The Biodegradation of Hexahydro-1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-Triazine (RDX)

Abstract

Biodegradation of the explosive hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5- triazine (RDX) occurs under anaerobic conditions to yield a number of products including: hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazine, hexahydro-1,3- dinitroso-5-nitro-1,3,5-triazine, hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitroso-1,3,5-triazine, hydrazine, 1,1-dimethylhydrazine, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, formaldehyde, and methanol. A scheme for the biodegradation is proposed which proceeds via successive reduction of the nitro groups to a point where destabilization and fragmentation of the ring occurs. The non-cyclic degradation products arise via subsequent reduction and rearrangement reactions of the fragments.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA101632

Entities

People

  • A. M. Kaplan
  • J. H. Cornell
  • N. G. Mccormick

Organizations

  • United States Army Soldier Systems Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alcohols
  • Ammunition
  • Anhydrides
  • Biodegradation
  • Chemistry
  • Decomposition
  • Detectors
  • Environmental Pollution
  • Explosives
  • Formic Acid
  • Hydrazine Derivatives
  • Hydrazines
  • Liquid Chromatography
  • Materials
  • Munitions
  • Organic Compounds
  • Rdx

Readers

  • Environmental Engineering.
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  • Organic Chemistry