Evaluation of Crossflow Microfiltration for Removing Nitrocellulose Fines FromWastewater

摘要

The Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RAAP), Radford, VA is the only Army ammunitionplant in the United States that processes nitrocellulose (NC), which is a primary ingredient in military weapon propellants. The NC manufacturing process generates fines that are present in wastewater as suspended solids. Increasingly stringent environmental regulations and a desire to assume environmental leadership have motivated the Army to comprehensively evaluate and develop alternatives to separate, treat, and dispose of NC fines. Research by the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories (USACERL) into separation alternatives has considered: crossflow microfiltration (MF), rotary vacuum filtration, coagulation using synthetic polymer, sedimentation, air flotation, new decanter methods, and other improved operations. This research investigated crossflow MF for treating NC wastewater by analyzing influential factors and operational parameters, identifying the necessity of pretreatment, recommending an appropriate pretreatment method, and assessing the reuse potential of recovered NC fines and filtered wastewater. The data from this research may be used to develop design criteria for a full-scale MF treatment facility at RAAP. (AN).