This section provides an overview for ammonium nitrate as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 9 ammonium nitrate manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked ammonium nitrate companies as of November, 2024: 1.TradeMark Nitrogen Corp., 2.Dyno Nobel, 3.CSBP.
Table of Contents
Ammonium nitrate, the ammonium salt of nitric acid, is a colorless crystalline substance. It is produced both naturally and synthetically, with an annual global production of approximately 20 million tons. Due to its involvement in several catastrophic explosions, many countries are reconsidering its consumer use due to safety concerns.
Primarily used as a nitrogen fertilizer, ammonium nitrate is not recommended for paddy fields due to denitrification risks. Its other applications include the manufacture of explosives, gunpowder, fireworks, herbicides, insecticides, and propellants for rocket engines. The well-known ANFO explosives, combining 94% ammonium nitrate with 6% fuel oil, are widely used in mining and construction.
With the chemical formula NH4NO3 and a molar mass of 80.04, ammonium nitrate has a density of 1.7 g/mL. It melts at 170°C and decomposes at 210°C. Although hygroscopic, it does not form hydrates and is soluble in water and ethanol. Ammonium nitrate is stable under normal conditions but can explode if mixed with flammable materials or exposed to heat, shock, or friction in confinement.
Produced through the acid-base reaction between nitric acid and ammonia, this exothermic process involves concentrating nitric acid using anhydrous ammonia. The resulting solution is evaporated to obtain a high concentration of ammonium nitrate, typically around 83%, which can be further concentrated to 95%-99.9%. The melt is processed into prills or granules, which are often coated to prevent caking.
Ammonia, used in the synthesis, is derived from hydrogen and nitrogen via the Haber-Bosch process and then oxidized to nitric acid by the Ostwald process. Calcium carbonate, a byproduct, is purified and sold separately as calcium ammonium nitrate.
When heated, ammonium nitrate decomposes into ammonia and dinitrogen monoxide above its melting point. Under confinement, it explosively decomposes into nitrogen, oxygen, and water. This decomposition can be harnessed in explosive formulations. Additionally, its dissolution in water is endothermic, making it useful in instant cooling packs.
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TradeMark Nitrogen Corp. is a manufacturer and distributor of premium nitrogen-based products for the industrial and agricultural sectors, established in 1981 and based in Florida, USA. The company’s product line consists of ammonium nitrate solution, calcium nitrate solution, nitric acid, urea solution, and zinc nitrate solution. It also offers specialty nitrate solutions like copper nitrate, ferric nitrate, and nickel nitrate. These chemicals are available in different compositions and purities to meet the specific needs of customers in agriculture, mining, construction, and manufacturing.
Junsei Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1948 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of chemical reagents and chemical products, including commissioned synthesis of chemical products. Some of the products it makes include Sodium chloride solution, concentrated glycerin, calcium chloride, ascorbic acid, and nitric acid. The chemical products have a wide range of applications and can be used in pathological examination, as food additives, for analysis, and in the pharmaceutical industry. All its plants, including its research institute, are ISO4001 and ISO9001 certified, while its Saitama and Ibaraki plants are equipped with buildings that comply with GMP.
Kishida Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1924 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of reagents and high-purity chemicals and also does drug discovery support activities. Its product portfolio includes fine chemicals, research chemicals, ionic liquid, organic micro-analytical reagents, and chemical reagents for analysis. The products support several industries, including reagent business, battery material, drug discovery, and life science. The company is ISO 14001 certified and supplies several companies worldwide, including Meterion Advanced Chemicals Inc., Acros Organics, ChemBridge Corporation, Decon Laboratories, and InerBioScreen Ltd.
San Corporation was founded in 2002 and is a manufacturer, supplier, and exporter of ammonium nitrate and other chemicals located in Shandong, China. The company supplies ammonium nitrate mining explosives, all approved by the National Defense Department. It offers porous prilled ammonium nitrate, chemical pure ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, and urea fertilizer. These products are used in various applications, such as agriculture, defense, chemical, and specialty gas. The company has advanced patent technologies from eight countries, including Germany, Japan, France, and Norway.
Millipore Sigma, formerly known as Sigma-Aldrich, was created in 175 through the merger of Sigma Chemical Company and Aldrich Chemical company and today is a subsidiary of Merck. Millipore Sigma is a life science and biotechnology company serving the industry with several products and services. Some of their product categories include peptide synthesis materials, biochemicals, building blocks, catalysts, chemical biology, chemical synthesis, flavors & fragrances, formulation, lab chemicals, lab safety, APIs, and stable isotopes. Services include characterization, contract manufacturing, custom products, software, support, testing, and mRNA development & manufacturing.
Dyno Nobel was established in 1831 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, as a manufacturer of commercial explosives. The company's product line includes ammonia, ammonium nitrate solution (50–70%), blended nitric acid, carbon dioxide liquid, and urea solution, among others. Promoted as ultra-clean liquid fuel and employed as fertilizers, the products also possess corrosive properties and are utilized for the nitration of organics to produce plastics, surface coatings, dyes, pesticides, and explosives. The company serves industries including manufacturing, construction, automotive, electrical, high-temperature processing, laboratories, and research.
Nacalai Tesque Inc., founded in 1846 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of research chemicals, fine chemicals, diagnostics, and the related instruments. Some of its products include cytokines, nucleic acid electrophoresis, cell dissociation reagents, and sialic acid-related products, and it also offers custom and bulk service for bulk reagents and cell culture media. The company has more than 50 domestic distributors and several worldwide, including Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, Europe, and Africa. It is ISO 9001 and ISO 9002 certified, while the Kyoto South brand and Tesque factory are ISO 14001 certified.
CSBP was established in 1910 and is based in Kwinana, Western Australia, Australia, as a manufacturer and supplier of chemicals and fertilizers. The company's product line includes ammonia, ammonium nitrate, sodium cyanide, PVC resin, and composite wood. The products are essential in various industries, used for purposes like producing fertilizers, water treatment, mining operations, gold extraction, and diverse applications in piping, insulation, and packaging, among others. The company serves various industries, including food, beverage, water treatment, medical, mining, and textile.
Yara International, established in 1905, is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, as a producer, distributor, and seller of nitrogen-based mineral fertilizers and related industrial products. The company's primary purpose is to foster the development of a food future that benefits nature while generating worth for its customers, shareholders, and society. This endeavor aims to establish a food chain that is more sustainable. The primary objective of this initiative is to facilitate the hydrogen economy by emphasizing the manufacture of clean ammonia.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | TradeMark Nitrogen Corp. |
21.8%
|
2 | Dyno Nobel |
13.0%
|
3 | CSBP |
11.5%
|
4 | San Corporation |
11.0%
|
5 | MilliporeSigma |
10.7%
|
6 | Junsei Chemical Co.,Ltd. |
9.5%
|
7 | Yara International |
8.2%
|
8 | Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd. |
8.2%
|
9 | nacalai |
6.1%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the ammonium nitrate page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
Japan | 3 | 60.0% |
United States of America | 1 | 20.0% |
China | 1 | 20.0% |