A basic test method for the study of explosion treatment of waste chemicals from laboratories (original) (raw)

Chemical analysis of post explosion samples obtained as a result of model field experiments

Talanta, 2013

Five different explosives were detonated in a series of field experiments. Each experiment (detonation of the charge of each specific explosive) was repeated three times. The experiments were conducted under controlled conditions, exceeding those of research published so far. Detonated charges were uniform in size and, as far as possible, in shape. The explosives used originated from the same batch. Additionally, the same kind of electric detonators were used. Witness plates (sheets of galvanised steel 100 cm  90 cm  0.5 mm) were used to collect post-blast residues in a reproducible way. They were placed relatively close to the charge to minimise the influence of the wind. Samples were collected by systematic swabbing of the surface of the plate by acetone moistened cotton swabs. Samples were packed tight, transferred to the laboratory, and extracted with methanol. Extracts were concentrated by solvent evaporation, cleaned by centrifugation, and analysed using HPLC-DAD. Each extract was analysed three times and the mean value of the amount of the given explosive within the extract was calculated. For each of the explosive materials used the results of the repetition of the experiments proved them to be irreproducible. After each detonation of a specific charge different amounts of given explosives were found in post-blast samples. Also, the intuitively expected relationship between the distance from the charge and amount of post-blast residues were not observed. These results are consistent with previously published results of field experiments. The lack of reproducibility may be explained by differences in efficiency of detonation. The efficiency of a detonation may be influenced even by small differences in the shape of the charge as well as by the position and properties of the detonator. The lack of dependency between the amount of the explosive in the post-blast samples and the distance from the charge may be explained by the fact that during detonation, particles of unreacted explosives are not uniformly dispersed in all directions.

Physical Properties of Select Explosive Components for Assessing Their Fate and Transport in the Environment

2017

Information on physical properties of munitions compounds is necessary for assessing their environmental distribution and transport, and predict potential hazards. This information is also needed for selection and design of successful physical, chemical or biological environmental remediation processes. This chapter summarizes physicochemical properties relevant to distribution of select explosive components in the three environmental matrices namely, soil, water and air. Physicochemical properties including melting point (MP), boiling point (BP), aqueous solubility (Sw), water-octanol partition coefficient (KOC), Henry’s law constant (KH), vapor pressure (VP) and enthalpy of vaporization (ΔH) obtained from literature using model predictions and experimental studies are listed for a total of 16 energetic compounds. The explosive compounds included are dinitroanisole (DNAN), n-methyl-p-nitroaniline (MNA), nitro-triazolone (NTO), triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB), cyclotetramethylene-tet...

Thermal decomposition characterization of explosives by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Journal of Chromatography A, 1994

Pyrolysis-GC-MS was used to study the thermal decomposition products of a series of explosives, including 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane (RDX), 1,3.5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5.7-tetrazacyclooctane (HMX), 2,4,&N-tetranitro-N-methylaniline (tetryl), monoaminotrinitrobenzene (MATB). diaminotrinitrobenzene (DATB) and triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB). Pyrolysis products were determined as a function of temperature in the range of 400-1000°C. Decomposition products were found to be in the low-molecular-mass range, resuking mainly from the cleavage of the CC ring structure in the trinitroaromatic compounds and the C-N ring structure in the nitramines. Decomposition pathways and processes were determined for the various explosives.

Experimental Investigation into the Safety Distance for Ethane-Oxygen Gas Explosion Applied to Industrial Cleaning

Blasting and Fragmentation, 2019

This is a novel study supported by the Electric Power Plant Research Institution (EPRI) of the comparison of gas explosives and solid explosives is presented for the purpose of industrial cleaning and safe use. Solid explosives are commonly used to clean off slag buildup from inside coal powered boilers, however, the often can damage the internal components and may harm personnel. This study aims to characterize the ethane-oxygen gas explosive mixture that is currently being used as an alternative to solid explosives for industrial cleaning, to remove corrosion products from heat ex-changer surfaces in combined-cycle heat recovery steam generators. Specifically, this research relates the overpressure and pressure pulse duration to determine the effects on the internal components of heat exchangers after repeated cleaning. Experimentation was conducted using single 100 liter bags orientated horizontally as well as double 100 liter and double 80 liter bags orientated vertically. For each orientation both near field and far field pressure data was used to determine the pressure variation as a function of distance and angle. The resulting pressures demonstrated exponential decay as predicted for a detonation in a gas explosion. The peak pressures at 1.0 meter away were on average 16.5 PSI for the double 80 liter bag tests, 21.7 PSI for the double 100 liter tests, and 20.4 PSI for the single 100 liter bag tests. The safety distance (2 PSI threshold) for the gas mixtures was found to be at 4 meters from the center of the explosions. Each bag was also viewed using high-speed imaging techniques to calculate blast wave velocities within each bag. All double bag experimentation resulted in successful detonation with a maximum shock front velocity of 2,035.8 meters per second. The single 100 liter bags demonstrated several detonation failures resulting in deflagration. The bags that successfully detonated had shock front velocities up to 2,425.6 meters per second. Therefore, the shock front velocities were approximately 16% higher for the single bag configuration as compared to the double bag. Comparing the gas explosions to solid explosives, the gas explosions demonstrated a significantly longer pulse and a longer range for the safety distance than the solid explosives with similar magnitude of peak pressures at close distances. These results showed that further safety distances are required for solid explosives (4-6 meters) compared to the gas explosive mixture (4 meters).

Evaluation of the explosion risk specific to the preparation and storage activity of the simple explosive mixture type ANFO

MATEC Web of Conferences

The paper presents the results of the theoretical and practical research regarding the evaluation of the explosion risk specific to the activity of preparation/storage activity of the ANFO type explosive mixture, based on the identification and systematic analysis of the potential dangers that can generate explosion events, in order to establish and substantiate the possible accidents main scenarios, as well as reference scenarios. From a structural point of view, each accident scenario, defined at the level of the industrial site analyzed, is configured procedurally in synthetic form, comprising typical sections of methodological approach, respectively: location, description of the consequences (unimportant, important), evaluation of the risk of explosion (identification, estimation and appreciation) and measures to prevent damage/measures to reduce the risk of explosion.

Investigation of Herbicide Decomposition Efficiency by Means of Detonative Combustion

Energies

The decomposition of seven herbicides (atrazine, linuron, lenacil, chloridazon, dinoseb acetate, prometryn, and diuron) was carried out by detonative combustion. The investigated blasting material was produced on the basis of porous ammonium nitrate, which served as an oxidizer, while the pesticides played the role of the fuel. Detonative decomposition of the mixtures was carried out in blast-holes in soil. The efficiency of the decomposition process was assessed using the techniques of gas chromatography, high-efficiency liquid chromatography, and additionally by biological tests according to the grading of the European Weed Research Council. The results demonstrate an efficient decomposition of the tested herbicides. In the tested soil samples taken after the detonation decomposition of the herbicide, no symptoms of phytotoxic effects on the plants were found. This was confirmed by the lack (or at most negligible amounts) of residual herbicides in the soil samples. Only for the sa...