Patent ID: 7767045
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: C06B

Abstract:
1. A method of producing ammonium nitrate crystals, the method comprising the steps of: (i) combining together one or more crystal habit modifiers with an aqueous solution of ammonium nitrate; (ii) with said mixture of said one or more crystal habit modifiers and said ammonium nitrate solution, forming ammonium nitrate crystals having a particle size of from about 1 to about 500 microns through atomization of said mixture of said one or more crystal habit modifiers and said ammonium nitrate solution, said atomization step carried out through injecting said mixture of said one or more crystal habit modifiers and said ammonium nitrate solution, together with compressed air, through an atomizing nozzle that is situated in a secondary air flow, said mixture and said compressed air exiting said nozzle in the presence of said secondary air flow, wherein the secondary air moves about the nozzle in a non-cyclonic manner and generally parallel to and in the same direction as said mixture and said compressed air that exits said nozzle.