1. CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION
PRODUCT IDENTIFIER: Anhydrous Ammonia
GENERAL USE: Fertilizer, refrigerant gas, manufacture of plastics,
explosives, pesticides, detergents, and other chemicals.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Anhydrous ammonia is a colorless, highly irritating gas with a
pungent, suffocating odor.
MANUFACTURER: EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Dakota Gasification Company Dakota Gasification (701) 873-6600
420 County Road 26 CHEMTREC (800) 424-9300
Beulah, North Dakota 58523-9400
(701) 873-6677
2. COMPOSITION / INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS WT. % CAS Registry #
Ammonia 99.00-99.6 7664-41-7
Ammonium Hydroxide 0.4-1.0 1336-21-6
OSHA HAZARDOUS COMPONENTS (29 CFR 1910.1200):
EXPOSURE LIMITS 8 hrs. TWA (ppm)
OSHA PEL ACGIH TLV
Ammonia 50 ppm 25 ppm
3. HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION / EMERGENCY OVERVIEW:
At room temperature, anhydrous ammonia is a colorless, highly irritating gas with a pungent,
suffocating odor. It is lighter than air and is flammable at high concentrations and
temperatures. It is easily compressed and forms a clear, colorless liquid under pressure.
Inhalation of ammonia can be fatal. Ammonia's odor threshold is sufficiently low to acutely
provide adequate warning of its presence. However, ammonia causes olfactory fatigue(loss of
sense of smell) or adaptation, making its presence difficult to detect when exposure is
prolonged. Inhalation of vapors can cause severe irritation of the respiratory system and
pulmonary edema. Combustible when mixtures of ammonia and air are united under
favorable conditions.
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POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS:
EYE CONTACT: Low concentrations of 20-50 ppm may produce eye irritation after five
minutes. High concentrations of gas or concentrated ammonium
hydroxide, (ammonia dissolved in water), may cause swelling and
sloughing of surface cells. High ammonia concentrations can destroy
tissues of the eyes causing permanent blindness. Contact with liquid
can produce severe frostbite or freezing.
SKIN CONTACT: Severe tissue damage to the skin can occur from exposure to liquids
if contact is prolonged (more than a few minutes). Dilute aqueous
solutions (less than 5%) seldom cause serious burns, but are
moderately irritating. Liquids are corrosive to body tissue. Exposure
to concentrated vapor or solution can cause stinging pain, redness of
the skin, and blisters, especially on moist skin areas. Contact with
liquefied ammonia can cause severe frost bite burns resulting in
deep ulcerations.
INHALATION: Ammonia is extremely destructive to mucous membrane tissue of the
upper respiratory tract. Inhalation of elevated concentrations may be
fatal. Inhalation may cause inflammation and accumulation of fluid in
the lungs.
INGESTION: Swallowing ammonium hydroxide, (ammonia dissolved in water),
causes immediate burning in the mouth and throat. Concentrated
solutions cause severe pain in the mouth, chest, and abdomen;
swallowing difficulty; drooling; and vomiting. Acute burns to the
esophagus and perforation of the esophagus or stomach may occur.
4. FIRST AID MEASURES
EYES: Remove victim from the source of contamination and take to nearest eye
wash or shower. Immediately wipe away any excess chemical very
gently and quickly. Wash the affected eye or eyes under slowly running
water for 15 minutes or longer, making sure the eyelids are held wide
apart and moved slowly in all directions.
SKIN: Remove victim from source of contamination and take immediately to
nearest shower or source of clean water. Wash victim down taking care
to protect eyes. Do not remove contaminated clothing until flushing has
begun and the skin has warmed up. Wash until the feeling of stickiness
or soapiness disappears. This may take an hour or more.
INHALATION: Remove the victim from the contaminated area while protecting yourself.
Initiate artificial respiration and supply oxygen if needed. Keep victim
warm and at rest. Seek medical attention, pulmonary injury may
continue to evolve over 18 to 24 hours. If patient is conscious, the
irritation of the throat may be relieved by water in the mouth. Seek
medical attention immediately.
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FIRST AID MEASURES CONTINUED
INGESTION: Loosen tight clothing around the neck and waist. Flush mouth several
times with cold water and spit out. Give victim 1 to 2 cups of milk. Do
not induce vomiting. Do not give oils or attempt to neutralize with an
acid. Do not give sodium bicarbonate or carbonated drinks. If vomiting
does occur, hold head down below hip level to prevent vomit from
entering lungs. If person is unconscious, do not give anything by mouth.
NOTES TO After inhalation, watch for delayed symptoms of ammonia exposure
PHYSICIAN: such as pulmonary edema. Treat symptomatically, administering
analgesics and corticosteroids as necessary. Surgical intervention may
be needed to maintain an airway. Watch for chemical pneumonitis.
5. FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES
FLASH POINT: Difficult to ignite.
1204OF
AUTO-IGNITION TEMPERATURE:
FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARDS: See explosive limits.
UPPER EXPLOSIVE / FIRE LIMITS: 25%
LOWER EXPLOSIVE / FIRE LIMITS: 16%
EXTINGUISHING MEDIA: Water Fog, Dry Chemical or CO2
SPECIAL FIRE FIGHTING DO NOT extinguish burning gas if flow
PROCEDURES: cannot be shut off immediately. Apply
cooling water to sides of containers that are
exposed to flames until well after fire is out.
Stay away from ends of tanks. High
concentrations of ammonia gas in air can
cause an EXPLOSION. Wear full protective
clothing and a self contained breathing
apparatus. Note that many materials,
particularly plastics, become brittle on contact
with liquid ammonia. For a serious leak, use
fire hose with fog nozzle and plenty of water
to absorb the ammonia fumes. Do not direct
water streams into pools of liquid ammonia
because this will increase the formation of
ammonia vapors. The presence of oil or
other combustible materials increases the fire
hazard.
6. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
SPILL OR LEAK PROCEDURES: Evacuate downwind area when significant release
occurs. Use self-contained breathing apparatus. Stop
source of leak when safe to do so. Major spills should
be contained and allowed to evaporate slowly. Diking
will contain the liquid and allow it to stabilize. If small
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spill, either allow to vaporize or absorb the vapor in
water. If large spill, spray the vapor cloud with water or
apply chemical foam to pool of liquid to reduce fire and
vapor hazard. Do not apply water or foam directly on
leak or spill. ONLY small leaks can be searched for
with HCL solution, chlorine gas, or SO2 gas (white
cloud is produced) by properly trained personnel.
Ammonia can explode or flame at 16% - 25%
concentrations in air.
SMALL SPILL: Flush area with flooding amounts of water. First
isolate 500 feet in all directions. Then protect persons
0.1 miles downwind during the day, 0.6 at night
LARGE SPILL: First isolate 500 feet in all directions. Then protect
persons 0.3 downwind during the day, 2.2 miles
downwind at night.
NEUTRALIZING CHEMICAL: Use water spray to reduce vapors. Never apply water
to a liquid ammonia leak or spill, it will cause extreme
gassing creating more significant problems. .
Neutralizing with acid is not recommended.
7. HANDLING AND STORAGE
STORAGE TEMPERATURE: See below.
SHELF LIFE: Indefinite.
SPECIAL SENSITIVITY: None known.
HANDLING / STORAGE Storage temperature must be such that the rated
PRECAUTIONS: pressure of the container does not exceed vapor
pressures that equal (126 psi at 68OF) or (197 psi
at 95OF). Appropriate personal protective gear
should be available to personnel handling or
transferring product. Protect containers from
corrosion and mechanical damage. Separate
from other chemicals, particularly oxidizing
gases, such as chlorine, bromine, iodine, acids
and metallic/elemental mercury.
8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS / PERSONAL PROTECTION
RECOMMENDED WORK / HYGIENE Personal protective equipment required under
PROCEDURES: normal work conditions; maintenance and repair;
spill and clean-up. Emergency showers and
eye-wash units should be readily available. In
field and mobile operations, at least 5 gallons of
water should be available.
EYE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS: Wear chemical goggles and face shield unless
protected by a full face respirator.
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HAND PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS: Butyl rubber.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING Impervious clothing where contact with liquid is
REQUIREMENTS: possible.
RESPIRATORY REQUIREMENTS: Chemical cartridge respirator with appropriate
NH3 cartridge(s):
Upper Limit: 100 ppm
Full face chemical cartridge respirator with
appropriate NH3 cartridge(s):
Upper Limit: 300 ppm
Air-purifying full face respirator (gas mask) with
appropriate NH3 canister:
Upper Limit: 500 ppm
Self-contained breathing apparatus with full
facepiece in positive pressure mode or full
facepiece positive pressure supplies air
respirator with auxiliary self-contained air
supplied.
Upper Limit - greater than 1000 PPM or
unknown concentration.
Note: Higher concentrations will require
use of chemical protective clothing.
9. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
APPEARANCE: Colorless liquid or gas.
ODOR: Strong, penetrating, pungent odor. Reported odor thresholds
in humans range from 1-50 ppm.
PHYSICAL STATE: At room temperature and atmospheric pressure, ammonia is
a pungent colorless gas. It may be compressed and cooled
to a colorless liquid.
pH: 10.6-11.6 Ammonia is strongly alkaline when dissolved in
water.
o
VAPOR DENSITY: 0.6 at 32 F (air = 1)
o
MELTING POINT: -108 F (at one atmosphere)
BOILING POINT: -28oF (at one atmosphere)
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 0.5970 (of the gas at 32oF and 1atm) (air = 1)
EVAPORATION RATE: Rapid at ambient temperatures (butyl acetate = 1).
PERCENT VOLATILES: 100
BULK DENSITY: 38.00 lb/ft3 liquid at 20oF
SOLUBILITY IN WATER: 510 g/kg
SOLVENT SOLUBILITY: Soluble in water, alcohol, chloroform, or ether.
MOLECULAR WEIGHT: 17.031
CHEMICAL FORMULA: NH3
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10. STABILITY AND REACTIVITY
INSTABILITY CONDITIONS: Stable.
INCOMPATIBILITIES: Forms explosive compounds with mercury, halogens,
hypochlorites, iodine, and amides. Corrosive to copper,
brass, silver, zinc, and galvanized steel. Certain high
tensile strength steels have developed stress-corrosion
cracking in ammonia contaminated with small quantities
of air. Forms explosive products when in contact with
calcium, hypochlorites bleaches, halogens, gold,
mercury, and silver. Heat is generated when ammonia
is dissolved in water, and a harmful visible vapor cloud
is typically produced from contact with water.
DECOMPOSITION The products of combustion are mainly nitrogen and
PRODUCTS: water but small traces of ammonium nitrate, nitrogen
dioxide are also found. Ammonia begins to dissociate
releasing hydrogen and nitrogen when heated to
approximately 850oF at atmospheric pressure.
HAZARDOUS Will not occur.
POLYMERIZATION:
11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
ROUTES OF ENTRY:
Exposure of the skin and eyes or the respiratory
system may occur, but the chief effect of
ammonia is local irritation due to its alkalinity
when dissolved in body fluids.
EFFECTS OF ACUTE EXPOSURE: Acute effects occur because of the caustic nature
of concentrated solutions, the irritant effects of
ammonia gas, and the extreme cooling that
arises on contact with liquid ammonia.
SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE: Burning sensation, coughing, wheezing,
laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache,
nausea, and vomiting.
EYE EFFECTS: Eye tearing - 150-200 ppm
Severe irritation - 400-700 ppm
5000-6000 ppm for 30-120 min administered to
guinea pigs has been reported to cause
blindness.
Eye burns - Seriousness of eye burns are
concentration dependent.
Eye burns may result in such effects as
opacification, vascularization, ulceration, or
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perforation.
SKIN EFFECTS: Severe tissue damage to the skin can occur from
exposure to liquids if contact is prolonged (more
than a few minutes). Skin contact with liquid
ammonia may result in cold burns, usually
without blistering or charring. Exposure to
concentrated vapor or solution can also cause
caustic burns resulting in stinging pain, redness
of the skin, and blisters. Deep ulcerations may
result.
ACUTE ORAL EFFECTS: Swallowing ammonium hydroxide causes
immediate burning in the mouth and throat.
Concentrated solutions cause severe pain in the
mouth, chest, and abdomen; swallowing difficulty;
drooling; and vomiting. Acute burns to the
esophagus and perforation of the esophagus or
stomach may result. LD50 of 350 mg/kg body
weight has been reported for rats.
ACUTE INHALATION EFFECTS: Even fairly low concentrations of ammonia
produce rapid onset of eye, nose, and throat
irritation; coughing; and narrowing of the bronchi.
More severe clinical signs include immediate
narrowing of the throat and swelling, causing
upper airway obstruction. Accumulation of fluid
in the lungs can also occur. LC50- Inhalation,
mouse-4230 ppm/1hr.
Rat: LC50 for 60 min, 11,590 ppm. The lowest
concentration known to be lethal in humans
exposed for 5 minutes via inhalation is 5,000
ppm.
CHRONIC EFFECTS/ Ammonia is not a cumulative metabolic poison;
CARCINOGENICITY: Ammonium ions are actually important
constituents of living systems. Long-term contact
with more dilute ammonia solutions that are not
immediately irritanting may produce damage to
the skin as a result of dissolving protective fats.
It is possible that repeated exposure to irritant
levels insufficient to cause severe immediate
symptoms, may give rise to progressive
impairment of lung function.
12. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
If released to surface water, ammonia volatilizes to the atmosphere. The rate of
volatilization of ammonia from water will increase with increasing pH and temperature.
Atmospheric ammonia can be readily removed from the air by rain or snow washout. It can
dissolve in clouds or fog. In surface water, groundwater, or sediment, ammonia can
undergo sequential transformation by processes in the nitrogen cycle eventually producing
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elemental nitrogen. In soil, ammonia can serve as a nutrient source which can be taken up
by plants and other organisms.
Ammonia in soil can be rapidly transformed to nitrate by microbes. Ammonia in soil will
either be leached through the soil or be taken up by plants or other organisms. Very high
localized concentrations of ammonia could become toxic to plants, organisms, or microbes.
Ammonia in the form of a liquid, concentrated solution, or at a high vapor concentration, will
destroy most living organisms. Ammonia present in water as ammonium ions at sufficiently
high concentrations can be highly toxic for fish and toxic for aquatic plants.
13. DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS
This product, in our opinion, is not listed by the EPA as a Hazardous Waste (40 CFR, Part
261). This product does not exhibit the hazardous characteristics of ignitability, corrosivity
or reactivity, and is not formulated with the metals or organic in the TCLP test.
This product contains ingredients on the CERCLA list and may be reportable in the event of
a spill or an environmental release.
Please be advised that state and local requirements for waste disposal may be more
restrictive or otherwise different from federal regulations. Consult state and local
regulations regarding the proper disposal of this material.
14. TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
D.O.T. SHIPPING NAME: Ammonia, Anhydrous
D.O.T. HAZARD CLASS: Poisonous gas, Non-flammable compressed gas
U.N. NUMBER: 1005
D.O.T. PLACARD: Poison Gas, Non-flammable gas
D.O.T. LABEL CODE: Inhalation hazard
D.O.T. REPORTABLE QUANTITY: 100 lbs or 20 gallons
15. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
OSHA: This material is considered to be hazardous as defined by the OSHA Hazard
Communication Standard.
EPA DETERMINATIONS
CERCLA, 40 CFR 302
The material contains the following hazardous substance which, when released in
quantities equal to or exceeding the Reportable Quantity, triggers National Response
Center notification requirements.
Hazardous Substance Reportable Quantity
Ammonia 100 lbs.
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SUPERFUND AMENDMENTS AND REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1986,
TITLE III - SECTIONS 302, 304, 311, 312, 313
SECTION 302/304 - Extremely Hazardous Substances (40 CFR 355)
The material contains Ammonia, an extremely hazardous substance, at greater than 1.0 %
concentration; however, it is possible that this material may contain extremely hazardous
substances at a lower concentration so that a large enough spill could warrant an
Emergency Release under section 304.
SECTION 311/312 - MSDS and Chemical Inventory Reporting Requirements (40 CFR
370)
The material should be reported under the following EPA Hazard categories.
Immediate (Acute Health Hazard)
Delayed (Chronic Health Hazard)
Fire
Sudden Release of Pressure
Reactive
SECTION 313 - List of Toxic Chemicals (40 CFR 372)
The material contains the following chemical(s) at a level of 1.0% or greater (0.1% for
carcinogens) on the list of toxic Chemicals and is subject to toxic chemical release
reporting requirements.
Toxic Chemical: Ammonia
CAS Registry Number: 7664-41-7
Approximate Concentration (Upper Bound): 99 wt%
TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT (TSCA) (40 CFR 710)
The chemical ingredients in this material are in the Section 8(b) Chemical Substance
Inventory (40 CFR 710) and/or are otherwise in compliance with TSCA
FWPCA/CWA(FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT/CLEAN WATER
ACT):
Listed as a regulated toxic substance. Reportable quantity is 100 lb. (45.4 kg).
This material is also regulated by the following states: California, Illinois, Louisiana, New
Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
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LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is believed to be
correct since it was obtained from sources we believe are reliable. However no
representation, guarantees or warranties of any kind are made as to its accuracy,
suitability for particular applications, hazards connected with the use of the material, or
the results to be obtained from the use thereof. User assumes all risks and liability of any
use, processing or handling of any material, variations in methods, conditions and
equipment used to store, handle, or process the material and hazards connected with the
use of the material are solely the responsibility of the user and remain at his sole
discretion.
Compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations remains the
responsibility of the user, and the user has the responsibility to provide a safe work place
to examine all aspects of its operation and to determine if or where precautions, in
addition to those described herein, are required.
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