Recycling and Disposal Techniques for Energetic Materials

Abstract

Due to the reduction of armament between the East and West, we were met by new objectives: the disposal of energetic materials.

Environmentally compatible disposal methods available for the different energetic materials are highly requested. From the technical point of view recycling processes are generally available, but the market for recycled explosives is very limited. The possibilities of reprocessing propellants and explosives have to be re-examined.

The most advanced disposal technology is incineration. Rotary kiln as well as fluidised bed installations were successfully tested. The main problem on incineration remains the reduction of pollutant emission below the legal limits.

Chemical decomposition of explosive materials followed by biological degradation of the reaction mixture offers an attractive alternative to incineration processes. The initial chemical step delivers a biodegradable reaction mixture. The combined chemical/biological process was successfully tested with NC based gun propellants. Application tests with other explosives are in progress.

For toxic and hazardous components of pyrotechnical ammunition supercritical water oxidation was applied. Especially chloro organic compounds can be destroyed in an environmental friendly way by SCWO-technology.