Blundering through the patent literature I took a wrong turn and tripped over a patent that claims an interesting use of ammonia solutions of electrons. The patent, US 6080907, is assigned to Teledyne Commodore and teaches a method that uses ammonia as a fluid metal cutting medium for the safe destruction of bombs and the explosives inside. The inventor claims that ammonia is superior to water as a cutting fluid. Apparently Teledyne employs a few chemists because it dawned on someone that ammonia will also dissolve certain metals and provide a means of conveyance for a reducing agent to enter the bomb casing and reduce the nitro groups on the explosives. It is a clever idea. A new use for the Birch reduction.

 I wonder if it is in operation?