Destruction of Nitrocellulose Using Alkaline Hydrolysis
Abstract
Due to demilitarization activities in the United States, large amounts of energetic materials which have been accumulated over the years in various manufacturing and military installations, have to be dealt with in an environmentally acceptable manner. Historically, the method of choice for destruction of energetic materials has been open burning or open detonation which are neither safe nor environmentally desirable. Alkaline hydrolysis appears to be a simple, inexpensive method for breaking explosives and propellants down to nonenergetic materials that can be directly disposed or further treated biologically. Nitrocellulose is one of the energetic materials classified as reactive (40 CFR section 261.21) and is listed under the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA). This RCRA classification designates energetic materials as a hazardous waste. This study focused on the kinetics of decomposition of nitrocellulose using sodium hydroxide at different dosage levels, temperature, and contact tunes. Significant levels of denitration and breakdown of the backbone of cellulose structure were achieved by this method. The post- digestion products consist of organic and inorganic substances with sodium nitrite and nitrate being the major nitrogen containing compounds. The ratio of nitrite-N to nitrate-N is slightly changed at different sodium hydroxide concentrations but it approaches a value of 3 regardless of the degree of digestion. The time required for complete destruction varies with concentration of sodium hydroxide and temperature. Kinetic modeling showed that the process follows a pseudo-first-order rate law. The present work indicates that alkaline digestion may be the technology of choice for the destruction of nitrocellulose in various gun and rocket propellants, and for the treatment of nitrocellulose laden effluents from munitions manufacturing facilities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADP017728
Entities
People
- Christos Christodoulatos
- Tsan-liang Su
Organizations
- Stevens Institute of Technology