Method of reducing density by means of gas generating agent

[0046]A pan granulator was used to form AN granules with a reduced density by introducing a gas generating agent into the AN.

[0047]The AN to be particularized comprised 99.5% AN and 0.5% water. The AN was provided in the form of a melt at about 170° C. and the pH of the AN was 3.8.

[0048]The gas generated agent was again in the form of precipitated CaCO3 with a particle diameter of about 0.33 μm.

[0049]A pan granulator and seed material (in the form of particulated ammonium nitrate of a suitable size) were used to form the AN melt into granules. In test 1, the seed material was introduced into the pan granulator and was sprayed with the AN melt which formed into granules. In test 2 the seed material was mixed with the CaCO3. This mixture was introduced into the pan granulator and sprayed with the AN melt. The granulated AN which formed contained about 0.1% (mass / mass) CaCO3. In test 3 the CaCO3 was made up as an aqueous suspension containing 20% mass CaCO3 / mass aqueous suspension. Th