Ammonium sulfamate

Ammonium sulfamate (British spelling Ammonium woodier weeds put onto the compost heap.
sulphamate) is a white crystalline solid, readily soluble in water. It is commonly used as a broad spectrum
herbicide, with additional uses as a compost accelerator, 2.3 Flame retardant
ame retardant and in industrial processes.
Ammonium sulfamate (like other ammonium salts, e.g.
Ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, Ammonium sulfate)
is a useful ame retardant.[4] These salt based ame re1 Manufacture and distribution
tardants oer advantages over other metal/mineral-based
ame retardants in that they are water processable. Their
It is a salt formed from ammonia and sulfamic acid.
relatively low decomposition temperature makes them
Ammonium sulfamate is distributed under the follow- suitable for ame retarding cellulose based materials (paing tradenames, which are principally herbicidal product per/wood). Ammonium sulfamate (like Ammonium dinames: Amicide, Amidosulfate, Ammate, Amcide, Am- hydrogen phosphate) is sometimes used in conjunction
mate X-NI, AMS, Fyran 206k, Ikurin, Sulfamate, AMS with Magnesium sulfate or Ammonium sulfate (in ratios
of approximately 2:1) for enhanced ame retardant propand Root-Out.
erties.

2
2.1

Uses

2.4 Other uses

Herbicide

Within industry ammonium sulfamate is used as a ame

retardant, a plasticiser and in electro-plating. Within the
Ammonium sulfamate is considered to be particularly laboratory it is used as a reagent.
useful in controlling tough woody weeds, tree stumps and
brambles.
Ammonium sulfamate has been successfully used in sev- 3 Safety
eral major UK projects by organisations like the British
Trust for Conservation Volunteers, English Heritage, the Ammonium sulfamate is considered to be slightly toxic
National Trust, and various railway, canal and waterways to humans and animals, making it appropriate for amaauthorities.
teur home garden, professional and forestry uses.[5] It is
Several years ago the Henry Doubleday Research Associ- generally accepted to be safe for use on plots of land that
ation (HDRA) (known as Garden Organic), published an will be used for growing fruit and vegetables intended for
article on ammonium sulfamate after a successful set of consumption.
herbicide trials. Though not approved for use by organic In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health
growers it does provide an option when alternatives have Administration has set a permissible exposure limit at 15
failed.
mg/m3 over an eight-hour time-weighted average, while
Health
The following problem weeds / plants can be controlled: the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
3
recommends
exposures
no
greater
than
10
mg/m
over
an
Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica var japonica),
[6]
eight-hour
time-weighted
average.
These
occupational
Marestail / Horsetail (Equisetum), Ground-elder, Rhodogiven the IDLH
dendron ponticum, Brambles, Brushwood, Ivy (Hedera exposure limits are protective values,
3 [7]
concentration
is
set
at
1500
mg/m
.
species), Senecio/Ragwort, Honey fungus (Armillaria),
and felled tree stumps and most other tough woody spec- It is also considered to be environmentally friendly due to
imens.
its degradation to non-harmful residues.

2.2

Compost accelerator

3.1 European Union licensing

Ammonium sulfamate is used as a compost accelerator. The pesticides review by the European Union led to herIt is especially eective in breaking down the tougher and bicides containing ammonium sulfamate becoming unli1

censed, and therefore eectively banned, from 2008.[8]

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 suering. Its licence was not withdrawn
on grounds of safety or ecacy.
Its availability and use as a compost accelerator is unaffected by the EUs pesticide legislation.

References

[1] http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/search/
ProductDetail/FLUKA/09958 Chemical properties
from Sigma-Adrich
[2] NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards #0030.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH).
[3] Ammonium sulfamate. Immediately Dangerous to Life
and Health. National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH).
[4] Bidlack, Verne C.; Fasig, Edgar W. (1951) [1951], 10,
Paint and Varnish Production Manual, John Wiley &
Sons, p. 275
[5] Pesticide Information Proles : Ammonium sulfamate.
EXTOXNET Extension Toxicology Network. les maintained and archived at Oregon State University. June
1996. Retrieved Mar 21, 2010.
[6] Ammonium sulfamate. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
April 4, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
[7] Ammonium sulfamate. Documentation for Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentrations (IDLHs).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 1994.
Retrieved November 18, 2013.
[8] Amateur products withdrawn from the market containing ammonium sulphamate. Health and Safety Executive. Retrieved Mar 21, 2010.

REFERENCES

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