Impact of Synthetic Gas‐to‐Liquids (GTL) Fuel Phases on CO and NO x Post‐Blast Toxic Emissions in Bulk Emulsion Explosives
Miguel Rivera‐Torrente, Nikolaos Petropoulos, Carlota Rodríguez‐San Miguel, Jonathan Russell, Mike Perryman, Robin Hunt, Tom Wilkinson, Aleksi Pienimäki, Victoria KlippmarkABSTRACT
Toxic fume formation, particularly carbon monoxide (CO), is a major concern in ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) and emulsion explosives, impacting both safety and operational costs. This study demonstrates that using ultra‐clean, synthetic gas‐to‐liquids (GTL) fuel phases used in an emulsion matrix can reduce CO emissions by 20% compared to conventional mineral oils. The reduction is attributed to the combination of chemical composition—primarily isoparaffins—and physical properties of GTL fuels. Tests were conducted in a controlled blasting chamber at the Swedish Blasting Research Centre (Swebrec), ensuring consistent and replicable results. Emulsions were manufactured and tested multiple times in two different campaigns, confirming lower CO emissions but varying NO x emissions. The findings highlight the importance of fuel phase selection in explosive performance and toxic emissions. A literature model was used to elaborate on the potential impact on re‐entry time. The study underscores the value of controlled testing environments for accurately assessing post‐blast gas emissions.