The Fate of Hexahydro-1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-Triazine (RDX) and Related Compounds in Anaerobic Denitrifying Continuous Culture Systems Using Simulated Waste Water.
Abstract
This study has demonstrated conclusively that mixtures of compounds present in waste waters resulting from the manufacture of RDX/HMX can be successfully removed in a continuous treatment process provided the system is operated in an anaerobic mode. The present study extends previously reported findings with RDX to HMX and the two acetylated derivatives, AcRDX and AcHMX. Nitrate, in concentrations up to 2400 ppm, is removed by the same continuous system; the lower the E sub h the more efficient the removal. Removal efficiencies were also correlated with TOC(Total Organic Compounds) values, with the eight-membered ring compounds, HMX and AcHMX, being brought up to their highest levels of disappearance by systems having the highest TOC values. This suggests that an anaerobic treatment facility designed to remove these compounds may require the addition of supplemental nutrients to maintain a high efficiency biotransformation. No buildup of transformation products was observed in any of the systems studied. It appeared that if a compound was acted on at all no detectable products remained. From extrapolation of these data it may be expected that treatment of an actual waste stream would be expected to remove all of the RDX and most of the AcRDX, while leaving some percentage of HMX and AcHMX untouched.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA149462
Entities
People
- A. M. Kaplan
- J. H. Cornell
- N. G. Mccormick
Organizations
- United States Army Soldier Systems Center