Destruction of TNT and RDX residues and devices

Author

Junqi Yue, University of Rhode Island

Date of Award

2005

Degree Type

Dissertation

First Advisor

Jimmie Oxley

Second Advisor

James Smith

Abstract

Concentrations of TNT and RDX in soil (10%) decomposed similar to the neat explosive. First-order rate constants ranged from 1.14 × 10 -7/sec (100°C) to 4.42 × 10-4/sec (250°C) for soil with 10% TNT compared to neat TNT [1.21 × 10-7 (100°C) and 7.78 × 10-5/sec (250°C)]. The 10% RDX is soil had rate constants that ranged from 1.86 × 10-5/sec (175°C) to 4.60 × 10-4/sec (210°C) compared to neat RDX [3.01 × 10-5/sec (175°C) and 1.03 × 10-3/sec (175°C). Low concentrations of TNT and RDX (i.e. 0.1%) decomposed faster than the neat explosives with rate constants ranging 2.81 × 10-6/sec (100°C) to about 3 × 10 -3/sec (250°C) for TNT and 2.12 × 10-3/sec (175°C) and 2.68 × 10-3/sec (210°C) for RDX. Migration studies suggested TNT was susceptible to sublimation/evaporation at 250°C. Between 2% and 8% of TNT from soil condensed onto walls of glass capillary above the contaminated soil column. Sublimation of RDX was less than 1%. From 7% to 14% of the TNT had migrated into clean soil while less than 2% of RDX in soil columns migrated into the clean soil at 250°C. Hypergolic reagents for TNT destruction included diethyl triamine (DETA), ethylene diamine (EDA), propyl amine, dipropyl amine tripropyl amine, propyl diamine, hexamethylene diamine (HMDA) and tris(3-aminoethyl)amine (tris). DSC of TNT with amines exhibited exotherms at 160°C to 180°C. TNT with borohydride produced an exotherm at a relatively high temperature of about 290°C. With both amine and borohydride temperature of the exotherm decreased significantly to about 83°C. Heat releases were largest when borohydride was present. Rate constants for tertiary and secondary amines reacted more slowly than primary amines (i.e. first-order rate constants of less than 10−13/sec for tertiary amines versus about 10-7/sec for primary amines).

Recommended Citation

Yue, Junqi, "Destruction of TNT and RDX residues and devices" (2005). Open Access Dissertations. Paper 2067.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/oa_diss/2067