## 1 Introduction  
Emulsion explosives (EEs) have become the most widely used blasting agents in the mining industry and for various other industrial applications, primarily due to their exceptional water resistance, insensitivity to mechanical stimuli facilitating the mechanical loading of blast holes, and remarkable chemical and physical stability, particularly in cartridge form. The basic component of EEs is a water-in-oil emulsion, referred to as the matrix, with densities typically ranging from 1.3 to 1.4 g/cm\({}^{3}\). This phase acts as the medium within which water droplets are suspended, forming a theoretically homogeneous material with continuous mechanical properties. However, such mixtures, in the absence of chemical compounds classified as explosives, exhibit only minimal detonation capability. Following the relatively short era of slurry explosives, emulsion explosives have become one of the primary blasting agents used in the mining industry. A notable example is the Polish mining sector, where in 2022, bulk emulsion explosives (chemically sensitized) accounted for 75% of all blasting agents used in open-pit mines, with ANFO being the second most common choice. The observed decline in ANFO consumption is attributed, among other factors, to the rising cost of ammonium nitrate and the transition to water-bearing deposits. Similarly, in underground mining, both cartridge and bulk forms of emulsion explosives have dominated as the primary blasting agent (90%), gradually replacing dynamite. The widespread adoption of emulsion explosives is driven not only by their previously mentioned advantages, such as water resistance and minimal sensitivity to mechanical stimuli, but also by their detonation parameters, which position them slightly below dynamite yet significantly above ANFO. EEs are recognized for their comparatively lower environmental impact relative to conventional explosives. Their detonation produces fewer toxic fumes, which benefits both the environment and the health of mine workers. By adjusting their formulation, it is possible to further reduce the emission of harmful gases, such as nitrogen oxides (NO\({}_{\mathrm{x}}\)), enhancing their environmental friendliness [1]. However, despite their environmental advantages, the production and use of emulsion explosives still contribute to various environmental impacts. [PERSON] et al. [2] stated that the greatest contribution to marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential occurs during the raw material extraction and production stages of emulsion explosives, while their detonation has the most significant impact on acidification and particulate matter emissions with inorganic compounds. Process contribution analysis indicates that ammonium and sodium nitrates are the primary contributors to the overall environmental burden. Bulk emulsion explosives have a 65% lower environmental impact compared to cartridge emulsion explosives. The primary method of initiating a high-energy process in explosives is to act on it with suitably intense shock waves generated by the detonation of a blasting agent. The initiation of a rapid chemical reaction is associated with the high temperature generated by the shock wave's rapid adiabatic compression of the explosive. However, the impact of even a very intense shock wave causes a small average increase in the temperature of the loaded homogeneous material. Therefore, it is necessary to make structural changes to the explosive that will cause local foci characterized by increased energy to form behind the front of the initiating shock wave. These points (areas) are called hot spots. If the energy at such a point is high enough, then it can become the focus of a chemical reaction. If it develops according to the thermal mechanism, the point is an active hot spot, and if it disappears, it is an inactive hot spot. The phenomenon of hot spot formation in energetic materials remains incompletely understood, with multiple mechanisms proposed to explain their generation.