Nitram -- Ammonium Nitrate
Material Safety Data Sheet Number 250
Issue Date: January 11, 1996
1. Product and Company Information:
Ammonium Nitrate, 34% Nitrogen CAS #006484-52-2 UN # 1942 Class 5.1
Company Identification
Nitram, Inc. 5321 Hartford Street Tampa, FL 33619 Emergency
Telephone:(Chemtrec: 1-800-424-9300) 24 Hr. Information
Telephone(1-813-626-2181)
2. Composition:
Ammonium Nitrate(NH4NO3) 97.1% Cas # 6484-52-2
Magnesium Nitrate Mg(NO3)2 1.6% Cas # 10213-15-7
Inert Ingredients 1.3%
(See section 8 of this MSDS for exposure guidelines)
3. Hazards Identification:
Emergency Overview
White to clear prills, odorless. Possible irritant to eyes and skin.
Ammonium Nitrate is classified as an oxidizer yet has a negligible fire
hazard when exposed to heat or flame. Product can present a dangerous
explosive hazard, with heat or flame, under confined conditions, or if
contaminated with organics or certin metals.
Potential Health Hazards:
INHALATION: Finely divided dust can cause acute irritation of the
respiratory tract, such as sore throat, coughing, and bronchial congestion.
Prolonged exposure can cause allergic reactions.
SKIN CONTACT: May cause irritating redness, repeated or prolonged exposure
may result in dermatitis.
EYE CONTACT: As with any salt, can result in irritation or redness.
Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause conjunctivitis.
INGESTION: Ingestion may cause mild gastric irritation, nausea and
faintness. Repeated or prolonged ingestion may cause anemia,
methemoglobinemia and nephritis, with exagerated symptons in infants.
4. First Aid:
INHALATION-Remove from exposure into fresh air. Perform artificial
respiration, if not breathing. Keep person warm and get medical help at
once.
SKIN-Remove contaminated clothing and flood affected area with water. Wash
with mild detergent of soap and rinse with large amounts of water. Get
medical help at once.
EYES-Flush eyes with large amounts of water or normal saline solution until
all evidence of material is removed. Obtain medical attention at once.
INGESTION-Give large amounts of milk. Do not give anything by mouth if
person is unconscious or unable to swallow. Obtain medical attention at
once.
5. Fire Fighting Measures:
OXIDIZER: [ Explosion hazard if confined ]
Use large quantities of water. Use coarse spray or stream, do not use mist
or steam. Do not use carbon dioxide, halon or dry chemical extinguisher.
If material is contained do not cover or restrict fire in any way. Cool
container with large volumes of water. Do not attempt to move vehicles or
containers. If material is in rail car or tank truck, isolate for at least
1/2 mile radius. (1996 Emergency Response Guidebook Guide 140)
6. Accidental Release Measures:
Do not walk or run equipment through spilled material.
Clean up solid spills using mechanical means. If uncontaminated return to
process or use as fertilizer. Do not wash down contaminated area or allow
solids to come in contact with surface or ground waters.
Contaminated material must be disposed of in accordance with local, state
and federal guidelines.
7. Handling and Storage
Store materials in non combustible, sprinkler controlled, well ventilated,
buildings. Keep storage areas clean and free from contamination. Do not
weld or cut on containers holding Ammonium Nitrate are in the vicinity of
stored Ammonium Nitrate.
Store bagged material in well ventilated areas keeping the stack at least
30 inches from the wall and 36 inches from the roof. Allow passages and
ventilation between stacks. Do not weld or cut inside a building containing
ammonium nitrate. (NFPA Code 490].
8. Exposure Control & Personal Protective Equipment
Appropriate engineering controls, such as ventilation and dust controls,
should be installed to reduce dust and confinement of materials.
RESPIRATORY In areas where dust will be generated respirators are required.
They must meet NIOSH and MSHA standards. Under normal conditions, dust and
mist respirators must be equipped with efficient particulate filters. Dust
loading in the work area dictates the level of protection required.
CLOTHING Under normal conditions cotton work clothing w/long selves is
sufficient. Dust loading in the work area dictates the level of protection
required
EYE PROTECTION Under normal conditions safety glasses and/or chemical
goggles are acceptable.
EXPOSURE GUIDELINES: OSHA and ACGIH have not established exposure limits
for Ammonium Nitrate or Magnesium Nitrate. Normal precautions should be
taken when exposed to dust generated by these materials.
GLOVES Neoprene chemical resistant work gloves are necessary to prevent
contact with the skin
9. Physical & Chemical Properties:
Appearance White to clear prills
Odor None
Odor threshold level Unknown
Physical state Solid, Prills
pH 5.4
Vapor pressure N/A
Vapor density N/A
Melting point 338F
Boiling point 410F (Decomposes)
Solubility in water 118% @ 0 C
Solubility(other Acetone, Ammonia & Methanol
than water):
Specific gravity 1.7 (water=1)
Evaporation rate N/A
Viscosity N/A
Volatility N/A
10. Stability and Reactivity:
Ammonium Nitrate is capable of undergoing detonation if heated under
confinement, or is subjected to very strong shocks. Organic oxidizable
matter can sensitize the material into a more readily explosive state.
Ammonium Nitrate is incompatible with most inorganic and organic acids,
strong alkalis, chloride salts, metals (such as copper, aluminum, zinc,
magnesium, potassium etc.), organic fuels and reducing agents. Thermal
decomposition is normally rapid with the release of toxic and corrosive
fumes of ammonia, oxides of nitrogen and nitric acid.
Hazardous polymerization will not occur.
11. Toxicological Information:
ORAL: 2217 mg/Kg oral-rat LD50
CARCINOGEN STATUS: None
LOCAL EFFECTS:inhalation, skin, eye.
ACUTE TOXIC LEVEL: Moderately toxic by ingestion
TARGET EFFECTS: Poisoning may affect the blood.
12. Ecological Information:
Solid Ammonium Nitrate is widely used as a fertilizer material. There have
been reports of excessive nitrates in groundwater resulting from its use as
a fertilizer.
Strong Ammonium Nitrate solutions can contaminate surface and groundwater.
Harm to vegetation and aquatic life can occur. Vegetation kills may result
from excess runoff during clean up or fire fighting.
13. Disposal Considerations:
Where possible the material should be picked up dry and stored in secure
waterproof containers. All containers must be properly labeled and
transported in accordance with DOT regulations.
Solid ammonium nitrate is classified as a characteristic waste (Oxidizer)
by RCRA and must be handled as such for disposal.. If material is clean it
may be returned to process or used as a fertilizer. Contaminated or waste
material must be disposed of in accordance with local, state and federal
guidelines.
Ammonium Nitrate solution has recently been delisted from the toxic release
inventory under section 313 of SARA Title III. Water soluble Nitrate salts
have been added to the list of reportable materials.
14. Transportation
Bags, shipping containers must carry the proper placard or label: Ammonium
Nitrate Fertilizer, 34% N UN # 1942 Class 5.1
15. Regulatory information:
RCRA: Not specifically listed but oxidizers are characteristic waste under
this regulation.
CERCLA Not Listed
SARA EHS Not Listed
SARA Title III-
TRI Not Listed
(Covered in Nitrate Compounds Catagory)
CAA Not Listed
29CFR SUBPART Z Not Listed
NIOSH Not Listed
16. Other Information:
As long as the product is stored in the original bag or container all
labels and placards must be in place. If the material is repackaged the new
container must be properly labeled, in accordance with OSHA, DOT and any
other applicable regulation.
NFPA Rating:(Scale 0-4) Health=1 FIRE=0 REACTIVITY=3
HMIS Rating:(Scale 0-4) Health=2 Fire=0 REACTIVITY=3
CERCLA Rating(scale 0-3) Health=2 Fire=0 Reactivity=3 Persistence=0
DISCLAIMER: Nitram Inc., believes that the information contained in this
material safety data sheet is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of
the date indicated. However, it makes no warranty, expressed or implied, as
to either the accuracy of the information or the properties, fitness or
safety of the chemical identified in section 1 and assumes no liability or
responsibility in connection with the information contained herein or as a
result of the use of this MSDS. This MSDS applies only to the chemical(s)
described and may not be valid if the chemical is altered, combined with
another substance, mishandled or misapplied, or subjected to physical or
chemical processes. Each company or person using or distributing this MSDS
is responsible for insuring its accuracy, applicability, and suitability at
the time and under the circumstances used or distributed.