Ammonia, anhydrous

Guidance on Safe Use

First-aid measures

First Aid for Eyes: Immediately flush eyes with copious amounts of tepid water for at least 15 minutes. If irritation, pain, swelling, excessive tearing, or light sensitivity persists, the patient should be seen in a health care facility and referral to an ophthalmologist considered.

First Aid for Skin: Immediately flush exposed area with copious amounts of tepid water for at least 15 minutes followed by washing area thoroughly with soap and water. The patient should be seen in a health care facility if irritation or pain persists.

First Aid for Inhalation: Move patient to fresh air. Monitor for respiratory distress. If cough or difficulty in breathing develops, evaluate for respiratory tract irritation, bronchitis, or pneumonitis. If trained to do so administer supplemental oxygen with assisted ventilation as required. Administer artificial respiration if patient is not breathing.

First Aid for Ingestion: Call a physician. If conscious, give the patient milk or water to drink immediately. Do not induce vomiting.

Caution: Clothing frozen to the skin should be thawed before being removed.

Fire-fighting measures

Extinguishing Media: Stopping the flow of gas rather than extinguishing the fire is usually the best procedure to follow when escaping gas is burning.

Small Fire:......................................... Dry chemical or CO2

Large Fire:......................................... Water spray, fog or foam

Special Fire Fighting Procedures:

Do not get water inside container.

Move container from fire area if you can do it without risk.

Apply cooling water to sides of containers that are exposed to flames until well after fire is out. Stay away from ends of tanks due to exploding potential when tanks are involved in a fire.

Isolate area until gas has dispersed.

Use water spray or foam to control vapour

Positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) should be used when there is a potential for inhalation of vapors and/or fumes.

Chemical protective clothing that is safe for use with ammonia involved in a fire should be worn.

Accidental release measures

Stop leak if you can do so without risk. Keep unnecessary people away, isolate hazard area and deny entry. Stay upwind, out of low areas, and

ventilate closed spaces before entering. Evaluate the affected area to determine whether to evacuate or shelter-in-place by taping windows and doors, shutting off outside air intakes (attic fans, etc.), and placing a wet towel or cloth over the face (if needed). With proper training, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and structural firefighter’s protective clothing used in conjunction with water spray will provide limited protection in outdoor

releases for short-term exposure. Fully encapsulating, vapor-protective clothing should be worn for spills and leaks with no fire. Use water spray or foam to control vapors. Mixing of water and liquid ammonia will increase vaporization rate. Do not put water on liquid ammonia unless more than 100 volumes of water are available for each volume of liquid ammonia.

Handling and storage

Use proper personal protective equipment when working with or around ammonia.

Skin protection is required for exposure to liquid, mist, and gas or vapour. Neoprene or rubber gauntlet-type gloves, ammonia resistant clothing (overalls, jacket, and boots) or vapor suit, as required.

Use chemical (indirectly vented) goggles when there is a potential for contact with liquid or mist. A full-face shield is recommended in addition to goggles for added protection.

Safety shower and eyewash fountain should be provided in the ammonia handling area.

Use dedicated containers - do not rinse

Transport information

Land transport (UN RTDG/ADR/RID)

UN number:

UN1005

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

Ammonia, anhydrous

Chemical name:

Ammonia, anhydrous

Language:

English

Labels:

Label 2.3: toxic substance.
Label 8: corrosive substance.

SpecialProvisions

Shipping

Remarks

Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

UN number:

UN 1005

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

AMMONIA, ANHYDROUS

Chemical name:

Anydrous ammonia

Labels:

FS: 2-03

Remarks

Air transport (UN RTDG/ICAO/IATA)

UN number:

Transport forbidden on passenger aircraft - cargo aircraft only

Shipping

Remarks

SpecialProvisions

Exposure controls / personal protection

Exposure should be limited using appropriate engineering controls (containment, LEV) and protective equipment (gloves, goggles/visor, protecitve clothing) as appropriate. Engineering controls should be maintained to keep ammonia concentrations within acceptable exposure levels, or respiratory protection will be required to reduce inhalation exposure.

Stability and reactivity

This is a stable material; hazardous polymerisation will not occur.

Decomposition: Hydrogen is released on heating above 454C. The decomposition temperature may be lowered to 300C by contact with certain metals such as nickel. At 690C or in the presence of an electric spark, ammonia decomposes into nitrogen and hydrogen gases, which may form a flammable mixture in the air.

Incompatibilities:

Ammonia has potentially explosive or violent reactions with interhalogens, strong oxidisers, nitric acid, fluorine and nitrogen oxide. Ammonia forms sensitive explosive mixtures with air and hydrocarbons, ethanol and silver nitrate and Chlorine. Explosive products are formed by the reaction

of ammonia with silver chloride, silver oxide, bromine, iodine, gold, mercury and tellurium halides.

Ammonia is incompatible or has potentially hazardous reactions with silver, acetaldehyde, acrolein, boron, halogens, perchlorate, chloric acid, chlorine monoxide, chlorites, nitrogen tetroxide, tin and sulphur.

Disposal considerations

Waste must be disposed of in line with local regulations and should not be discharged to surface water without prior treatment by STP.