Forums Forums Wirral Information Ask - Wiki Wirral Exploding Fertiliser?

I have been reading a discussion regarding the 'salt piles'? on the East Float on the Dock Road. Some people believe that the substance is not salt but is toxic, dangerous to the environment and can be used to make bombs.

Here is some copy and pasted info:

Ammonium Nitrate classified as an explosive and assigned to
Class 1 of the UN classification system. This would be subject to
controls under the Explosives Act 1875;
●
storage of ammonium nitrate fertilisers in quantities below 1
tonne, provided good housekeeping standards and sensible
separation from incompatible materials are maintained. For
fertilisers that contain 28% or less nitrogen (see the label or other
hazard information) this limit is raised to 50 tonnes.
PROPERTIES AND HAZARDS
Ammonium nitrate has a melting point of 170C and decomposes
above 210C. It is not in itself combustible but, as it is an oxidising
agent, it can assist other materials to burn, even if air is excluded.
Ammonium nitrate will not explode due to the friction and impact
found in normal handling, but it can be detonated under heat and
confinement or severe shock. For example, in a fire, pools of molten
ammonium nitrate may be formed and if the molten mass becomes
confined (eg in drains, pipes, plant or machinery) it could explode,
particularly if it becomes contaminated.
In a fire, all types of ammonium nitrate may melt and decompose with
the release of toxic fumes (mainly oxides of nitrogen) which may be
yellow or brown. Most types do not continue to decompose once the fire
has been extinguished. However, when some types of ammonium nitrate
fertilisers (cigar burners) are heated they undergo a smouldering (self-
sustaining) decomposition that can spread throughout the mass to give
substantial toxic fumes, even when the initial heat source is removed.
2
The risk of fire or explosion is greatly increased if ammonium nitrate is
mixed with combustible or incompatible materials, such as powdered
metals, alkali metals, urea, chromium or copper salts, organic and
carbonaceous materials, sulphur, nitrites, alkalis, acids, chlorates and
reducing agents (consult data sheets to establish if a substance has
reducing properties).

Does anybody know for sure what this white powder mountain is??

(The owner of the picture has specified in her post that people can share it)

Read this on Facebook very interesting

It is rather..... I can't comment. I know nothing about chemicals/ storage etc.

me neither but it's next to the Bronington in the shead so the pics say

Ammonium nitrate is very soluble in water so unlikely
to be stored outdoors otherwise the rain would dissolve
it and it would be washed away. It is also relatively
expensive as it has to be manufactured.

Rock salt is relatively cheap and is mined ready made,
so it is sometimes stored outdoors where the loss due
to rain is not so significant.

I think this stuff is imported salt (Common salt)
brought in when there was a shortage in a recent bad
winter to supplement our own rock salt from the mine
in Winsford Cheshire.

Well, whatever it is, I can tell you that vast quantities of ammonium nitrate are unloaded from ships just adjacent to the new Riverside Park.

It goes to Ince where there is a massive fertiliser plant.

If you want to see what Ammonium nitrate is capable of, have a read of this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_nitrate_disasters

GrowHow (formerly Kemira) at Ince MANUFACTURE ammonium nitrate which is a very important fertilizer

For those interested in the chemistry :-

http://adamparr.wordpress.com/2013/...how-uk-formerly-kemira-a-summary-part-1/

http://adamparr.wordpress.com/2013/...how-uk-formerly-kemira-a-summary-part-2/

Perfectly good chemical processes. Yes, the end product does have potential explosive properties but there are hazards associated with many chemicals. GrowHow are VERY careful to whom they sell their material - you or I cannot simply go and buy it.

The material on Wallasey docks is ordinary SALT (sodium chloride), mainly for road treatment

Snod

It's not there anymore from what I can see. In the same area noticed that Plymouth has what looks like a salvage tug berthed in front of her. Must be readying for the off.

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/home/

The tug has been there all week it's a platform vessel according to AIS, registered in Malta, been keeping an eye on it via AIS, I thought Nitrates had none flammable chemicals in it since the IRA used to nick the stuff.

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