Ammonium thiosulfate

Ammonium thiosulfate is an inorganic compound. It is white crystalline solid with ammonia odor, readily soluble in water, slightly soluble in acetone and insoluble in ethanol and diethyl ether. And Ammonium thiosulfate is used in photographic fixer. It is a so-called rapid fixer, acting more quickly than sodium thiosulfate fixers. Fixation involves these chemical reactions (illustrated for silver bromide). Ammonium thiosulfate is also used for leaching of gold and silver. It works with presence of copper as a catalyst here. This process is a nontoxic alternative gold cyanidation. Ammonium thiosulfate can be used as a fertilizer. As suggested by some research studies it can be used as an additive to coal-waste mixtures to reduce formation of very dangerous dioxins and furans.

Ammonium thiosulfate finds application for leaching of gold and silver since it forms strong complexes. It is widely utilized as a photographic fixing agent, which acts quicklier than sodium thiosulfate fixers. It serves as a fertilizer. It acts as an additive to coal-waste mixtures to inhibit the formation of dangerous dioxins and furans. It is used as an analytical reagent in laboratories.

Ammonium thiosulphate, [(NH4)2S2O3 or ATS] is a crystalline salt, the aqueous solution of which is commonly used as a liquid fertilizer. Crystalline ammonium thiosulphate contains 19% nitrogen and 43 % sulphur and its aqueous solution contains 12% nitrogen and 26 % sulphur.

Ammonium thiosulphate is compatible with nitrogen and nitrogen-potassium solutions, which are neutral or slightly acidic (pH 5.8). It is also used as a suspension: As it is non-corrosive, it can be stored in steel or aluminumdrums.

Ammonium thiosulphate is prepared by the reaction of sulphur dioxide and aqueous ammonia, followed by a further reaction with elemental sulphur.

ATS can be applied directly to soils or as a foliar spray through sprinkler irrigation systems. When applied to soils, ATS decomposes into ammonium sulphate and colloidal sulphur. The ammonium sulphate is available immediately to plants, while the sulphur gets oxidized over a period of time to sulphate ion (SO42-) It is thus available to plants for a longer time. Ammonium thiosulphate also acts as a urease inhibitor. When added to a urea-ammonium nitrate solution, it inhibits urease activity for a month or so. In industry, it is also used as a photographic fixing agent, analytical reagent, fungicide and as a brightener in silverplating baths.