Environmental Fate Studies of HMX
Abstract
This report describes studies that were performed to determine the impact of photolysis and biotransformation on the persistence of HMX in Holston River water and LAAP lagoons. In these environments, photolysis was found to be the dominant transformation process with half-lives ranging from 17 days in Holston River water to 7900 days in lagoon water. In the latter case, poor light transmission through the lagoon water inhibited photolytic processes. Major photolytic transformation products were nitrate, nitrite, and formaldehyde. Biotransformation of HMX occurred under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions in HMX wasteline water but conditions were not favorable for this transformation in Holston River water or in LAAP lagoon water. Therefore, biotransformation was not expected to contribute significantly to the loss of HMX in the environment. The metabolites resulting from both aerobic and anaerobic transformation were the mono-through tetra-nitroso derivatives of HMX which eventually were metabolized to 1,1-dimethylhydrazine. Computer simulations of the Holston River and LAAP lagoons indicate that HMX will be persistent in these environments with dilution serving as the major factor in reducing HMX concentration in these water bodies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA145122
Entities
People
- Philip L. Alferness
- Ronald J. Spanggord
- Shonh Lee
- Tsong W. Chou
- William R. Mabey
Organizations
- SRI International