1、AMMONIUM NITRATE EXPLOSIONS:LESSONS LEARNED Ammonium nitrate(AN)is a chemical compound with the power to feed billions but also the potential to devastate.AN is the most potent,economical,and convenient fertilizer on the market;thus,AN continues to be stored in large quantities in ports and other pl

2、aces around the world.However,the recent catastrophic explosion in Beirut is a reminder of the hazards associated with the improper storage and use of AN,as well as the need for diligent enforcement of its regulations.Unless everyone working with ANmanufacturers,sellers,users,first responders,and re

3、gulatorsis more aware of the hazards of AN and diligently implements safety rules,then future accidents with AN will be inevitable.2 Copyright 2021 American Chemical Society.All rights reserved3TABLE OF CONTENTSChapter 1.Major explosive accidents involving ammonium nitrate.1.1 The Beirut disaster:ex

4、plosion of a significant quantity of ammonium nitrate.1.2 Historical review of ammonium nitrate explosive accidents.Figure 1.Accidents of ammonium nitrate around the globe.Figure 2.Distribution of AN accidents that happened during storage,transportation,or manufacturing/processing.Chapter 2.Ammonium

5、 nitrate synthesis,formulations,and related patents.2.1 How ammonium nitrate is made.Can it be made more stable?.2.2 Preventing misuse of ammonium nitrate-based fertilizers.Table 1.Safer ammonium nitrate formulations.2.3 Patents related to ammonium nitrate as fertilizers.Figure 3.Number of patent pu

6、blications yearly on ammonium nitrate fertilizers from the top four countries.Chapter 3.The explosive nature of ammonium nitrate.3.1 Proposed mechanisms of ammonium nitrate decomposition and explosion.3.2 Why ammonium nitrate explodes.Chapter 4.Hazards during the recovery phaseafter ammonium nitrate