Explosive.
Patents Granted (Contd.) (33) Country (31) Number (32) Date ΖΑ 2009/06668 23.03.2012 (84) Designated State BW GM GH ΚΕ LS LR MW ΜΖ ΝΑ SL SD SZ ΤΖ UG ΖΜ ZW (72) Inventors WILSON Laurence Justin Pienaar, South Africa PIENAAR Andre, South Africa VERMAAK Chari, South Africa et al (74) Representative (51) International Classification: (54) Title Explosive (57) Abstract The invention relates to a process for producing an ammonium nitrate/fuel oil explosive. The process includes forming an emulsion by admixing an oil with water. Ozone is then introduced into the emulsion to obtain an ozonatcd emulsion, The ozonatcd emulsion is admixed with solid particulate ammonium nitrate such that the emulsion is absorbed into the ammonium nitrate. An ammonium nitrate/fuel oil explosive is thereby formed. (56) Documents Cited : US 4 111 727 A US 5 397 405 A US 4 404 050 A ΕΡ 2025 740 Al FORM 25 (12) PATENT (19) ΑΡ (11) Patent No : ΑΡ 3055 (73) Applicant(s) (21) Application No : AP/P/2012/006175 AEL MINING SERVICES LIMITED AECI Place, 23/24 The Woodlands, Woodlands Drive, (22) Filing Date : 16.09.2010 Woodmead, 2191, South Africa (24) (45) Date of Grant & Publication : 05.12.2014 (30) Priority Data The invention relates to a process for producing an ammonium nitrate/fuel oil explosive. The process includes forming an emulsion by admixing an oil with water. Ozone is then introduced into the emulsion to obtain an ozonated emulsion. The ozonated emulsion is admixed with solid particulate ammonium nitrate such that the emulsion is absorbed into the ammonium nitrate. An ammonium nitrate/fuel oil explosive is thereby formed. A process for producing an ammonium nitrate/fuel oil explosive, the process including:
admixing an oil with water to form a fuel comprising an emulsion; introducing ozone into the emulsion, thereby to obtain an ozonated emulsion; and admixing the ozonated emulsion with solid particulate ammonium nitrate to absorb the emulsion into the ammonium nitrate, thereby to form an ammonium nitrate/fuel oil explosive. The process according to Claim 1, wherein the introduction of the ozone into the emulsion includes bubbling ozone or an ozone-containing gas through the emulsion. The process according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the introduction of the ozone into the emulsion is for a treatment period of from 1 hour to 24 hours. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the introduction of the ozone into the emulsion takes place simultaneously with the admixing of the oil and the water. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein sufficient oil is used so that the oil constitutes 50% to 98% by mass of the emulsion. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the oil is used lubricating oil. The process according to Claim 6, wherein the admixing of the oil and the water is effected in the presence of a surfactant, with the surfactant forming from 0.2% to 1.0% by mass of the emulsion. The process according to Claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the surfactant is provided by the oil. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the relative proportions of the emulsion and the ammonium nitrate used are such that the oil forms from 2.5% to 22% by mass of the explosive. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the particulate ammonium nitrate is in the form of porous prilled ammonium nitrate. The process according to Claim 10, wherein the porous prilled ammonium nitrate is employed in a ratio to the fuel of 98:2 to 78:22 by mass. The process according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the admixing of the ozonated emulsion with the porous prilled ammonium nitrate is effected by spraying the emulsion on to the ammonium nitrate while moving the ammonium nitrate along by means of the flutes of an auger. The process according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the admixing of the stabilized emulsion with the porous prilled ammonium nitrate is effected in a concrete mixer.ADAMS AND ADAMS MOZAMBIQUE MOZAMBIQUE