Open AccessTreatment and recycle of high explosive contaminated water
Author(s) -
Jericho Locke
Publication year - 1994
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/81010
Subject(s) - explosive material , environmental science , wastewater , filtration (mathematics) , waste management , effluent , settling , sump (aquarium) , contamination , environmental engineering , engineering , chemistry , ecology , statistics , mathematics , organic chemistry , biology
A polysulfone ultrafilter membrane having a 0.04-{micro}m pore opening has been used to filter high explosive contaminated water. The water is being recycled for the coolant used during the machining of high explosive billets. High explosive contaminated wastewater is generated from the machining of high explosives at Pantex Plant. The water is used as the coolant during the machining operation. Typically, the water flow rate is from 2 to 3 gallons per minute. The water must be tempered to about room temperature so that it does not affect the dimensions of the explosive piece being machined. In normal operations, the wastewater and cuttings are allowed to flow to a centralized collection system. The solid explosives are separated from the water using a filtration and recycle system. The wastewater is collected in an air agitated receiving tank or sump. It is pumped from the sump to a settling cone where the solid particles are decanted off of the bottom. The overflow from the cone is collected in another tank and then pumped through two cyclone separators operated in series. This water is also collected in a holding tank prior to final filtration through a 25-{micro}m filter. The effluent from the particle filter flows through two activated carbon filters operated in series prior to being discharged to a drainage ditch. This results in an average discharge of about 2,000 gallons per operating day from Building 11-50