Clausen, JL; Clough, S; Gray, M; Gwinn P
A screening level assessment of the fate, transport, and toxicity of four potential replacements for perchlorate was performed. Resulting data will allow for evaluation and minimization of the potential environmental liability associated with the use of energetic compounds as propellants. This report details methods used and assessment findings. Inorganic oxidizer ammonium di(nitramido)amine (ADNA); cyclic nitramine/ gem-dinitro compound 1,3,5,5- tetranitrohexahydropyrimidine (DNNC); 1,3,3,5,7,7-hexanitro-1,5- diazacyclooctane (HCO); and diammonium di(nitramido)dinitroethylene (ADNDNE) were evaluated. Their respective analogue compounds also were evaluated: ammonium dinitramide (ADN); hexahydro-1,3,5- trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX); octahydro-1,3,5,7- tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX); and 1,1-diamino-2,2- dinitroethene (FOX-7). Evaluations of ammonium perchlorate (AP) provide a point of comparison. From an environmental fate and transport perspective, it appears ADNA, ADNDNE, DNNC, and HCO may have some characteristics similar to AP. However, it is possible HCO and DNNC are much less soluble in water than AP, thereby reducing the likelihood of environmental transport. It also is anticipated that ADNA, ADNDNE, DNNC, and HCO will readily photodegrade. However, rates of degradation in subsurface soil, groundwater, deep surface water, and sediment appear highly variable and may be dependent on covariables not evaluated for this assessment. Because of uncertainty with the model predicted results, recommendations for additional analysis, which could yield compound- specific data and reduce uncertainty, are provided.
toxicity, ground water, soils, perchlorates, uncertainty, surface waters, replacement, energetic properties, sediments, subsurface, environmental assessment, hmx, ammonium perchlorate, rdx, deep water, ammonium compounds, transport, nitrides, propellant