What fumes are generated when ANFO is detonated?

Background on fumes from blasting For every kilogram of ANFO that is detonated approximately 1,000 litres of gas are produced. These reaction gases principally consist of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N) and water vapour (H2O).

Does ammonium nitrate have an odor?

Ammonium nitrate is a crystal salt consisting of ammonia and nitric acid. It is odorless and is either colorless or white. It is typically used a fertilizer by providing nitrogen to plants.

What happens if you inhale ammonium nitrate?

What are the potential hazards? Under normal handling conditions, ammonium nitrate is not harmful. However, inhalation of high concentrations of ammonium nitrate dust can cause respiratory tract irritation. Symptoms may include: coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, or even suffocation.

Does explosions produce carbon dioxide?

A significant amount of carbon dioxide CO2, i.e. the final detonation process product, occurs in explosives’ detonation products (particularly in the case of: Dynamite 1, Dynamite 2, Dynamite 3 and Dynamite 4).

What are the dangers of explosives?

An explosion produces:

• heat which sets fire to combustible material in its path.
• air blast that can move equipment and damage ventilation systems.
• toxic gases.
• an oxygen deficiency.

Do nitrates smell?

Nitrate and nitrite are molecules that are part of the nitrogen cycle. These molecules are forms of nitrogen, which are in soil and water. Nitrate and/or nitrite can collect in well water and when the levels are high, it can make people sick. You can’t taste or smell nitrate and nitrite.

What is a ammonia smell?

Ammonia (NH3) is a colorless gas that is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen. It has a strong odor that smells like urine or sweat. Ammonia occurs naturally in water, soil, and the air, and is also found naturally in plants, animals, and the human body.

Can I buy ammonium nitrate?

You can buy ammonium nitrate as a pure chemical or you can collect it from instant cold packs or some fertilizers.

Which gas is found after explosion in mines?

White damp, or carbon monoxide (CO), is a particularly toxic gas; as little as 0.1 percent can cause death within a few minutes. It is a product of the incomplete combustion of carbon and is formed in coal mines chiefly by the oxidation of coal, particularly in those mines where spontaneous combustion occurs.

Which gas causes explosion in coal mines?

Methane explosions occur in mines when a buildup of methane gas, a byproduct of coal, comes into contact with a heat source, and there is not enough air to dilute the gas to levels below its explosion point, said Yi Luo, an associate professor of mining engineering at West Virginia University.

What does an ANFO bomb smell like?

What smell does ANFO present? A telltale sign of an ANFO bomb, for instance, are its signature residues and the lingering smell of ammonia following a blast. This helps law enforcement authorities determine the cause of the blast, but, because the odor is emitted after the blast, it does little to prevent such an attack.

What is the chemical composition of ANFO?

In an ideal stoichiometrically balanced reaction, ANFO is composed of about 94.3\% AN and 5.7\% FO by weight. In practice, a slight excess of fuel oil is added, as underdosing results in reduced performance while overdosing merely results in more post-blast fumes.

What is the chemistry of ANFO detonation?

The chemistry of ANFO detonation is the reaction of ammonium nitrate with a long-chain alkane (C nH 2n+2) to form nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water.

What is heavy ANFO?

What is heavy ANFO? Heavy ANFO is a blend of ANFO and Emulsion, which is made to increase the bulk density of normal ANFO, with the ability to be loaded into partial wet holes. By using these blends you increase the density of ANFO, thereby increasing the energy in the borehole.