Methods for preparing compositions comprising ammonium nitrate double salts

1. A method for producing ammonium sulfate nitrate comprising:

providing a mixture comprising ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, and water wherein a first portion of the ammonium sulfate is dissolved in the ammonium nitrate and water and a second portion of the ammonium sulfate is in a solid phase; and

solidifying a product comprising a 1:2 ammonium nitrate sulfate double salt from the second portion of ammonium sulfate and the ammonium nitrate of the mixture by cooling at least a portion of the mixture at a rate of less than 100° C./min, wherein the water present in the mixture during the solidification step is at least about 0.5 wt. % based on the total weight of ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate and water in the mixture.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the mixture and components of the mixture are heated.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a molar ratio of ammonium sulfate to ammonium nitrate in the mixture is from about 0.9:1 to about 1.1:1.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product comprises about 60 to about 100 wt % of ammonium nitrate sulfate double salt.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the product comprises about 60 to about 90 wt % of 1:2 ammonium nitrate sulfate double salt and 0 to about 5 wt % 1:3 ammonium nitrate sulfate double salt.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the product further comprises about 5 to about 35 wt % unreacted ammonium sulfate and 0 to about 5 wt % unreacted ammonium nitrate.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the product comprises less than about 1 wt % ammonium nitrate.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the ammonium nitrate sulfate double salt comprises a composite of ammonium sulfate crystals imbedded in a matrix.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein an amount of water in the mixture is from about 2% to about 24 wt % based on a total weight of ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate and water in the mixture.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said rate of cooling is at a rate of less than 90° C./min.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said rate of cooling is at a rate of less than 80° C./min.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture is provided at a temperature of less than 170° C.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture is provided at a temperature of less than 160° C.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture is provided at a temperature of less than 175° C.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture has a ratio of the first portion of ammonium sulfate to ammonium nitrate that is below 0.5.

16. A method for the production of ammonium sulfate nitrate comprising:

(a) introducing into a vessel ammonium nitrate particles, ammonium sulfate particles, and water in amounts such that the water content is from about 2 wt % to about 24 wt % based on the total weight of ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate and water introduced into the vessel to form a mixture;

(b) dissolving a first portion of the ammonium sulfate into the ammonium nitrate; and

(c) crystallizing, from the ammonium nitrate and a second portion of the ammonium sulfate not dissolved into the ammonium nitrate, a product comprising 1:2 ammonium nitrate sulfate double salt by cooling at least a portion of the mixture at a rate of less than 100° C./min.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a molar ratio of ammonium sulfate to ammonium nitrate in the mixture is from about 0.9:1 to about 1.1:1.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the ammonium sulfate and the ammonium nitrate are of at least about 95 wt % purity.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the method is a continuous process.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein said dissolving step further comprises heating the mixture at a temperature of less than 175° C.