Decomposition of Energetic Materials by Pulsed Electrical Discharges in Gas-Bubbled Aqueous Solutions

Author

Mozgina, O. ; Koutsospyros, A. ; Gershman, S. ; Belkind, A. ; Christodoulatos, C. ; Becker, K.H.

Author_Institution

Stevens Inst. of Technol., Hoboken, NJ

Volume

37

Issue

6

fYear

2009

fDate

6/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

905

Lastpage

910

Abstract

The application of high-voltage pulsed electrical discharges in bubbled water (PDBWs) for the remediation of solutions containing energetic compounds such as RDX, HMX, and TNT was investigated. Using low-energy pulses ( ~ 300 mJ/pulse), it was found that the PDBW was highly selective toward the type of energetic compound. The effects of a catalyst and of the pH value of the solution on the degradation of energetic compounds were also studied. HMX decomposition is most effective when the PDBW is used at low pH under Fenton reaction conditions. The degradation efficiency was higher for oxygen (O₂) than for argon (Ar) as the bubbled gas.

Keywords

decomposition; discharges (electric); pH; plasma materials processing; polymers; water; 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; Fenton reaction conditions; H₂O; bubbled water; catalyst; decomposition; degradation efficiency; energetic materials; gas-bubbled aqueous solutions; hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine; high-voltage pulsed electrical discharges; low-energy pulses; octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine; pH; Destruction of energetic compounds; fenton reaction; pulsed electrical discharges;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPS.2009.2016970

Filename

4909043