Influence of the moisture on fumes derived from the ANFO detonation

Andrzej Biessikirski, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management, AGH University of Krakow, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, PolandFollow
Mateusz Pytlik, Conformity Assessment Body, Central Mining Institute – National Research Institute, Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland,
Michał Dworzak, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management, AGH University of Krakow, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Michał Twardosz, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management, AGH University of Krakow, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Mariusz Wądrzyk, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Krakow, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Rafał Janus, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Krakow, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland

Author ORCID Identifier

Andrzej Biessikirski: 0000-0002-2023-6454

Mateusz Pytlik: 0000-0001-6659-2406

Michał Dworzak: 0000-0002-6356-3228

Michał Twardosz: 0000-0003-1836-8180

Mariusz Wądrzyk: 0000-0002-6452-2276

Rafał Janus: 0000-0001-9143-8670

Abstract

ANFO is one of the most commonly used explosives in open-pit mining, usually produced by mixing systems on the blast site. One of the problems usually not considered is the moisture”s influence on the stored ammonium nitrate(V). The influence of moisture on fumes and the detonation process has been investigated by placing ammonium nitrate(V) prills in the climatic chamber. In the investigation, the influence was evaluated for ANFO samples which were produced based on the two types of fuel oils. It was concluded that the 3.0% moisture level resulted in the lowest NOx content in both case studies. Further increased moisture resulted in blending problems (water absorption instead of fuel oils). An additional evaluation was made to stimulate the influence of wetted boreholes. The data showed that the equivalent mass of water present in the borehole would generate more fumes compared with the explosive produced from wetted ammonium nitrate(V) prill. Moreover, it was established that the second type of fuel oil can be applied as a fuel component, especially in the winter season.

Keywords: explosives, ANFO, moisture, fumes, ammonium nitrate(V)

Recommended Citation

Biessikirski, Andrzej; Pytlik, Mateusz; Dworzak, Michał; Twardosz, Michał; Wądrzyk, Mariusz; and Janus, Rafał (2024) "Influence of the moisture on fumes derived from the ANFO detonation," Journal of Sustainable Mining: Vol. 23 : Iss. 4 , Article 2.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.46873/2300-3960.1427