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Characterization of explosives processing waste decomposition due to composting

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5598569· OSTI ID:5598569
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Static pile and mechanically stirred composts generated at the Umatilla Army Depot Activity in a field composting optimization study were chemically and toxicologically characterized to provide data for the evaluation of composting efficiency to decontaminate and detoxify explosives-contaminated soil. Characterization included determination of explosives and 2,4,6,-trinitrotoluene metabolites in composts and their EPA Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure Leachates, leachate toxicity to Ceriodaphnia Dubia and mutagenicity of the leachates and organic solvent extracts of the composts to Ames bacterial strains TA-98 and TA-100. The main conclusion from this study is that composting can effectively reduce the concentrations of explosives and bacterial mutagenicity in explosives -- contaminated soil, and can reduce the aquatic toxicity of leachable compounds. Small levels of explosive and metabolites, bacterial mutagenicity, and leachable aquatic toxicity remain after composting. The ultimate fate of the biotransformed explosives, and the source(s) of residual toxicity and mutagenicity remain unknown.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOD; Department of Defense, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
5598569
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM-12029; ON: DE92013304
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450100 -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Chemical Explosions & Explosives
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BACTERIA
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
COMPOSTING
DECOMPOSITION
DECONTAMINATION
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
EXPLOSIVES
LEACHATES
MANAGEMENT
MICROORGANISMS
MIXTURES
NITRO COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
PROGRESS REPORT
SOILS
SOLUTIONS
TNT
TOXICITY
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING