Nitrocellulose Destruction Patent Awarded to MuniRem Environmental

Method for chemical destruction of nitrocellulose propellants and plasticized military munitions - patent awarded to MuniRem Environmental, LLC. 

Valentline Nzengung, CEO and CTO of MuniRem Environmental said, “This process means there is now a safe, environmentally friendly and more cost effective way to dispose of nitrocellulose propellants and plasticized munitions. It is another example of MuniRem Environmental’s cutting edge technology for munitions neutralization.”  

The patent covers a process for rapid dissolution and instant neutralization of solid nitrocellulose propellants and plasticized military munitions. The process uses chemical reagents without heat to destroy nitrocellulose propellants to sugars (monosaccharides).  If desired, the sugars are recoverable and reusable for ethanol and diesel production. The method is a safer, less expensive, more environmentally friendly and faster process and solution than current methods which either entail blowing them up (detonating) or burning them. Both of these practices are inherently dangerous, result in toxic byproducts and require the materials to be moved to safe location and stored until they are required to be disposed of.  

Thanks to the MuniRem patented process, it is now possible to destroy the solid nitrocellulose propellants and plasticized military munitions safely and quickly without having to transport the material to safe location for burning or explosive destruction.