Environmental fate of RDX and TNT
Sikka, HC; Bannerjee, S; Pack, EJ; Appleton, HT
| HERO ID | 2342481 |
|---|---|
| Year | 1980 |
| Title | Environmental fate of RDX and TNT |
| Authors | Sikka, HC; Bannerjee, S; Pack, EJ; Appleton, HT |
| Publisher Text | U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command |
| City | Fort Detrick, MD |
| Page Numbers | 1-142 |
| Abstract | The role of a number of processes (photodegradation, hydrolysis, biodegradation, and sorption to sediment) which may affect the environmental fate of RDX was examined under laboratory conditions. Photodegradation of RDX appears to be a fairly rapid process (half-life of 9-13 hours) and one ofthe intermediate photolysis product may be a nitrosamine. RDX does not hydrolyze in an aqueous solution at a pH range normally formed in natural waters. RDX does not sorb significantly to the sediment. Following a lag period of 2:3 weeks, biodegradation of RDX (half-life about 7 days) occurs in Holston River water supplemented with sediment. Sorption of TNT to sediment is relatively low after 24 hours. TNT degrades in the presence of sediment and the products of degradation appear to bind strongly to sediment with time. |
| Report Number | TR 81-538 |
| Is Certified Translation | No |
| Dupe Override | No |
| Comments | Corporate author: Syracuse Research Corporation; Contract No. DAMD17-77-C-7026 |
| Is Public | Yes |