Characterization and remediation of Soil Contaminated with Explosives: Development of Practical Technologies
Abstract
The sorption-desorption behavior and long-term fate of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5- triazine (RDX) was examined in sterilized and nonsterilized topsoil. Results of this study indicate that although RDX is not extensively sorbed by the topsoil (~ d of 0.83 Llk:g) sorption is nearly irreversible. Furthermore, there was no difference in the sorption behavior for sterile and nonsterile topsoil. However, over the long-term, RDX completely disappeared within 5 weeks in nonsterile topsoil, and hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5,-dinitro- 1,3,5-triazine (MNX), hexahydro-1,3-dinitroso-5-nitro-1,3,5-triazine (DNX), and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitroso-1,3,5,-triazine (TNX) metabolites formed in the aqueous phase. Over the same period, recovery of RDX from sterile topsoil was high (55-99%) and the nitroso metabolites were not detected. Only traces of RDX were mineralized to C02 and N20 by the indigenous microorganisms in nonsterile topsoil. Of the RDX that was mineralized to N20, one N originated from the ring and the other from the nitro group substituent, as determined using N15 ring-labeled RDX. However, N20 from RDX represented only 3% of the total N20 that formed from the process of nitrification/denitrification.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 06, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA634394
Entities
People
- Agnes Renoux
- Bernard Lachance
- Charles A Greer
- Denis Rho
- Geoffrey Sunahara
- Jalal Hawari
- Pierre-yves Robidoux
- Ping Gong
- Sylvie Beaudet
- Tamara Sheremata
Organizations
- National Research Council Canada