Dissolution and sorption of hexahydro-1, 3, 5-trinitro-1, 3, 5-triazine and 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene residues from detonated phyllosilicate mineral surfaces

Abstract

"Military training and testing exercises using explosive ordnances has resulted in training range surface soil becoming contaminated with high explosive (HE) residues. Composition B (Comp B) is a commonly used military formulation composed of 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro-1, 3, 5-trinitro-1, 3, 5-triazine (RDX), two toxic HE materials. The potential risk of human exposure to these compounds and the efficacy of remediation efforts depend on the fate and transport of each compound in the environment. Numerous investigations of the temporal fate of HE compounds in soil materials have been conducted, however, most of these studies relied on the application of HEs to soils through aqueous addition. The purpose of this study is to investigate the dissolution and sorption of TNT and RDX originating from Comp B residues loaded to pure mineral phase surfaces through detonation. Detonation caused the heterogeneous loading of TNT and RDX onto each mineral substrate surface. Composition B residues dissolved rapidly (within 9 hours) for all samples, but maximum concentrations for either compound were not sustained due to precipitation from solution and/or sorption onto each mineral substrate surface"--Leaf iii