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Title: Comparison of Bacillus atrophaeus spore viability following exposure to detonation of C4 and to deflagration of halogen-containing thermites

Abstract

Energetic materials are being considered for the neutralization of spore-forming bacteria. In this study, the neutralization effects of a monomolecular explosive were compared to the effects of halogen-containing thermites. Bacillus atrophaeus spores were exposed to the post-detonation environment of a 100 g charge of the military explosive C-4 at a range of 50 cm. These tests were performed in the thermodynamically closed environment of a 506-l barometric calorimeter. Associated temperatures were calculated using a thermodynamic model informed by calculations with the Cheetah thermochemical code. Temperatures in the range of 2300–2800 K were calculated to persist for nearly the full 4 ms pressure observation time. After the detonation event, spores were characterized using optical microscopy and the number of viable spores was assessed. Results showed live spore survival rates in the range of 0.01%–1%. For the thermite tests, a similar, smaller-scale configuration was employed that examined the spore neutralization effects of two thermites: aluminum with iodine pentoxide and aluminum with potassium chlorate. Only the former mixture resulted in spore neutralization. These results indicate that the detonation environment produced by an explosive with no chemical biocides may provide effective spore neutralization similar to a deflagrating thermite containing iodine.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)
  2. Mechanical Engineering Department, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22280633
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 114; Journal Issue: 23; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; ALUMINIUM; BACILLUS; CALORIMETERS; CALORIMETRY; IODINE; OPTICAL MICROSCOPY; POTASSIUM; SPORES; THERMODYNAMIC MODEL

Citation Formats

Tringe, J. W., Létant, S. E., Dugan, L. C., Levie, H. W., Kuhl, A. L., Murphy, G. A., Alves, S. W., Vandersall, K. S., and Pantoya, M. L. Comparison of Bacillus atrophaeus spore viability following exposure to detonation of C4 and to deflagration of halogen-containing thermites. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4849835.
Tringe, J. W., Létant, S. E., Dugan, L. C., Levie, H. W., Kuhl, A. L., Murphy, G. A., Alves, S. W., Vandersall, K. S., & Pantoya, M. L. Comparison of Bacillus atrophaeus spore viability following exposure to detonation of C4 and to deflagration of halogen-containing thermites. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4849835
Tringe, J. W., Létant, S. E., Dugan, L. C., Levie, H. W., Kuhl, A. L., Murphy, G. A., Alves, S. W., Vandersall, K. S., and Pantoya, M. L. 2013. "Comparison of Bacillus atrophaeus spore viability following exposure to detonation of C4 and to deflagration of halogen-containing thermites". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4849835.
@article{osti_22280633,
title = {Comparison of Bacillus atrophaeus spore viability following exposure to detonation of C4 and to deflagration of halogen-containing thermites},
author = {Tringe, J. W. and Létant, S. E. and Dugan, L. C. and Levie, H. W. and Kuhl, A. L. and Murphy, G. A. and Alves, S. W. and Vandersall, K. S. and Pantoya, M. L.},
abstractNote = {Energetic materials are being considered for the neutralization of spore-forming bacteria. In this study, the neutralization effects of a monomolecular explosive were compared to the effects of halogen-containing thermites. Bacillus atrophaeus spores were exposed to the post-detonation environment of a 100 g charge of the military explosive C-4 at a range of 50 cm. These tests were performed in the thermodynamically closed environment of a 506-l barometric calorimeter. Associated temperatures were calculated using a thermodynamic model informed by calculations with the Cheetah thermochemical code. Temperatures in the range of 2300–2800 K were calculated to persist for nearly the full 4 ms pressure observation time. After the detonation event, spores were characterized using optical microscopy and the number of viable spores was assessed. Results showed live spore survival rates in the range of 0.01%–1%. For the thermite tests, a similar, smaller-scale configuration was employed that examined the spore neutralization effects of two thermites: aluminum with iodine pentoxide and aluminum with potassium chlorate. Only the former mixture resulted in spore neutralization. These results indicate that the detonation environment produced by an explosive with no chemical biocides may provide effective spore neutralization similar to a deflagrating thermite containing iodine.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4849835},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22280633}, journal = {Journal of Applied Physics},
issn = {0021-8979},
number = 23,
volume = 114,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Dec 21 00:00:00 EST 2013},
month = {Sat Dec 21 00:00:00 EST 2013}
}

Works referencing / citing this record:

Effect of environment on iodine oxidation state and reactivity with aluminum
journal, January 2016