Oxidative degradation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene by ozone in an electrohydraulic discharge reactor

Journal Article · Thu Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es980052c· OSTI ID:290183

Lang, P S; Ching, W K; Willberg, D M; Hoffmann, M R ^[1]

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1. California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA (United States). W.M.Keck Labs.

The electrohydraulic discharge process in the presence of ozone has been used to investigate the rapid degradation and mineralization of aqueous 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) solutions that were directly exposed to high-energy electrical discharges between two submerged electrodes. The 165 {micro}M solutions of TNT were completely mineralized over the course of 300 electrical discharges of 7 kJ each. The kinetics of TNT degradation were investigated as a function of the aqueous-phase ozone concentration, pH, discharge energy, and electrode gas length. The rate of TNT degradation increases with an increase in aqueous-phase ozone concentration of up to 150 {micro}M, an increase in pH from 3.0 to 7.9, an increase in discharge energy from 5.5 to 9 kJ, and a decrease in the electrode gap length from 10 to 6 mm. The rapid rates of mineralization are attributed to the action of UV light in the reactor chamber on O{sub 3} to produce a high flux of hydroxyl radicals per discharge. The primary reaction intermediates were 2,4,6-trinitrobenzaldehyde and trinitrobenzene.

• OSTI ID: 290183
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 32; ISSN ESTHAG; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHEMICAL REACTORS
ELECTRODES
MINERALIZATION
OZONE
REMEDIAL ACTION
TNT
WASTE PROCESSING