Ammonium nitrate is sold in granular and prilled forms, and as nitrate liquor for use in the manufacture of other fertilizers. The primary industrial use of ammonium nitrate is in the explosives industry. It is one of the raw materials utilized in the manufacture of explosives. Ammonium nitrate is also used in the treatment of titanium ores.
Anhydrous ammonia is combined with oxygen, in the presence of a catalyst, to make nitrous oxide.
These oxides are then absorbed in water to produce nitric acid. Nitric acid solution is neutralized with ammonia to form ammonium nitrate solution or liquor. Granular ammonium nitrate is formed when the ammonium nitrate liquor is evaporated and the material is formed into dense granules. These granules are then coated with a conditioning agent. Agrium's proprietary coatings and production technology produces a consistently high-quality product.