Safety Tips for Storage & Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia

Anhydrous ammonia is basically ammonia without water (an – without, hydrous – water). It is in the form of compressed gas or liquid. Anhydrous ammonia consists of three parts hydrogen and one part nitrogen. In its diluted form, it is the most widely used compound in households, as well as industrial cleaning applications. The compound also finds its major use in agriculture. However, you cannot ignore the fact that it is a hazardous chemical. It has the capacity to cause large physiological damages or even deadly explosions. Therefore, it is very crucial to store and handle it with utmost care. In this post, we will discuss tips for safe storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia.

Tips for Safe Storage of Anhydrous Ammonia

Although anhydrous ammonia is useful in several applications, it needs to be stored with care. Here are some tips, which will help you in storing this compound safely:

• • Store at Proper Pressure: When anhydrous ammonia is cooled or compressed, it is in the liquid form. Storing it under pressure prevents it for vaporizing and makes it available for use in large volume. One cubic foot of anhydrous ammonia in a liquid state produces 855 cubic feet of ammonia gas. The ammonia storage tanks used to store this compound should be able to withstand a minimum internal pressure of 250 pounds per square inch (psi). Ammonia is refrigerated to -28┬░F by terminal storage tanks. The storage pressure at -28┬░F is less than 1 psi.

• Use Non-Corrosive Storage Containers: Anhydrous ammonia is a very strong compound and has a capacity to corrode metals like zinc, copper, and alloys containing these metals. Zinc is used to galvanize steel, and thus these containers are not suitable to store anhydrous ammonia.

Tips for Safe Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia

Here are some quick tips to handle anhydrous ammonia safely, without getting injured:

• It is highly advisable to use safety gear while handling anhydrous ammonia. Safety gear includes heavy duty long-sleeved shirt/coat, coveralls, rubber gloves, full-face respirator, and goggles that are chemical-proof.
• It is always recommended to keep clean water handy while working with anhydrous ammonia. It is advisable to keep enough water, so that you can rinse your eyes and wash your hands, if they come in contact with the chemical.
• Take sufficient time to park the nurse tank close to the source tank. This will reduce the chances of potential spills leading to accidents. Always make sure that there are no obstructions or blockages around the control wheel and hoses.

These were some tips on safe storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia. For a safe storage of this chemical, it is very crucial to have proper ammonia storage tanks. It is always advisable to get these storage tanks from trusted and well-known suppliers. BEPeterson is one of the leading anhydrous ammonia storage tank manufacturers, who has a vast experience in manufacturing tanks and pressure vessels. The company is ASME and ISO 9001:2015 certified.