Mining Publication: Behavior of Nitrogen Oxides in the Product Gases from Explosive Detonations

• Blasting fumes
• Explosives
• Nitrogen dioxide
• Nitrous oxides

In recent years, the toxic fumes generated by explosives have been a concern for blasters, explosive manufacturers, and mining companies. In the Western United States, blasters have been seeking ways to control the generation of nitrogen dioxide, a very toxic gas that can be produced by large blasts at surface coal mines. In the study reported here, 10 lb. charges of blasting agent confined in either thin-wall 4-inch diameter galvanized pipe or 4-inch schedule-80 stainless steel pipe were detonated in a closed chamber. The detonation gases were analyzed for nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide (NO), ammonia, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, and methane. Data were evaluated to determine the kinetics of the oxidation of NO to nitrogen dioxide. The information on NO oxidation kinetics provided in this paper will prove useful in efforts to model the behavior of NO and nitrogen dioxide in clouds of detonation products near blasting operations.