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Title: Remediating RDX-contaminated water and soil using zero-valent iron

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Quality
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (United States)

Soil and water contaminated with RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) pose a serious threat to the environment and human health. The objective was to determine the potential for using zero-valent iron (Fe{sup 0}) to remediate RDX-contaminated water and soil. Mixing an aqueous solution of 32 mg RDX L{sup {minus}1} (spiked with {sup 14}C-labeled RDX) with 10 g Fe{sup 0} L{sup {minus}1} resulted in complete RDX destruction within 72 h. Nitroso derivatives of RDX accounted for approximately 26% of the RDX transformed during the first 24 h; these intermediates disappeared within 96 h ad the remaining {sup 14}C products were water soluble and not strongly sorbed by iron surfaces. When RDX-contaminated soil was treated with a single amendment of Fe{sup 0} in a static soil microcosm, more than 60% of the initial {sup 14}C-RDX was recovered as {sup 14}CO{sub 2} after 112 d. Treating surface and subsurface soils containing 3,600 mg RDX kg{sup {minus}1} with 50 g Fe{sup 0} kg{sup {minus}1} at a constant soil water content resulted in a 52% reduction in extractable RDX following 12 mo of static incubation. A second Fe{sup 0} addition at 12 mo further reduced the initial extractable RDX by 71% after 15 mo. These results support the use of zero-valent iron for in situ remediation of RDX-contaminated soil.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
290132
Journal Information:
Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol. 27, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: Sep-Oct 1998
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English