SAFE TREATMENT OF STOCKPILED EXPLOSIVE D (PICRIC ACID-BASED)
- Client:U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Site:ATF Approved Facility, Minnesota
- Date:November 2009
Situation
The munitions item assigned to MuniRem® Environmental for neutralization was a U.S. Navy projectile containing Explosive D (ammonium picrate). Explosive D is a stable, yellow-crystalline explosive once used as the standard main charge for armor-piercing bombs and projectiles. MuniRem® Environmental pilot-tested the use of MuniRem® for instant neutralization of wetted picric acid reclaimed from demilitarized munitions.
Solution
MuniRem® Environmental designed an explosive and chemical neutralization (ECAN) reactor with a throughput of 10 pounds per hour. An optimum dose of MuniRem® was prepared and used to neutralize multiple 10-pound batches of explosives in the reactor. The resulting solution was polished in a reactive column prior to disposal.
Result
The explosives were degraded to formate and nitrogen gas in less than one hour.
The highest throughput for neutralization of bulk high explosives was achieved in a 100-gallon reactor.
Using the optimum MuniRem® dosage, the composition D was destroyed to 2 mg/L in the ECAN reactor under an hour.
MuniRem® achieved non detectable levels (US DoD 5X) for explosives initially present on the contaminated metal casings.
A protocol was developed for neutralization of bulk explosives and decontamination of metal casings with MuniRem® solution.
