Remediating hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine-contaminated water and soil by Fenton oxidation

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620180602· OSTI ID:6150737

Bier, E L; Singh, J; Li, Z; Comfort, S D; Shea, P J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (United States). School of Natural Resource Sciences

Soils surrounding the former Nebraska Ordnance Plant (NOP) and other military installations are highly contaminated with hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). Because RDX is mobile in soil and recalcitrant at high concentrations, soil remediation is needed to reduce environmental hazards. Conventional treatment by incineration is costly and often creates strong public opposition. The authors propose an alternative treatment using the Fenton reagent (Fe[sup 2+] + H[sub 2]O[sub 2]) to remediate RDX-contaminated water and soil. Treating an aqueous solution of RDX with the Fenton reagent resulted in complete RDX destruction within 24 h. Ultraviolet irradiation in combination with Fenton reagent enhanced both RDX transformation and mineralization. Mass balance experiments with [sup 14]C-RDX indicated that, within 12 h of Fenton oxidation, 76% of the initial [sup 14]C activity was lost from solution, the majority of which (68%) was recovered as [sup 14]CO[sub 2]. Additional products resulting from Fenton oxidation of RDX included NH[sub 4][sup +], NO[sub 3][sup [minus]], and formic acid; they also present evidence that methylene dinitramine is formed. The US EPA remediation goal for the NOP site was achieved when the Fenton reagent was added incrementally to RDX-contaminated soil slurries at elevated temperature (45 C). These results support the use of the Fenton reaction for remediating RDX-contaminated water and soil.

• OSTI ID: 6150737
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Vol. 18:6; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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-)
AMMUNITION
NITRO COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
REAGENTS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS