Characterization of explosives processing waste decomposition due to composting

Technical Report · Wed Jan 31 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6812493

Griest, W H; Stewart, A J; Tyndall, R L; Ho, C H; Tan, E

Explosives-contaminated (primarily TNT, RDX, and HMX) sediments composted under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions at the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant were subjected to regulatory leaching and organic solvent extraction followed by chemical characterization toxicity tests. Chemical characterization included EPA Contract Laboratory Program Target compound list volatile and semivolatile organics, PCBs, pesticides, metals, and also explosive compounds and TNT metabolites. The toxicity testing utilized Ceriodaphnia dubia, fathead minnow larvae, and the Ames test. Regulatory compounds were not detected at significant concentrations in the leachates or extracts and the main constituents found were TNT, HMX, RDX, and two monoamino dinitrotoluenes at low to sub-ppM levels. Low toxicity was detected in the aqueous leachates, with the leachate from the mesophilic compost being more toxic. Particles recovered from the leachates had only low extractable toxicity. Considerably higher toxicity was found in the organic solvent extracts, because of lesser dilution than the regulatory leachates. Comparison of toxicity calculated per g of compost extracted or leached did not reveal any substantial toxicity in the compost which was not liberated by the regulatory leaching procedure, but the high dilutions considerably reduced the sensitivity of the Ames test unless the leachates were concentrated 100-fold. Considering the lack of a composted blank devoid of explosives and the age of the compost samples before characterization these results must be considered as preliminary. The application of Phase 1 methods and experiences to Phase 2 studies of fresh samples including proper blanks and controls will provide a more conclusive test of explosives process waste detoxification by composting. 23 refs., 1 fig., 26 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOD
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6812493
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-11573; ON: DE90011286
• 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
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
CLEANING
COMPOSTING
CONTAMINATION
DECONTAMINATION
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
EXPLOSIVES
EXTRACTION
FATHEAD MINNOW
FEDERAL REGION VI
FISHES
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
LEACHATES
LEACHING
LOUISIANA
MANAGEMENT
MATTER
MESOPHILIC CONDITIONS
METABOLITES
METALS
MIXTURES
MUTAGEN SCREENING
NITRO COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
PROCESSING
PROGRESS REPORT
SCREENING
SEDIMENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOILS
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
THERMOPHILIC CONDITIONS
TNT
TOXICITY
USA
VERTEBRATES
VOLATILE MATTER
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING