The Effects of Amine Based Missile Fuels on the Activated Sludge Process.
Abstract
The Air Force (AF) procures amine based hydrazine fuels for use in Titan II and III, Minuteman III, Bomarc and F-16 systems and is also responsible for the procurement, storage, and transport of such fuels in support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the AF Space Shuttle Program. This report summarizes data on the effects of Hydrazine (HZ), Monomethylhydrazine (MMH), and Unsymmetricaldimethylhydrazine (UDMH) in conventional activated sludge systems for semi-continuous addition of waste containing the fuels and for slug doses from accidental spills. It was concluded from the continuous feed studies that the three hydrazines could cause significant deterioration of an activated sludge plant if the concentration in the influent exceeded a few mg/l. For an aeration basin with a common hydraulic detention time of 9 hours, the efficiency of organic removal is seriously degraded when the influent concentration of HZ exceeds 10 mg/l. For UDMH and MMH this total failure results at concentrations of approximately 8 mg/l and 5 mg/l, respectively. Interpolating from these continuous feed studies, the 'no effect level' would be approximately 1 mg/l for HZ and 2 mg/l for MMH and UDMH. The influence of the hydrazines on nitrogen speciation of the sewage treatment plant effluent is more pronounced than that found for organic carbon oxidation. Inhibition of nitrification occurred at concentrations above 0.5 mg/l for MMH and 1 mg/l for the other fuels.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA085186
Entities
People
- Jay A. Farmwald
- Michael G. Macnaughton