Thermodynamics Research Center / ThermoML | Thermochimica Acta

ABSTRACT

Ammonium nitrate (AN) has proven to be an unstable and hazardous component of mineral fertilizers. In order to analyze the influence of various potassium salts on thermal properties of ammonium nitrate, differential thermal analysis coupled with thermogravimetry and mass spectrometry was used. Each potassium salt was mixed with AN to create samples with AN:salt mass ratios of 4:1, 9:1 and 49:1. It was concluded that an addition of potassium influences phase transitions of AN. Depending on the salt used, an exothermic decomposition of AN was either accelerated (potassium chloride) or inhibited to the varying degree. Carbonate salts and potassium metabisulfite were too reactive to be used in a fertilizer production, while nitrate, sulphate and both phosphates are considered to be appropriate additives and could be used in a multicomponent fertilizer production.