Pilot-scale base hydrolysis processing of HMX-based plastic-bonded explosives
Los Alamos National Laboratory has demonstrated that many energetic materials can be rendered non-energetic via reaction with sodium hydroxide or ammonia. This process is known as base hydrolysis. A pilot scale reactor has been developed to process up to 20 kg of plastic bonded explosive in a single batch operation. In this report, we discuss the design and operation of the pilot scale reactor for the processing of PBX 9404, a standard Department of Energy plastic bonded explosive containing HMX and nitrocellulose. Products from base hydrolysis, although non-energetic, still require additional processing before release to the environment. Decomposition products, destruction efficiencies, and rates of reaction for base hydrolysis will be presented. Hydrothermal processing, previously known as supercritical water oxidation, has been proposed for converting organic products from hydrolysis to carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and nitrous oxide. Base hydrolysis in combination with hydrothermal processing may yield a viable alternative to open burning/open detonation for destruction of many energetic materials.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Department of Defense, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 629004
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-97-4017; CONF-9710162-; ON: DE98003078; TRN: AD-a340 331
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: NATO advanced research workshop, Prague (Czech Republic), 13-15 Oct 1997; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Base hydrolysis and supercritical water oxidation of PBX-9404
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Related Subjects
CHEMICAL REACTORS
PILOT PLANTS
WATER
MATERIALS
HYDROLYSIS
ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
NITROGEN
COMBUSTION
OXIDATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OPERATION
TURBULENT FLOW
CARBON DIOXIDE
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
DECOMPOSITION
EXPLOSIONS
NITROUS OXIDE
NITROCELLULOSE
PBX 9404
HMX