A New Method for Determining Residues Generated during Munition Demilitarization Activities: Analysis of Environmental Soil and Water Samples

Abstract

Procedures are presented for qualitative screening and subsequent quantitation of munitions and related compounds present at sites contaminated by open burning/open detonation (OB/OD) disposal of munitions. Methods were developed to recover munitions and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from soil via sonic extraction into acetonitrile, and munitions from water via trapping onto C18 disposable cartridges and eluting with methanol. Complementary HPLC procedures were used for identification and quantification of these compounds. A qualitative High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) gradient method was developed, and used to screen samples for a wide range of munitions and PAHs. Quantitation of munitions and their environmental reduction products was accomplished using an HPLC isocratic method. Recoveries of munitions and degradation products spiked into sandy loam soils were greater than 90% in all cases. Corresponding recoveries from aqueous samples were comparable for the nitroaromatics, but were poorer for the nitramines.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 18, 1991
Accession Number
ADA239543

Entities

People

  • C. T. Phillips
  • M. A. Major
  • R. O. Nwanguma
  • R. S. Wentsel
  • R. T. Checkai

Organizations

  • United States Army Biological Warfare Laboratories

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Alcohols
  • Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Biomedical Research
  • Chromatography
  • Combustion
  • Detection
  • Explosives
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Health
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Identification
  • Liquid Chromatography
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Rdx
  • Triple Base Propellants

Readers

  • Agricultural Chemistry/Soil Science
  • Analytical Chemistry