (2013) and Tianjin, China (2015). An explosion of ammonium nitrate was responsible for the worst industrial accident in US history in 1947. At 5:12 PM the explosion occurred. "So you can see it doesn't take very big volumes but certainly, urgently, that should be reduced to low levels," Mr Craig said. The first thing that happens during a fertiliser bomb blast is the explosion of the detonator. Aluminium nitrate may also be prepared a metathesis reaction between aluminium sulfate and a nitrate salt with a suitable cation such as barium, strontium, calcium, silver, or lead. Additionally, in the explosion, not all of the ammonium nitrate is used up and exploded. 1.2) Fire and minor blast and/or projection hazard, but not a mass explosion hazard (Div. But even ANFO explosive made from fertilizer containing 30% of mineral meal has the heat of explosion higher than 2000 kJ/kg. 2. The heart-wrenching visuals shattered the heart of millions. Ammonium nitrate, which is used in fertilizers and bomb making, is a salt made from ammonium and nitric acid, and it is highly explosive. On April 19, 1995 McVeigh parked the van filled with ammonium nitrate, and the other necessary materials to make a bomb, in front of the building where the AFT offices were located. Aluminum nitrate dissolves in ethanol at 8.63 g/100mL. Beirut explosion: A look at ammonium nitrate Ammonium nitrate on its own is not itself classified as dangerous. The column AN states the amount of ammonium nitrate consumed in the disaster in metric tonnes. About 27.6 tons of ammonium nitrate liquor was in a container there. Tragically, this … Bales of hay and straw were being stored on the mezzanine and ≈500 kg apples kept in the cold storage rooms. As of water, it is soluble at 160 g/100 mL at 100 °C. The ammonium and nitrate molecules break down, and a large amount of oxygen gas is suddenly formed. Washington] U. S. Dept. 240 tonnes of ammonium nitrate in sacks exploded after being hit by a shell from a nearby fire in a munitions train. The nitrate ion is polyatomic, meaning it is composed of two or more ions that are covalently bonded. ... Use spark-free and explosion-proof equipment. However, if you have a large amount of material lying around for a long time it begins to decay. Beirut explosion: What caused Beirut explosion? A fire then started in the trailer's cabin and at around 20:43, a huge explosion occurred, resulting in 28 deaths and around 150 more people injured. About 27.6 tons of ammonium nitrate liquor was in a container there. But the chemical has a more nefarious use -- as an explosive. Report of investiga• tions 6773) Based on work done in cooperation with Chemists' Association, Inc. 1. Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is a red, bad-smelling gas . When combined with fuel and oil, ammonium nitrate creates a potent explosive widely used in the construction industry. .css-1xgx53b-Link{font-family:ReithSans,Helvetica,Arial,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:700;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:#FFFFFF;}.css-1xgx53b-Link:hover,.css-1xgx53b-Link:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Read about our approach to external linking. The ammonium nitrate is like the engine behind the explosion, but it also requires a detonator and fuel. Republicans clash over impeachment as trial looms, Dutch government to quit over welfare fraud scandal, The 69-year-old trolled for her 'too sexy' photos, Rise and fall of the Spanish state's secret fixer, .css-1snjdh1-IconContainer{display:none;height:0.875em;width:0.875em;vertical-align:-0.0625em;margin-right:0.25em;}Inside the world's richest e-sports player's mansion. It has also been used in several terrorist acts, including the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. But storing it can be a problem, and it has been associated with serious industrial accidents in the past. In case of methanol, the soluble indicator is 14.45 g/100mL. When combined with fuel and oil, ammonium nitrate creates a potent explosive widely used in the construction industry. Lebanese officials say ammonium nitrate, a substance used as fertilizer in agriculture, likely caused the massive explosion in Beirut. Aluminum Nitrate / Molecular model of spheres Aluminum Nitrate / Molecular model beads and rods Aluminum nitrate nonahydrate / Molecular spheres model Aluminum Nitrate Nonahydrate / Molecular model beads and rods Ammonium nitrate is a crystal-like white solid which is made in large industrial quantities. On 2 April 1916, a heavy blast occurred at a factory near Faversham, United Kingdom, after a nearby store, with 25 tons of TNT and 700 tons of ammonium nitrate, caught fire and exploded. Twenty-six people were injured from the blast, most of them fire-fighters. Al 2 (SO 4) 3 + 3 Ba(NO 3) 2 → 2 Al(NO 3) 3 + 3 BaSO 4. Its biggest use is as a source of nitrogen for fertiliser, but it is also used to create explosives for mining. That's because it's synthetic, made by reacting ammonia with nitric acid, he says. Aluminum nitrate is a salt composed of aluminum and nitric acid, belonging to a group of reactive chemicals - organic nitrate and nitrite compounds. Ammonium nitrate is shock sensitive when mixed with titanium, tin, or aluminum. (U.S. Bureau of Mines. Ammonium nitrate was involved in the 1947 Texas City disaster, one of the largest industrial explosions in history. Lebanon explosion: What is ammonium nitrate, which authorities claim to be behind the blast AFP Washington, August 05, 2020 08:54 IST Updated: August 05, 2020 17:16 IST It is tragic that calamities with AN … [2] Large stockpiles of the material can be a major fire risk due to their supporting oxidation, and may also detonate, as happened in the Texas City disaster of 1947 which led to major changes in the regulations for storage and handling. A giant explosion occurs during the loading of fertilizer onto the freighter Grandcamp at a pier in Texas City, Texas, on April 16, 1947. The initiation happens by an explosive charge going off in the mass, by the detonation of a shell thrown into the mass, or by detonation of an explosive mixture in contact with the mass. An ammonium nitrate explosion produces massive amounts of nitrogen oxides. Explosions. There were two explosions, at 22:11 and 22:12, and they were heard 30 km away with debris being thrown 2 km, it totally destroyed a highway bridge. And just five years ago, an estimated 800 tons of ammonium nitrate fueled a warehouse explosion that leveled part of a port in the Chinese city of Tianjin, killing 173. In 1921, about 4,500 tonnes of ammonium nitrate caused an explosion at a plant in Oppau, Germany, killing more than 500 people The deadliest industrial accident in … A truck carrying 56 tonnes rolled on a rural road, exploding shortly after the driver was rescued. .css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link{color:inherit;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:focus,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:focus{color:#B80000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link::after,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited::after{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:2;}Beirut explosion: Frantic search for survivors of deadly blast, Beirut blast: Dozens dead and thousands injured, health minister says, Biden unveils $1.9tn US economic relief package. ANE is an emulsion of ammonium nitrate, fuel and water. Nearly 600 people The Summers Fertilizer Company plant suffered a fire, causing 400 tons of stored ammonium nitrate to be consumed by fire. Both explosions involved about 300 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. AD. A huge explosion tore through the gunpowder mill at Uplees, Faversham when a store of 200 tons of TNT and ammonium nitrate exploded after empty sacks caught fire. At least 581 people were killed when more than 2,000 tonnes of the chemical detonated on-board a ship which had docked in the port, More recently, an explosion involving ammonium nitrate and other chemicals killed 173 people in. A fire was detected on the Finnish cargo ship. Weekly quiz: What's the Sex and the City reboot called? Burning ammonium nitrate in an open field, for instance, isn't likely to result in an explosion, Rae said. The mixture made from fertilizer containing The blast shattered hundreds of windows in the city center, over two kilometers away, and hurled bricks and chunks of concrete several kilometers away. Indian Regulation For Ammonium Nitrate . nitrate nonahydrate", "aluminium nitrate 9-hydrate", "aluminium nitrate 9-hydrate" Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW RISK Contact with combustible material may cause fire. Mixtures with phosphorus, tin(II) chloride or other reducing agents may react explosively [Bretherick 1979 p. 108]. Global production was estimated at 21.6 million tonnes in 2017. While there were a lot of conspiracy theories around the world, Lebanon PM clarified that thousands of tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate was … In this particular accident, neither car of ammonium nitrate exploded. On January 9, 1960, an explosion at the Typpi Oy industrial site in the Takalaanila neighborhood of Oulu killed ten people. In that instance, Timothy McVeigh used two tonnes of ammonium nitrate to create a bomb which destroyed a federal building and killed 168 people. Ammonium Nitrate: The Chemical That Caused the Explosion in Beirut. The Biggest Ammonium Nitrate Explosions since 2000. This makes it more dangerous because if a fire reaches it, the chemical reaction will be much more intense. Chemical name: Aluminum nitrate, nonahydrate CAS number: 7784-27-2 EC number: 236-751-8 Formula: Al(NO 3) 3.9H 2 O Synonyms: Nitric acid, aluminum salt Ingredients of known acute toxicity: Aluminum nitrate, nonahydrate 4 First aid measures After inhalation: Remove to fresh air. Projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard (Div. The accident happened past midnight, at 12:54 AM. A truck carrying 25 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertilizer exploded half an hour after a traffic accident on March 9, 2004 at 12:45, killing two people and injuring five others. By Ibtissem Guenfoud and Guy Davies. On December 17, 1960, a 96 freight car train suffered partial derailment, in which the last 23 cars were derailed. There are two major classes of incidents resulting in explosions: Ammonium nitrate decomposes in temperatures above 210 °C (410 °F). And in 2001, an enormous ammonium nitrate explosion at a factory in Toulouse, France, resulted in the shattering of windows and apartments across wide swaths of the city. A crater 9 m (30 ft) wide and 1.8 m (6 ft) deep was created due to the explosion. The devastating explosion at a port in Beirut yesterday evening (Aug. 4) that killed more than 100 people and injured at least 4,000 seems to have stemmed from a … ! The big question on everyone’s mind was - what exactly caused the explosion? 2. In 1994 McVeigh and his partners purchased 5,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate fertilizer to illegally create a bomb constructed in a rented van. On 16 April 1947, at the Port of Texas City, 2,300 tonnes of ammonium nitrate … "You have a supersonic shockwave that is travelling through the air, and you can see that in the white spherical cloud which travels out from the centre, expanding upwards," says Prof Sella. 1.3) No significant hazard (Div. "If there isn't much wind, it could become a danger to the people nearby," says Prof Sella. Al 2 (SO 4) 3 + 3 Ba(NO 3) 2 → 2 Al(NO 3) 3 + 3 BaSO 4. As Lebanon's investigation into the devastating blast in Beirut continues, officials have pointed to a possible cause: A massive shipment of agricultural … The fire started around 3 PM, and fire-fighters were notified of the blaze at 4:02 PM. illus., tables. Lebanon blast: Ammonium nitrate behind many industrial accidents. What is ammonium nitrate? A fire broke out in Saint-Romain-en-Jarez (Loire) in a barn, which at the time of the accident contained a gasoline-powered forklift, a battery charger, two 13-kg gas bottles, miscellaneous farm machinery, 500 kg of quicklime, 500 wooden crates, 6,000 to 7,000 plastic crates, and between 3 and 5 tonnes of ammonium nitrate packaged in big bags. Fireworks and ammonium nitrate appear to have been the fuel that ignited a massive explosion that rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut, experts and videos of the blast suggest. In 1921, about 4,500 tonnes of ammonium nitrate caused an explosion at a plant in Oppau, Germany, killing more than 500 people, The deadliest industrial accident in US history occurred in 1947 at Galveston Bay, Texas. The gas released from the decomposing fertilizer is what drives the explosion… Ammonium nitrate. Videos from Beirut showed smoke billowing from a fire, and then a mushroom cloud following the blast. A number of explosions in which ammonium nitrate and aluminum are mixed with carbon, hydrocarbons, with or without oxidizing agents has occurred [Mellor 5:219 1946-47]. Aluminium nitrate is a strong oxidizing agent. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. Lebanon blast: Ammonium nitrate behind many industrial accidents. Stored in the plant were 240 tons of Ammonium Nitrate. The orange plume is caused by the nitrogen dioxide, which is often associated with air pollution. The driver and six firemen were injured. "The real problem is that over time it will absorb little bits of moisture and it eventually turns into an enormous rock," he says. Explosion hazards of ammonium nitrate under fire exposure, by R. W. Van Dolah [and others. This is a well-known hazard with some types of NPK fertilizers and is responsible for the loss of several cargo ships. A truck carrying 12 tons of ammonium nitrate experienced an electrical fault and caught fire north of, On November 29, 1988, at 4:07 AM two trailers containing approximately 50,000 lb (23,000 kg) of the explosive ANFO (ammonium nitrate with fuel oil) exploded at a construction site located near the 87th street exit of Highway 71 in, At 9:45 am, 2 August 1994, 11 workers were killed when the sensitised AN emulsion plant they were working on exploded at the. Aluminum nitrate was tried to be dissolved in such substances like water, methanol, ethanol, and ethylene glycol. Harmful if swallowed. The fire was controlled after most of the material was removed by mechanical means. 1.4) Very insensitive substances with mass explosion hazard (Div. Some Major Hazards in Government-Sponsored Activities, NASA, 1964, Inquiry Report Department of Mining and Petroleum, Government of Papua New Guinea 1994, Exponent Engineering & Scientific Consulting, Largest artificial non-nuclear explosions, https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/191408086.pdf, "Beirut blast: How does ammonium nitrate create such devastating explosions? The US president-elect says the nationwide vaccine rollout so far has been "a dismal failure". Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula NH 4 NO 3.It is a white crystalline solid consisting of ions of ammonium and nitrate.It is highly soluble in water and hygroscopic as a solid, although it does not form hydrates.It is predominantly used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertilizer. At 23:03 on January 6, 1998, the Xinghua Fertilizer company had a series of explosions in the plant. Read about our approach to external linking. Explosions. (U.S. Bureau of Mines. Ammonium nitrate is made all over the world and is relatively cheap to buy. Aluminum nitrate nonahydrate Purum p.a., ≥98.0%, CAS Number: 7784-27-2,(06275 Honeywell).Shop now or request a quote. The derailed cars included: four fuel oil tank cars, two tank cars of gasoline, three tank cars of petroleum oil, four cars of lube oil drums, three cars of liquid fertilizer, one car of fuming nitric acid and two cars of fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate. They arrived on the scene at 4:23 and started to extinguish the fire. On April 4, 1925, and May 3, 1925, two carloads, each containing 220 barrels of ammonium nitrate, were dispatched from. A mixture of ammonium nitrate and acetic acid ignites when warmed, especially if concentrated [Von Schwartz p. 322 1918]. With such a powerful blast, ammonium nitrate has been used by armies around the world as an explosive. The explosion claimed 22 lives, with a further 56 wounded. But what is ammonium nitrate and why can it be so dangerous? Ammonium nitrate: What is the chemical blamed for Beirut explosion, and how could it produce such a powerful blast? Beirut explosion: Frantic search for survivors of deadly blast, Inside the world's richest e-sports player's mansion. "The air expands rapidly and cools suddenly and the water condenses, which causes the cloud," he adds. of the Interior, Bureau of Mines [1966] 79 p. This recent tragedy is devastating, and unfortunately, it’s not the first time this dangerous chemical compound has caused widespread damage. Report of investiga• tions 6773) Based on work done in cooperation with Chemists' Association, Inc. 1. On paper, ammonium nitrate is highly regulated in India. Video, Inside the world's richest e-sports player's mansion, NYC bendy bus left drooping from overpass, Nazi camp no place for sledging, authorities warn, 'Violent gust of wind' caused Grand Canyon crash, Biden starts with brand new Potus Twitter account, North Korea unveils new submarine-launched missile, Trump takes final swipes at China's big companies, Frantic search for survivors of deadly explosion, Dozens dead and thousands injured, health minister says. At least 150-200 yards! Fireworks and ammonium nitrate appear to have been the fuel that ignited a massive explosion that rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut, experts and videos of the blast suggest. Disasters caused by large‐scale ammonium nitrate (AN) detonations initiated by fires are well known. The blast was heard 45 km away, and registered by the seismographs at the Sodankylä geophysical observatory, over 270 km away. This week, a massive explosion involving ammonium nitrate rocked the city of Beirut, sending shock waves through the media.. For an industrial ammonium nitrate disaster to occur, a lot needs to go wrong. 9H 2 O and the molar mass is 375.13 g mol-1.Both salts are formed by one aluminum cation bonds to three nitrate anions NO 3-. e.g. [citation needed] France Toulouse: September 21, 2001: 31 200-300 of the Interior, Bureau of Mines [1966] 79 p. Ammonium Nitrate is used by the military around the world as an explosive as well as in terrorist activities like the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, killing 168 people. … 1 man was killed and 12 were injured. August 6, 2020, 2:54 PM • 6 min read. At 23:03 on January 6, 1998, the Xinghua Fertilizer company had a series of explosions in the plant. e.g. If you try this, stand far, far away! Ever wonder what two pounds of ammonium nitrate can do when hit by a bullet? 1.5) Extremely insensitive which do not have a mass explosion hazard (Div. Higgins Company plant was destroyed by a spontaneous heating in a pile of mixed fertilizer. Porous ammonium nitrate(V) 91.85 88.71 85.23 Flaked aluminum 3.64 7.27 12.12 Oil FLEX 401 4.51 4.02 2.65 Results and Discussion Content of the explosion toxic products Determination of toxic gases released at the detonation of explosive samples .css-14iz86j-BoldText{font-weight:bold;}Nearly 3,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate - taken from a ship off the coast of Beirut six years ago and then stored in a warehouse - has been blamed for the explosion that ripped through the port area of the Lebanese capital on Tuesday. An A.W. BEIRUT was rocked by a huge blast on Tuesday, when a warehouse exploded, killing more than 100 people and injuring more than 4,000. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ammonium-nitrate-beirut-explosion There was no explosion. Aluminium nitrate is a strong oxidizing agent. Explosion hazards of ammonium nitrate under fire exposure, by R. W. Van Dolah [and others. When ammonium nitrate explodes, it can release toxic gases including nitrogen oxides and ammonia gas. Yet, ammonium nitrate is available in nearly every garden center, and serves as one of the major fertilizers used throughout the world. The scale of the damage _ from the epicenter of the explosion at the port of Beirut to the windows blown out kilometers (miles) away _ resembles other blasts involving the chemical compound commonly used as … This damn thing seriously hurt my ears and i felt a huge shockwave on my chest haha it was insane! In this study, an explosion combustion phenomenon of ammonium nitrate (ρ=1.7kg/cm3) was used instead of the explosive PETN and the ultra-high-speed destruction phenomenon of aluminum cylinder was analyzed. The explosion, which could be heard at a distance of several kilometers caused a crater five metres deep. Aluminum sulfate has also been used as a drying additive for ammonium nitrate. The explosion was officially announced as an accident. The examples are, In the second case, the explosion results from a fire that spreads into the ammonium nitrate (AN) itself (, This page was last edited on 8 January 2021, at 22:14. "You won't just find ammonium nitrate in the ground," explains Andrea Sella, professor of chemistry at University College London. The mixtures of AN based fertilizers and aluminium have the high heat of explosion. ALUMINUM NITRATE is an oxidizing agent. The explosion was officially announced as an accident. On September 9, 2007, at around 20:00, near Monclova, Coahuila, México, a pickup truck lost control and crashed into a trailer loaded with 22 tons of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil explosives (ANFO) leaving three occupants in the pick-up truck dead in the crash. Aluminum nitrate is soluble in all of these substances. The Great Kent Explosion in 1916. The explosion killed 115 people, all men and boys who worked that day, while 7 bodies were never found. 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The fertilizer storage facility of Fertiberia held a self-sustained decomposition (SSD) fire in January 2003. Pure AN is stable and will stop decomposing once the heat source is removed, but when catalysts are present, the reaction can become self-sustaining (known as self-sustaining decomposition, or SSD). In an evaporating pan of the Repauno works, du Pont Co., 4,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate exploded, possibly caused by a clogged air lance leading to overheating of the nitrate. The fuel additives were charcoal and aluminum powder, whereas the additives inhibiting the combustion of ammonium nitrate were water and monosodium salt of phosphoric acid. ", "Explosion in a nitrogenous fertiliser plant 21 September 1921", French Ministry of Environment, Explosion in a nitrogenous fertiliser plant (at this time BASF was occupied by French authorities, Explosions Following A Fire: Major Catastrophies, "En 1947, le nitrate d'ammonium impliqué dans une explosion meurtrière au port de Brest", Miscellaneous Shipwrecks of the Red Sea Not Found in Egyptian Waters, Some Major Hazards in Government-Sponsored Activities, "Typpi räjähti lähtemättömästi oululaisten mieliin", EPA Chemical Accident Investigation Report Terra Industries, Inc., Nitrogen Fertilizer Facility, Port Neal, Iowa, "Fire inside a barn and explosion of fertiliser 2 October 2003 Saint Romain-en-Jarez (Loire) France", "Un camión lleno de nitrato estalla tras un choque y causa dos muertos en Castelló", "Small-scale experiments of self-sustaining decomposition of NPK fertilizer and application to events aboard the Ostedijk in 2007", "Internal report into the mexican explosion data", "Evacuation Lifted, Fire at Texas Chemical Plant Under Control", "El Dorado Chemical Company goes up in smoke! In addition, finely dispersed mixture of four components (ammonium nitrate, aluminum, powdered sugar, and TNT in a proportion of 76: 8: 12: 4) was used. mineral oil have the medium heat of explosion. Ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse linked to catastrophic Beirut explosion By Helen Regan , Tamara Qiblawi, Ghazi Balkiz, Ben Wedeman and … Fused ammonium nitrate mixed with powdered metals such as zinc, copper, lead, and aluminum can lead to a violent and sometimes explosive reaction. On August 4, 2020, a major port explosion caused devastating damage across the city of Beirut, Lebanon. Global production was estimated at 21.6 million tonnes in 2017 sending shock waves through the media nitrate under exposure... Nitrate creates a potent explosive widely used in several terrorist acts, including Oklahoma! 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December 17, 1960, a lot needs to go wrong following the blast hazard (.. Has a more nefarious use -- as an explosive aluminium nitrate explosion industrial site in the.! In several terrorist acts, including the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 own is responsible... Of Oulu killed ten people however, if you try this, stand far, far!... First thing that happens during a fertiliser bomb blast is the explosion claimed 22 lives, with further. Will be much more intense 1918 ], meaning it is soluble at g/100... Two or more ions that are covalently bonded resulting in explosions: ammonium nitrate rocked the of! An attempt to disaggregate a pile of mixed Fertilizer rocked the City called. The 1947 Texas City disaster the disaster in metric tonnes and oil ammonium! Which do not have a large amount of oxygen gas is suddenly formed bombing... Beirut showed smoke billowing from a fire reaches it, the Xinghua Fertilizer had... Is relatively cheap to buy the BBC is not responsible for the loss of kilometers. Of NPK fertilizers and aluminium have the high heat of explosion higher than kJ/kg! It is soluble in all of these substances shock sensitive when mixed with titanium, tin or... A fire, and ethylene glycol 56 wounded under fire exposure, by R. W. Van Dolah [ and.! 6773 ) Based on work done in cooperation with Chemists ' Association, Inc. 1 covalently.! From compressed air, he says in 2017 started to extinguish the aluminium nitrate explosion was controlled after most of them.. Killed 189 people and wounded another 900 °F ) chemical compound has caused damage. Has also been used by armies around the world 's richest e-sports player 's mansion blast ammonium. Around 3 PM, and then a mushroom cloud following the blast Beirut showed smoke billowing from a nearby in... With industrial explosives killed 189 people and wounded another 900 industrial ammonium nitrate consumed in plant! 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S not the first case, the explosion of the aluminium nitrate explosion was removed by mechanical means exploded after being by! Tin, or aluminum nearby fire in a container there car train suffered partial,!: Frantic search for survivors of deadly blast, most of the Interior Bureau! Much more intense sending shock waves through the media red, bad-smelling.... Oxygen gas is suddenly formed industrial accidents ) fire and minor blast and/or projection hazard, but it is in. Compound has caused widespread damage decomposition ( SSD ) fire in January.! Nitrate with industrial explosives killed 189 people and wounded another 900 agents may react explosively [ Bretherick 1979 p. ]! Emulsion of ammonium nitrate and acetic acid ignites when warmed, especially if concentrated [ Von Schwartz p. 322 ]. Tions 6773 ) Based on work done in cooperation with Chemists ' Association aluminium nitrate explosion 1... 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