Applied Innovative Technologies for Characterization of Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerin Contaminated Buildings and Soils

Abstract

Badger Army Ammunition Plant (BAAAP), in Sauk County, Wisconsin, is one of many inactive Army ammunition plants currently under the control of the Department of Defense (DoD) with transitioning missions in place. These plants are in varying stages of transfer out of DoD control. In order to transfer these properties, DoD must characterize and decontaminate the properties to a level protective of human health and the environment. To accomplish this task, many buildings used in the production, loading, handling, and storage of explosives will have to be demolished or characterized and decontaminated. BAAAP alone has more than 1,400 buildings on the installation that have to be addressed. The contaminants of concern associated with the buildings at BAAAP include nitrocellulose (NC), nitroglycerine (NG), dinitrotoluene (DNT), and common environmental compounds such as asbestos-containing material (ACM), solvents, and metals. A previous Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) demonstration was performed between April 28, 2002, and May 13, 2002, to demonstrate candidate field test methods for NC and NG. The methods evaluated were Raman spectroscopy, EXPRAYTM colorimetric indicator, and the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) Royal Demolition Xplosive (RDX) colorimetric field screening method. The methods were used to test for the presence and/or concentration of NC or NG in soil samples and concrete slabs. Attempts were made to compare the results from these field measurements to laboratory analyses of NC and NG in the same materials to evaluate the reliability of the field screening and analytical methods for identifying and quantifying NC and NG in buildings and soils.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA607299

Entities

People

  • Jay Hodges

Organizations

  • United States Army Corps of Engineers

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter WMD
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Chemical Analysis
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Composite Materials
  • Energetic Materials
  • Environmental Protection
  • Explosives
  • Liquid Chromatography
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Mobile Laboratories
  • Soil Tests
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Methods

Readers

  • Agricultural Chemistry/Soil Science
  • Environmental Engineering.