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Silo gas (NO2) safety

Description

Silo gas is formed by the natural fermentation of chopped silage shortly after it is placed in the silo. The nitrates present in silage crops are converted to nitrites through the fermentation... More ≫

Description

Silo gas is formed by the natural fermentation of chopped silage shortly after it is placed in the silo. The nitrates present in silage crops are converted to nitrites through the fermentation process; they, in turn, react with the organic acids in the silage to form nitrous acid (HNO3). As the temperature of the silage increases during fermentation,the nitrous acid decomposes to form a mixture of oxides of nitrogen, which can include NO, NO2, nitrogen trioxide (N2O3), nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4), and other oxides in lesser amounts.

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