Ammonium Nitrate
Recent news on ammonium nitrate highlights its involvement in a series of security incidents and regulatory updates in India.
Explosives and Terrorism Links.
- Ammonium nitrate was suspected in the recent blast near the Red Fort, Delhi, with forensic authorities finding traces and relating it to explosives more powerful than ammonium nitrate alone.
- Around 2,900 kg of ammonium nitrate was seized from a terror module in Faridabad, suspected for use in bomb making by a terror cell linked with Jammu & Kashmir.
- The investigations suggest ammonium nitrate has become the "new RDX" due to its availability and power, causing concern about its use as a terror weapon.
About Ammonium Nitrate
- Chemical Formula: NH4NO3NH
- Appearance: Odorless, white crystalline solid or granules
- Fertilizer: It is an important source of nitrogen (approx. 34% nitrogen content), providing plants with both readily available nitrate (NO3−NO sub 3 raised to the negative power NO−3) and slow-release ammonium (NH4+NH sub 4 raised to the positive powerNH+4) forms.
- Explosives: It is the main ingredient in many explosive mixtures, notably ANFO (ammonium nitrate/fuel oil), which accounts for a large percentage of explosives used in mining, quarrying, and civil construction due to its low cost and relative safety when handled correctly.
- Other Uses: Its dissolution in water is an endothermic process (absorbs heat), making it a key ingredient in some instant cold packs.
Regulatory Updates
- The Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry introduced the Ammonium Nitrate (Amendment) Rules, 2025, which extend the validity and renewal period of licenses from 5 to 10 years, aiming to ease business processes while ensuring control over its handling.
- Ammonium nitrate is tightly regulated in India, especially mixtures with more than 45% ammonium nitrate, classified as explosives to curb misuse while enabling legitimate industrial use.
Scientific and Safety Notes
- Ammonium nitrate acts as a strong oxidizer and can cause powerful detonations when combined with fuel oil (ANFO), releasing energy as a supersonic shock wave, making it dangerous if mishandled or used maliciously.
- Safety regulations for maritime transport of ammonium nitrate have been updated internationally with new IMO amendments focusing on emergency measures and firefighting.
In summary, ammonium nitrate remains a dual-use chemical of high industrial importance and significant security risk, with recent incidents prompting heightened vigilance and regulatory reforms in India.
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