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Title: Testing to determine relationship between explosive-contaminated sludge components and reactivity. Final report, June 1985-January 1987

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6470883

Explosives manufacture and ammunition load, assembly and pack (LAP) operations result in the generation of explosives-contaminated wastewater. Over the years, the Department of the Army has used lagoons for treatment of these wastewaters by evaporation/percolation. These lagoons contain the remaining explosives-contaminated waters and sludges are listed as hazardous wastes under Federal regulations promulgated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The basis for this listing is the assumed explosive reactivity of these wastes if subjected to a strong initiating source or if heated under confinement. The objective of this study was to investigate and define the reactivity of explosive-contaminated soils to flame and shock as a function of explosive composition using the Bureau of Mines (BOM) Zero Gap (shock) and Deflagration to Detonation Transition (DDT flame) tests. The resultant technical data will be used to define the reactivity of explosive-contaminated soil on the basis of compositional analyses. Extensive testing was conducted to investigate and define the reactivity of explosive-contaminated soils to flame and shock stimuli. From these tests, it is also concluded that explosive-contaminated soils can be diluted with virgin soil to reduce the total explosive content of < or = 12% and result in a composition which is not reactive in the BOM flame and shock tests.

Research Organization:
Little (Arthur D.), Inc., Cambridge, MA (USA)
OSTI ID:
6470883
Report Number(s):
AD-A-179076/5/XAB; ADL-54141
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English