Fate of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene in a Simulated Compost System
Abstract
Composting of explosives-contaminated soils is an economical alternative to other available treatment technologies. Development of a protocol for treatability studies in this work unit required mass balance of 2,4,6 trinitrotoluene (TNT) in the composting process to determine whether environmentally undesirable emissions or residuals are produced. The objective of the study was to develop methods for determining mass balance of TNT in a small-scale (473-cu cm 3) compost system. Results of the three small-scale experiments indicated that composting could be simulated at the small scale and that a mass balance for TNT could be determined under mesophilic conditions. Mass balance indicated no significant losses of TNT or its transformation products from the compost as volatile organic compounds or carbon dioxide. No solvent extractable TNT or its transformation products were found. Almost all (70 to 95 percent) of the radioactivity remained in the compost. The fourth small-scale experiment was designed to simulate thermophilic conditions using an uncontaminated soil; the fifth investigated the effects of reducing microbial activity on the fate of TNT in the compost matrix; and the sixth simulated thermophilic conditions in a contaminated soil from Umatilla Army Depot Activity, Umatilla, OR. The composted material was subjected to a fractionation procedure
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA285192
Entities
People
- Douglas Gunnison
- Erika F. Mccormick
- Judith C. Pennington
- Karen F. Myers