Environmental Studies on Open Burn/Open Detonation Disposal Sites. Transport and Fate of Nitroaromatic and Nitramine Explosives in Soils from Open Burning/Open Detonation Operations: Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RAAP)

Abstract

This report describes soil column experiments (task 1) used to study fate and transport of OB/OD residues within the upper 1 m of soil. (Terrestrial (task 2) and aqueous (task 3) toxicity studies are reported elsewhere.) Intact soil-cores were collected from Radford Army Ammunition Plant. Intact soil-cores were also collected from Anniston Army Depot, Milan Army Ammunition Plant, and Pueblo Army Depot; results of these three studies are reported elsewhere. Soil columns were housed in controlled-environment chambers, and each soil column was formulated to approximate the major OB/OD residues found at the respective sites. Synthetic rainwater was added to the columns twice weekly, and a controlled tension applied. Leachates were collected biweekly. Columns were analyzed at 3-month intervals through 9 months. Columns were cut into 2.5-cm transverse sections, and subsamples were air-dried, ground, and extracted. Extracts and leachates were analyzed by HPLC for explosives to reveal fate and transport behavior. Leachates contained no munition residues or transformation products (TP). TNT, TNB (TP), 2,4-DNT, 2,6-DNT 2-amino-DNT (TP), and 4-amino DNT (TP) all migrated vertically but <7.5 cm (3 in.) deep into the soil. Due to weathering, TNT, TNB, 2,4-DNT, and 2,6-DNT became bound within the soil A horizon.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA280606

Entities

People

  • Carlton T. Phillips
  • John C. Amos
  • Michael A. Major
  • Raphael O. Nwanguma
  • Ronald T. Checkai

Organizations

  • Edgewood Chemical Biological Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Ammunition
  • Biomedical Research
  • Chemical Analysis
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Contamination
  • Controlled Environment
  • Detection
  • Engineering
  • Environment
  • Environmental Protection
  • Explosives
  • Liquid Chromatography
  • Materials
  • Toxicity
  • Waste Products

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Agricultural Chemistry/Soil Science