Premium
Disposal of Energetic Materials by Alkaline Pressure Hydrolysis and combined techniques
Author(s) -
Bunte Gudrun,
Krause Horst H.,
Hirth Thomas
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.56
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1521-4087
pISSN - 0721-3115
DOI - 10.1002/prep.19970220312
Subject(s) - propellant , nitrocellulose , rocket propellant , chemistry , explosive material , hydrolysis , nitrogen , chemical decomposition , organic chemistry , decomposition , biochemistry , membrane
Due to the reduction of armament and especially due to the German reunification we are met by the objective of the disposal of energetic materials. Environmentally friendly disposal methods available for the different propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics are urgently needed. The main component of gun and rocket propellants is the energetic polymer nitrocellulose. One method to dispose nitrocellulose containing propellants is the combination of rapid chemical destruction by pressure hydrolysis and the biological degradation of the reaction mixture. The study describes the results of pressure hydrolysis of different gun and rocket propellants. Under alkaline conditions (propellant to NaOH ratio 2.3:1; reaction temperature 150 °C; pressure below 30 bar) biological degradable reaction products were formed. The main products in the liquid phase were simple mono‐ and dicarboxylic acids. Dependent on the reaction conditions 30–50 % of the nitrogen content of the propellants was transformed to nitrite and nitrate. The gaseous nitrogen containing products were N 2 (16–46 %), N 2 O (2–23 %), NO x (0–5 %). Overall 40%–60% of the propellant nitrogen was transformed to gaseous products. In the solid residues a nitrogen content between 2 % and 9 % was found. The residues were mostly due to additives used in propellant manufacturing. In the case of nitrocellulose pressure hydrolysis below 30 bar and reaction temperature about 150 °C are sufficient.