Biodegradation of Propellants M3lAlEl and NOSIH-AA2 in Compost, Soil Slurries,and Liquid Cultures

摘要

Munition production operations generate a large amount of waste material, whichhas historically been disposed of by open burning (OB) and open detonation (OD). However, OB/OD presents the potential for contamination of air, water, and soil. Increasingly stringent environmental regulations may force the interruption of munitions production if alternative waste disposal options such as controlled incineration, wet air oxidation, super critical water oxidation, and composting are not developed. This study evaluated the biodegradation of triple (M3 lAlEl) and double base (NOSIH-AA2) propellants in compost, liquid culture, and soil slurries. No biodegradation of the production grade propellants was observed in compost or soil slurry incubations. In serum bottle incubation studies, some components of the propellants were biodegraded. The nitroglycerin component of both propellants was degraded in both the experimental and sterile control bottles in less than 1 week, suggesting an abiotic mechanism was responsible for its degradation. Nitroguanidine, a component of propellant M3lAlEl, was resistant to biodegradation. However, when an additional electron donor was added to the medium, 62 percent of the nitroguanidine was biodegraded under methanogenic conditions. The study concludes that biological treatment processes will have a limited role in disposing of production grade propellants.