Iron trinitrate

Explosiveness

Administrative data

Endpoint:

explosiveness

Data waiving:

study scientifically not necessary / other information available

Justification for data waiving:

other:

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:

Iron trinitrate-9-hydrate is an inorganic salt and consistd of iron cations [Fe(3+)], nitrate anions [NO3(-)] and water (H2O) as hydrate or solvent.

Iron trinitrate is manufactured as aqueous solutions with more than 90% of the quantities manufactured as a solution containing about 58% water. Approximately 10% of the quantities manufactured are the nonahydrate form with about 42% water content. The high water content of both the aqueous solution and the nonahydrate can explain the non- explosive nature of the substance. At no point during the manufacturing does the iron trinitrate exist as the water free option, only in solution or as the nonahydrate salt.

Iron trinitrate-9-hydrate does not contain carbon (C), hydrocarbon (CH), organic nitro (R2CNO2) ammonium (NH4) amino (R2NH; RNH2) or any other groups associated with explosive properties when linked to nitrate(NO3-). Iron cations [Fe(3+)] are not associated with explosive properties as they can not be oxidized to a higher oxidization stage.

Iron trinitrate-9-hydrate was also tested for oxidizing properties. Test results showed that the substance cannot be assigned to the hazard class oxidizing solids according regulation (EG) No. 1272/2008 (CLP-/GHS-regulation) and the substance not to classify as oxidizing according regulation (EG)440/2008.

Furthermore, a DTA (differential thermal analysis) does not show any exothermic decomposition reaction in the range between 30-500°C (see attachment DTA iron trinitrate). Melting is observed at about 52°C and dehydration and decomposition in the range of 160 – 200°C and 210-235 °C both as endothermic reaction. The DTA also clearly shows that in the range between 30-500°C, the endothermic decomposition is not showing a spontaneous development and no evidence is observed that decomposition would propagate at accelerated rates. This demonstrates that no explosive decomposition reaction took place.

Other inorganic nitrates like potassium nitrate EC 231-818-8 and magnesium nitrate EC 233-826-8 also show no explosive properties. Furthermore, the magnesium nitrate-6-hydrate CAS 13446-18-9 is neither classified as oxidizer similar to the water containing aluminium nitrate-6-hydrate. This demonstrates that the presence of nitrate in an inorganic salt without available groups which could act as reducing agent but do not create explosive properties.

 

Our own practical experience over a long period of manufacturing of this substance also supports the facts summarized here. No incident with explosion or exothermic decompositions reaction is known from manufacturing, handling or from customer reports.