Degradation of RDX by potassium permanganate: Synthesis and identification of 4-NDAB

CHED 550

Melissa S. Love, charris@albion.edu1, Chanat Chokejaroenrat, chanatunl@gmail.com2, Clifford E. Harris, charris@albion.edu1, and Steve D. Comfort, scomfort@unl.edu3. (1) Chemistry Department, Albion College, 611 E. Porter Street, Albion, MI 49224, (2) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, (3) School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583
Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) is a commonly used explosive that has caused widespread groundwater contamination at numerous military sites. One method for remediating contaminated groundwater is in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) using permanganate. Previous research with RDX and permanganate indicates that complete mineralization to carbon and nitrogen oxides is possible and that 4-nitro-2,4-diaza-butanal (4-NDAB) may be an intermediate in the degradation scheme. To test this hypothesis, we synthesized 4-NDAB and quantified the degradation products produced between RDX and permanganate with HPLC and LC/MS.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Organic Chemistry
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007