US2015000804A1PendingUtilityA1

Oxidizer solution

41
Assignee: MAXAM DANTEEX SOUTH AFRICA PROPRIETARY LTDPriority: Feb 10, 2012Filed: Feb 11, 2013Published: Jan 1, 2015
Est. expiryFeb 10, 2032(~5.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Leon Michael Zimmermann
C06B 31/32C06B 31/12C06B 47/00C06B 25/36
41
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

According to this invention there is provided an aqueous oxidizer solution containing a mixture of dissolved oxidizing salts, for use in the preparation of explosives formulations, which a crystallization point as low as below 0° C. The solution has a water content of 25% by mass or less and contains ammonium nitrate and calcium nitrate wherein the ratio of the molar concentration of ammonium nitrate to calcium nitrate is preferably approximately 1. When the water content of the solution is 24% by mass or less, the solution further contains monomethylammonium nitrate. This solution can be used for manufacturing watergel explosives, or emulsion explosives or ANE's (ammonium nitrate emulsion suspension or gel explosives). It can be easily transported underground in deep level mines through relatively small diameter pipelines, using existing access ways and shafts, to the working places at which point it can then be converted into a watergel or emulsion explosive or an ANE.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An aqueous oxidizer solution containing a mixture of dissolved oxidizing salts, for use in the preparation of explosives formulations, which has a crystallization point of below 30° C., preferably below 25° C., as low as 15° C. or less, as low as 10° C. or less; even as low as 0° C. or less, said solution containing:
 a water content of 25% by mass or less; 
 ammonium nitrate; and 
 calcium nitrate or mixture of calcium nitrate and magnesium nitrate, preferably calcium nitrate; 
 
       wherein the molar concentration of ammonium nitrate to calcium nitrate or mixture of calcium nitrate and magnesium nitrate is between 0.25:1 and 2:1. 
     
     
         2 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the crystallization point is below 25° C. 
     
     
         3 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the crystallization point is 15° C. or less. 
     
     
         4 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the crystallization point is 10° C. or less. 
     
     
         5 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the crystallization point is 0° C. or less. 
     
     
         6 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the molar concentration of ammonium nitrate to calcium nitrate is between 0.5:1 and 1.5:1. 
     
     
         7 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the molar concentration of ammonium nitrate to calcium nitrate is between 0.75:1 and 1.25:1. 
     
     
         8 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the molar concentration of ammonium nitrate to calcium nitrate is approximately 1. 
     
     
         9 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the molar concentration of ammonium nitrate to mixture of calcium nitrate and magnesium nitrate is between 0.5:1 and 1.5:1. 
     
     
         10 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the molar concentration of ammonium nitrate to mixture of calcium nitrate and magnesium nitrate is between 0.75:1 and 1.25:1. 
     
     
         11 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the molar concentration of ammonium nitrate to mixture of calcium nitrate and magnesium nitrate is approximately 1. 
     
     
         12 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in any one of  claims 9  to  11 , wherein the ratio of the molar concentrations of the calcium nitrate to the magnesium nitrate is not less than about 4:1. 
     
     
         13 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the ratio of the molar concentrations of the calcium nitrate to the magnesium nitrate is not less than about 4.5:1. 
     
     
         14 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous oxidizer solution has a water content of between 10% and 25%, by mass. 
     
     
         15 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the aqueous oxidizer solution has a water content of between 12% and 24%, by mass 
     
     
         16 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the aqueous oxidizer solution has a water content of between 17% and 22%, by mass. 
     
     
         17 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the water content of the solution is 24% by mass or less, and the solution further contains alkylamine nitrate. 
     
     
         18 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the alkylamine nitrate is present in an amount of 1% to 20% by mass. 
     
     
         19 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the alkylamine nitrate is present in an amount of 10% to 18% by mass. 
     
     
         20 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the alkylamine nitrate is present in an amount of 12% to 17% by mass. 
     
     
         21 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 17 , wherein, for every 1% reduction in the water content below 24%, the solution contains at least an additional 1.67% alkylamine nitrate. 
     
     
         22 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the alkylamine nitrate is present in the solution in at least a quantity to satisfy the equation: M>5(24−W)/3 (where W=the percentage water in the solution and M=the percentage alkylamine nitrate in the solution). 
     
     
         23 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in any one of  claims 17  to  22 , wherein the alkylamine nitrate is monomethylamine nitrate, monoethanolamine nitrate, dimethylamine nitrate or trimethylamine nitrate. 
     
     
         24 . The aqueous oxidizer solution claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the alkylamine nitrate is monomethylamine nitrate (CH 3 NH 3 NO 3 ). 
     
     
         25 . A method of manufacturing an explosives formulation, the method including the step of mixing the aqueous oxidizer solution defined in any one of  claims 1  to  24  with a fuel. 
     
     
         26 . An explosives formulation comprising a mixture of the oxidizer solution defined in any one of  claims 1  to  24  with a fuel. 
     
     
         27 . An aqueous oxidizer solution as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  24 , substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the Examples. 
     
     
         28 . An explosives formulation as claimed in  26 , substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the Examples.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2015000804A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.