Anhydrous Ammonia: Its Hazards and Safe Handling Practices

Anhydrous Ammonia (i.e., pure ammonia without any water) has been used in the chemical processing industry and agriculture for hundreds of years. With the new energy transition initiatives, it is also mentioned as a potential liquid molecule to transfer energy since, when compared to hydrogen, it is much lower cost to produce, store and transfer. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the basic chemical and physical properties of anhydrous ammonia, its use in the industry and potential loss of containment concerns including flammability and toxicity with emergency response. At the end of the session, it is expected that young professionals will be equipped with basic information to explain how to safely handle anhydrous ammonia and address safety concerns with their colleagues.