Migration of Explosives in Soil

Abstract

This report contains the analytical results of 121 water samples obtained from Battelle Columbus Laboratories 14C lysimeter study of TNT, RDX, and tetryl. The study was funded to assess the environmental fate of these three explosives in various soils. Forty-six of the 121 water samples received had 14C activity greater than 100 dpm/mL and were further analyzed by gc/ec, hplc, and tlc methods. TNT was not observed in any of the TNT water samples either by gc/ ec or hplc. None of the typical TNT biodegradation or oxidation products were observed. Analysis of the TNT soil extracts revealed the presence of TNT and two biotransformation products of TNT. Trace amounts of picric acid were detected in the tetryl water samples which also contained nonvolatile, highly polar products. Analysis of the RDX water samples revealed RDX and the impurity HMX in the leachate. The RDX soil extracts contained RDX, HMX, volatile decomposition products as well as polar nonvolatile decomposition products.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 06, 1982
Accession Number
ADA135417

Entities

People

  • E. G. Kayser
  • N. E. Burlinson

Organizations

  • Naval Ordnance Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Facilities
  • Alcohols
  • Biodegradation
  • Chromatographs
  • Chromatography
  • Decomposition
  • Energetic Materials
  • Explosives
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Liquid Chromatography
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Munitions
  • Picric Acid
  • Rdx
  • Standards
  • Weapons

Fields of Study

  • Agricultural and Food sciences

Readers

  • Agricultural Chemistry/Soil Science
  • Analytical Chemistry