| Ammonium sulfamate[1] | |
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Ammonium sulfamate |
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Other names
Ammonium sulphamate |
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| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 7773-06-0 |
| PubChem | 24482 |
| ChemSpider | 22890 |
| KEGG | C18773 |
| RTECS number | WO6125000 |
| Jmol-3D images | Image 1 |
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | H6N2O3S |
| Molar mass | 114.125 g/mol |
| Appearance | White solid |
| Density | 1.8 g/cm3 |
| Melting point |
131 °C |
| Boiling point |
160 ºC decomp. |
| Solubility in water | very soluble |
| Solubility | insoluble in methanol, ether, n-octanol |
| Acidity (pKa) | 6 |
| Hazards | |
| MSDS | ICSC 1555 |
| EU Index | Not listed |
| Main hazards | Irritant |
| NFPA 704 |
0
2
0
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| Flash point | Non-flammable |
| LD50 | 2000 mg/kg, oral (rat) |
| (verify) (what is: /?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
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| Infobox references | |
Ammonium sulfamate (British spelling 'Ammonium sulphamate') is a white crystalline solid which is readily soluble in water. It is commonly used as a broad spectrum herbicide, with additional uses as a compost accelerator and in industrial processes.
Contents |
It is a salt formed from ammonia and sulfamic acid.
Ammonium sulfamate is distributed under the following tradenames, which are principally herbicidal product names: Amicide, Amidosulfate, Ammate, Amcide, Ammate X-NI, AMS, Fyran 206k, Ikurin, Sulfamate, AMS and Root-Out.
Ammonium sulfamate is considered to be particularly useful in controlling tough woody weeds, tree stumps and brambles.
Ammonium sulfamate has been successfully used in several major UK projects by organisations like the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, English Heritage, the National Trust,and various railway, canal and waterways authorities.
Several years ago the Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA) (known as Garden Organic), published an article on ammonium sulfamate after a successful set of herbicide trials. Though not approved for use by organic growers it does provide an option when alternatives have failed.
The following problem weeds / plants can be controlled:
A typical treatment would be as a foliar spray of 1 kilogram in 5 litres of water over 10 square metres (2lbs in 1 gallon over 100 square feet). The addition of a small amount of washing up liquid to the spray solution acts as a wetting agent to help cut though the natural oils on the foliage. Children and animals need not be excluded from treated areas. Once applied it is slowly (typically 3-4 months in a mild climate) converted in the soil to the useful fertilizer ammonium sulfate (ammonium sulphate). New plants should not be sown until this process is completed.
The UK Government's 'Forest Research' recommend the application of a 40% solution to the fresh cut stumps or as a foliar spray.
Japanese Knotweed is subject to legal controls in the UK and ammonium sulfamate is one of the few products that will provide effective treatment. It should be cut back to leave 300mm (12 inch) high canes and have a 400gram per litre solution injected down the stalk. Placing a pile of Ammonium Sulfamate crystals immediately on top of a freshly cut crown head is also a method often used.
The HDRA has given advice about Armillaria and the use of ammonium sulfamate, as has the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Once honey fungus has been confirmed, first dig up and destroy all dead/dying woody plants, removing the stump and as much of the root system as possible. Then, if removal of a stump is impossible, the stump can ground, or chipped, up by a contractor. The resulting woodchips should be burned or disposed of outside the garden, not used as a mulch. As a last resort, a stump can be treated with ammonium sulfamate (a stump killer sold as Root Out) which will kill it and hasten its decay.[2]
Ammonium sulfamate is used as a compost accelerator. It is especially effective in breaking down the tougher and woodier weeds put onto the compost heap.
Within industry ammonium sulfamate is used as a flame retardant, a plasticiser and in electro-plating. Within the laboratory it is used as a reagent.
Ammonium sulfamate is considered to be slightly toxic to humans and animals, making it appropriate for amateur home garden, professional and forestry uses.[3] It is generally accepted to be safe for use on plots of land that will be used for growing fruit and vegetables intended for consumption.
It is also considered to be environmentally friendly due to its degradation to non-harmful residues.
The pesticides review by the European Union led to based herbicides containing ammonium sulfamate becoming unlicensed, and therefore effectively banned, from 2008.[4] This situation arose as the Irish Rapporteur refused to review the data supplied unless it contained details of animal testing on dogs. As there was already substantial animal data within the package supplied the data pack holder felt further tests without substantiation would cause unnecessary animal suffering. Its licence was not withdrawn on grounds of safety of efficacy.
Its availability and use as a compost accelerator is unaffected by the EU's pesticide legislation.