Phototransformation, Sorption, Transport, and Fate of Mixtures of NTO, DNAN, and Traditional Explosives as a Function of Climatic Conditions
Abstract
Introduction and Objectives. Project ER-2727 examines what happens to energetic compounds in the field when they are exposed to sunlight, rainfall, and varying temperatures. Most likely route for insensitive and traditional munitions deposition on military training ranges is as residues of low order detonations. The residues are particles that include several energetic components with different properties. Technical Approach. Project examined traditional formulations like Composition B and C4, with TNT and RDX, as well as recently developed insensitive munitions formulations, IMX101, and 104 that include nitroguanidine (NQ), 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) and 3-nitro-1,2,4triazol-5-one (NTO). Their dissolution and phototransformation was measured across three locations with different climatic conditions. The project complemented these studies with controlled lab experiments. These measured transformation rates of energetic compounds as a function of amount and wavelength of incident light, whether compounds were in solution or in solid form, in dry or moist conditions, and if they were adsorbed to mineral surfaces. Project also identified products of phototransformation. In addition, ER-2727 looked at adsorption of released compounds to soil and its reactive components to examine mechanisms and factors influencing adsorption. Transport in soils of energetics mixtures resulting from outdoor dissolution and phototransformation was also studied. Results. The dissolution of energetic compounds followed individual solubilities of the formulation components. NTO dissolved first followed by NQ, DNAN, TNT, and RDX. In two years, up to 96 % of NTO dissolved from IMX-101 particles and only about 5 of DNAN. Dissolution rates increased with decrease in the particle size and this effect could be quantified using calculated surface area of the particles. Dissolution also increased with the amount of precipitation, but relationship was non-linear.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1222319
Entities
People
- Chao Qin
- Edward Hunt
- Jirí Šimůnek
- Katerina Dontsova
- Mark L Brusseau
- Samuel Beal
- Susan Taylor
- Warren Kadoya
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory
- University of Arizona
- University of California, Riverside