Application of Gas−Liquid Film Theory to Base Hydrolysis of HMX Powder and HMX-Based Plastic-Bonded Explosives Using Sodium Carbonate

• Published in: Industrial & engineering chemistry research Vol. 37; no. 12; pp. 4551 - 4559
• Main Authors: Bishop, Robert L, Flesner, Raymond L, Dell'Orco, Philip C, Spontarelli, Terry, Larson, Sheldon A, Bell, David A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01.12.1998
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Other wastes and particular components of wastes; Pollution; Wastes; Sodium Carbonates; Waste treatment; Reaction product; Experimental study; Waste disposal; Hydrolysis; Kinetic model; Octogen; Chemical treatment; Solid waste; Explosives; Kinetics; Military problem; Ordnance
• ISSN: 0888-5885; 1520-5045
• DOI: 10.1021/ie980351a

Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) is identified as a hydrolysis reagent for decomposing HMX and HMX-based explosives to water-soluble, nonenergetic products. The reaction kinetics of Na2CO3 hydrolysis are examined, and a reaction rate model is developed. Greater than 99% of the explosive at an initial concentration of 10 wt % PBX 9404 was destroyed in less than 5 min at 150 °C. The primary products from Na2CO3 hydrolysis were nitrite (NO2), formate (HCOO-), nitrate (NO3 -), and acetate (CH3COO-) ions, hexamethylenetetramine, (hexamine:  C6H12N4), nitrogen gas (N2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and ammonia (NH3). The rate of hydrolysis was characterized for HMX powder and PBX 9404 molding powder from 110 to 150 °C. The rate was found to be dependent on both the chemical kinetics and the mass transfer resistance. Since the HMX particles are nonporous and external mass transfer dominates, gas−liquid film theory for fast chemical kinetics was used to model the reaction rate.