Influence of TNT Melting Methods from Waste Munition on the Quality of Pink Wastewater

Abstract

The explosives in many conventional munitions are cast. These munitions can be demilitarized by heating the charge until it melts and leaks out of the projectile. This research examined the efficiency of two methods of melting trinitrotoluene (TNT), direct (MDH) and indirect (MIH) heating with water vapor, and examined their impact on the environment through the production of pink wastewater. Samples of 60 and 82 mm projectiles were used for the research. The MIH compared to the MDH for the 60 mm (82 mm) projectile has: an increased capacity of working and melting TNT in one cycle by 55.6% (69%); increased charging, melting, cooling and discharging time of one cycle by 37.6% (35.8%); reduced water condensate by 63.2% (74.4%); reduced TNT drying time by 100% (100%). The time of effective work, calculated according to one 60 mm (82 mm) projectile, was reduced by 28.7% (51.7%). Pink wastewater produced from 60 mm projectiles MIH compared to MDH has reduced content of TNT, RDX, 1,3-dinitrobenzene, 2,6-dinitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene by 100% for samples taken at the outlet into the atmosphere, from the floor of the autoclave, and at the exit from the precipitator and autoclave. Pink wastewater from the 82 mm projectile is contaminated with the mentioned agents due to the human factor during the melting process. MIH does not produce pink wastewater.