ANHYDROUS

AMMONIA
 Anhydrous Ammonia
I. Identification
• Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) is used in making
fertilizer, plastics, dyes, textiles, detergents and
pesticides. At Lundy’s it is used as a refrigerant due
to its low boiling point.
• Anhydrous ammonia is a colorless, combustible gas
with explosive potential. The penetrating, pungent
odor can be detected at levels as low as 5 parts per
million. Both the vapor and the liquid are dangerous.
Contact with a low concentration of vapor can cause
eye inflammation, laryngitis, a feeling of suffocation
or shortness of breath and fluid in the lungs.
 Anhydrous Ammonia

• Exposure can also cause headache, loss

of sense of smell, nausea and vomiting.
• Repeated exposure can cause chronic
irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.
• Repeated exposure may also cause
bronchitis to develop with cough, phlegm
and/or shortness of breath.
 Anhydrous Ammonia
II. Properties
• Anhydrous Ammonia is one of the most water-
soluble of all gases, but it should not be confused
with aqueous ammonia, which is a 15 to 30
percent solution of ammonia in water.
• As a gas it is colorless and has a specific gravity
of 0.597 (air=1.0) at 25C under standard
atmospheric pressure. Generally ammonia has
good warning properties because of its
characteristic pungent and irritating odor.
• With rising temperature ammonia expands rapidly,
increasing the internal pressure in vessels and
pipes, etc. This must be considered in the design
and operation of ammonia systems.
 Anhydrous Ammonia
• Vapor Density – 0.569 @ 0C (32F)

• Boiling Point – 33C (-28F)

• Freezing Point – (-78C) (-108F)

• Vapor Pressure – 10 atm @ 25.7C

 Anhydrous Ammonia
• In refrigeration systems, ammonia is liquefied
under pressure. Liquid ammonia that is
accidentally released may aerosolize (i.e.,
small liquid droplets may be released along
with ammonia gas) and behave as a dense
gas, even though it is normally lighter than air
(i.e., it may travel along the ground instead of
immediately rising tin to the air). This behavior
may increase the potential for exposure of
workers and the public.
 Anhydrous Ammonia
• Although pure ammonia vapors are not
flammable at concentrations of less than
16%, they may be a fire and explosion
hazard at concentrations between 15 and
25%. Mixtures involving ammonia
contaminated with lubricating oil from the
system, however, may have a much
broader explosive range. A study
conducted to determine the influence of oil
on the flammability limits of ammonia found
that oil reduced the lower flammability limit
as low as 8%, depending on the type and
concentration of oil.
 Anhydrous Ammonia
III. Fire and Explosion
Fire: Ammonia gas has an explosive range of 16
to 25 percent by volume in air. Although it is
classified as non-flammable under HMIS
(Hazardous Materials Information System) and
the Transportation of Dangerous Good
Regulation, its flammability potential is only
slightly less than that of some gases that do
meet the official flammability criteria.
 Anhydrous Ammonia

Explosion: Contact of ammonia with

certain chemicals (especially halogens)—
including fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine,
mercury and silver oxide—can create
explosive compounds. Moist ammonia will
vigorously attack silver, copper, zinc and
many other alloys. Aluminum is attacked to
a lesser extent. Iron and steel are inert to
ammonia.
 Anhydrous Ammonia
IV. Workplace Exposure Limits
 OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit
(PEL) is 50 ppm averaged over an 8 hour work shift.
 NIOSH: The recommended exposure limit is 25 ppm
averaged over a 10 hour work shift and 35 ppm not to be
exceeded during any 15 minute work period. 300 ppm
IDLH.
 ACGIH: The recommended exposure limit is 25 ppm
averaged over an 8 hour work shift and 35 ppm as a STEL
(short term exposure limit).
 Odor threshold @ 17-20 ppm.

 Anhydrous ammonia is not listed as a carcinogen and has

not been tested on its ability to affect reproduction.
 Anhydrous Ammonia
VI. Hazard Class & ID
• UN ID# is UN1005-Anhydrous

HMIS Charts

ANHYDROUS AMMONIA

HEALTH 3

FLAMMABILITY 1

REACTIVITY 0

PERSONAL PROTECTION H
 Anhydrous Ammonia
• Under CERCLA, RQs of 100lbs or more must be
reported to NRP
• The material is subject to reporting requirements
of Section 313, Section 304, Section 312, Title III
of the 1986 and 40 CFR 372.
• EPCRA extremely hazardous substance, 40 CFR
355, Title III, Section 302- Ammonia, TPQ 500 lbs.
• Regulated under Clean Air Act 40CFR112(r),TQ
10,000 lbs.
• EPA Hazard Categories – Immediate: Yes;
Delayed: No; Fire: No; Sudden Release: Yes;
Reactive: No
 Anhydrous Ammonia
VI. Workplace Controls and Practices
• Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted
for a hazardous substance, ENGINEERING
CONTROLS are the most effective way of
reducing exposure. The best protection is to
enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust
ventilation at the site of chemical release.
Isolating operations can also be used reduce
exposure. Using respirators or protective
equipment is less effective than the controls
mentioned above, but is sometimes necessary.
 Anhydrous Ammonia

• In evaluating the controls present in your

workplace, consider: (1) how hazardous the
substance is, (2) how much of the substance is
released into the workplace and (3) whether
harmful skin or eye contact could occur.
Special controls should be in place for highly
toxic chemicals or when significant skin, eye,
or breathing exposures are possible.
 Anhydrous Ammonia
• Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce
hazardous exposures.

The following work practices are recommended:

• Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by

Ammonia should change into clean clothing

promptly.
• Contaminated work clothes should be laundered

by individuals who have been informed of the

hazards of exposure to Ammonia.
• Eye wash fountains should be provided in the

immediate work area for emergency use.

 Anhydrous Ammonia
• If there is possibility of skin exposure,
emergency shower facilities should be
provided.
• On skin contact with Ammonia, immediately
wash or shower to remove the chemical.
• Do not eat, smoke or drink where Ammonia is
handled, processed, or stored, since the
chemical can be swallowed. Wash hands
carefully before eating or smoking.
 Anhydrous Ammonia
VII. PPE
• Clothing
 Avoid skin contact with Ammonia. Wear

protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment

suppliers/manufacturers can provide
recommendations on the most protective
glove/clothing material for your operation
 All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear,

headgear) should be clean, available each day,

and put on before work.
 Safety equipment manufacturers recommend

Butyl/Neoprene or Viton/Neoprene as protective

materials.
 Anhydrous Ammonia
• Eye Protection
 Wear splash-proof chemical goggles and face
shield when working with liquid, unless full face
piece respiratory protection is worn.
 Wear gas-proof goggles and face shield when

working with gas, unless full face piece

respiratory protection is worn.
 Contact lenses should not be worn when

working with this substance.

 Anhydrous Ammonia

• Respiratory Protection

IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS

Such equipment should only be used if the
employer has a written program that takes into
account workplace conditions, requirements for
worker training, respirator fit testing and medical
exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134.
 Anhydrous Ammonia
• Respiratory Protection
 Where the potential exists for exposures over 25 ppm, use an
MSHA/NIOSH approved full face piece respirator with an
Ammonia vapor cartridge/canister. More protection is provided
by a powered-air purifying respirator.
 If while wearing a filter, cartridge or canister respirator, you can
smell, taste or otherwise detect Ammonia, or in the case of a full
face piece respirator you experience eye irritation, leave the
area immediately. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face
seal is still good. If it is, replace the filter, cartridge, or canister.
If the seal is no longer good, you may need a new respirator.
 Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your workplace.
You may need a combination of filters, prefilters, cartridges, or
canisters, to protect against different forms of a chemical (such
as a vapor or mist) or against a mixture of chemicals.
 Anhydrous Ammonia
 Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a
MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a
full face piece operated in a pressure-demand or other
positive-pressure mode. For increased protection use in
combination with auxiliary self-contained breathing
apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other
positive pressure mode.
 Exposure to 300 ppm is immediately dangerous to life

and health (IDLH). If the possibility of exposure above

300 ppm exists, use MSHA/NIOSH approved self-
contained breathing apparatus with a full face piece in a
pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode.
 Anhydrous Ammonia
VIII. Spills and Emergencies
If liquid Ammonia is spilled or leaked or gaseous
Ammonia is leaked, take the following steps:
• Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment
from area of spill or leak until clean-up is complete
• Remove all ignition sources
• Ventilate area of spill or leak
• Stop the flow of gas. If the source of the leak is a
cylinder and the leak cannot be stopped in place,
remove the leaking cylinder to a safe place in the open
air, and repair the leak or allow the cylinder to empty.
 Anhydrous Ammonia
• For small liquid spills, neutralize with Hydrochloric
Acid. Wipe with mop or use water aspirator.
Drain into sewer with sufficient water.
• It may be necessary to contain and dispose of
Ammonia as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact
the Department of Environmental Management
(DEM) and notify your supervisor.
• If employees are required to clean up spills, they
must be properly trained and equipped. OSHA
1910.120(q) may be applicable.
 Anhydrous Ammonia
IX. First Aid
• Eye Contact
 Immediately flush with large amounts of water. Continue
without stopping for at least 30 minutes, occasionally lifting
upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately.
• Skin Contact
 Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash
area with large amounts of water. Seek medical attention
immediately.
• Breathing
 Remove person from exposure.
 Begin rescue breathing if breathing has stopped and CPR if
heart action has stopped.
 Transfer promptly to a medical facility.
 Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours
after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be
delayed.
THE END