Big Explosion in Beirut Lebanon yesterday

[5030]

I don't believe urea is an explosive like Ammonium Nitrate. I recall reading that in the early days, the Ammonium Nitrate prill was coated with wax...basically a ready made bomb, especially in a big fire. They eventually wised up and I believe it's coated with bentonite clay or something similar today.

It's not but.... It will produce heat if allowed to draw humidity because moisture causes it to convert from Urea to N and the chemical transformation causes heat. Why it's sold (as well as AN) in heat sealed plastic sacks today. So long as both remain dry and stored with some common sense, both are harmless. Much lass harmless than say anhydrous ammonia which causes immediate respiratory failure and possibly death if inhaled. I much prefer granulated versus liquid anhydrous.

All the explosions (including the Beirut explosion are directly attributable to careless storage and not following common sense guidelines.

Far as mixing diesel fuel with AN when blasting. the diesel fuel AN mix makes the AN easier to handle because the paste can be put in a wet hole bag and stay there whereas dry AN would dribble out and the diesel provides an additional flammable agent, so it has to do with handling of the AN as it relates to charging the bags more than anything.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

That is what I thought too. I thought AN was an oxygenate that greatly aids the burning of whatever the fuel is. :confused3:

Interesting account of happenings:

Beirut explosion: former port worker says fireworks stored in hangar | World news | The Guardian

Ammonium Nitrate will decompose with intense heat; the decomposition is exothermic, so if there is a substantial amount of it in one place, especially if it has some organic contaminants, the heat and pressure build up and it will explode. Being an oxidant, mixing a reducing agent, i.e. something organic that will burn, it will explode if initiated.

 

[5030]

I'd say they are basically screwed. Country is in a shambles, government ineffective, no jobs, no food, Covid 19 and this. All because someone supposedly passed the buck (government) and it blew up. Very sad.

 

[mjarrels]

I'm surprised our government is helping out, I guess no one remembers the Marine attack back In the early 80's that killed over 200 of our Marines.

mark

 

[Diggin It]

^^ How many marines, sailors and airman did Japan cost us?

 

[2LaneCruzer]

United States

KIA 111,606 Wounded 253,142 POW 21,580

 

[Jstpssng]

I'm surprised our government is helping out, I guess no one remembers the Marine attack back In the early 80's that killed over 200 of our Marines.

mark

We're allegedly a humanitarian country, and this explosion had nothing to do with any military action. Meanwhile there are a lot of civilians over there who were wounded or lost loved ones because of the explosion, and who are going to find it even harder to find the basic needs which most of us take for granted.

Still, I can see how it would be a tough pill for somebody who was over there in 1983, or who lost a family member in that bombing.

 

[tallyho8]

Americans forgive and forget. Germany and Japan were our worst enemies yet after the war we gave them so much economical support that now most of the cars we buy come from Japan or Germany. South Korea was our ally and we didn't give them nearly as much support economically and their economy is just starting to rival that of the others.

 

[Jstpssng]

Americans forgive and forget. Germany and Japan were our worst enemies yet after the war we gave them so much economical support that now most of the cars we buy come from Japan or Germany. South Korea was our ally and we didn't give them nearly as much support economically and their economy is just starting to rival that of the others.

The quality of their autos are also beginning to rival that of Japanese and German autos... and their tractor manufacturing is also starting to catch up.

 

[5030]

I'd rather walk than own a German car.