Degradation of TATP, TNT, and RDX using mechanically alloyed metals

I&EC 21

Rebecca Fidler, bekafidler@aol.com1, Cherie L. Geiger, cgeiger@mail.ucf.edu1, Christian A. Clausen, clausen@mail.ucf.edu1, and Michael E. Sigman, msigman@mail.ucf.edu2. (1) Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816, (2) Chemistry / National Center for Forensic Science, University of Central Florida, 12354 Research Parkway, Orlando, FL 32826
Mechanically alloyed metals have been explored for the catalytic reduction of the explosives triacetone triperoxide (TATP), trinitrotoluene (TNT), and cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (RDX). TNT and RDX have been found to contaminate soil and water near industrial production sites. Previous remediation techniques of TNT and RDX include phytoremediation, bioremediation, and exposure to iron catalysts. TATP, a peroxide explosive, has become more commonly used in terrorist acts due to both the ease of synthesis and availability of reagents. TATP is difficult to treat due to its sensitivity to heat and friction. Decomposition of TATP has been limited to thermal decomposition, as well as refluxing with SnCl2 in toluene. Although these methods are effective in decomposing TATP, they do not provide an in situ method for safely managing TATP contamination.

Laboratory scale tests were designed to measure the effectiveness of MgPd in degrading TATP, TNT, and RDX. TATP in solution has been found to undergo 96% degradation in 1.5 hours in the presence of the MgPd with a pseudo-first order rate constant. The major byproduct observed from the TATP degradation is acetone. TNT and RDX dissolved in water also exhibit pseudo-first order kinetic degradation with exposure to the MgPd. Other studies include using other mechanically alloyed metals, FeNi and FePd, for the degradation of TNT and RDX. MgPd and these other metals are also being tested to be used in combination with EZVM and BTS systems to help degrade TNT, and RDX to remediate contaminated water, soil, surfaces, and structures. Use of a MgPd in a emulsion consisting of active metal, oil, water, and surfactant, has been shown to absorb and degrade TATP crystals and remove 95% of TATP in aqueous media in 55 hours. The rate constants of the degradation of TNT and RDX as well as the degradation byproducts are being explored.

 

Environmental Applications of Nanoscale and Microscale Reactive Particles
1:30 PM-5:30 PM, Sunday, April 6, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. 223, Oral

Division of Industrial & Engineering Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008