Disposal of Liquid Propellants

Abstract

The U.S. Army is developing a liquid propellant that will possibly be used in certain applications as a replacement for conventional munitions. The propellant includes an oxidizer (hydroxylammonium nitrate), a fuel (triethanolammonium nitrate), and water. In anticipation of widespread (both continental U.S. and abroad) use of the propellant, USATHAMA began a research program to identify the procedures that could be implemented for disposing of the propellant in instances such as spills or destruction of excess or offspec liquid propellant. In this report the chemistry of the liquid propellant is reviewed, and chemical, physical, and biological processes that result in the degradation of the propellant components and similar compounds are described. In addition, domestic and foreign regulations pertaining to environmental releases of the propellant and/or its degradation products are discussed. Keywords: Hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN); Biological degradation; Triethanolammonium nitrate (TEAN); Photolytic degradation; Liquid propellant; Thermal degradation; Nitrosamine.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 13, 1990
Accession Number
ADA223498

Entities

People

  • Carolyn A. Graham
  • Majid A. Dosani
  • Michael L. Taylor

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Combustion Products
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Environment
  • Environmental Protection
  • Hygiene
  • Liquid Propellants
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Science
  • Medical Personnel
  • Nitroso Compounds
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Organic Compounds
  • Rocket Oxidizers
  • Vitamin C

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Environmental Engineering.
  • Rocket Propulsion.