Alkaline Hydrolysis of the Cyclic Nitramine Explosives RDX, HMX, and CL-20:  New Insights into Degradation Pathways Obtained by the Observation of Novel Intermediates

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 37; no. 9; pp. 1838 - 1843
• Main Authors: Balakrishnan, Vimal K, Halasz, Annamaria, Hawari, Jalal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01.05.2003
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Azocines - chemistry; Biological and physicochemical phenomena; Biological and physicochemical properties of pollutants. Interaction in the soil; Bridged-Ring Compounds - chemistry; Contamination; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental cleanup; Environmental Pollutants; Exact sciences and technology; Explosives; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring - chemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydrolysis; Natural water pollution; Nitro Compounds - chemistry; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Soil and sediments pollution; Soils; Toxicity; Triazines - chemistry; Water pollution; Water treatment and pollution; Reaction intermediate; Nitro compound; Nitroso compound; Pollutant behavior; Nitrogen heterocycle; Chemical degradation; Soil pollution; Ring cleavage; Hydrolysis; Octogen; Hexogen; Reaction mechanism; Explosives; Water pollution; Ground water

Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX, I) and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) hydrolyze at pH > 10 to form end products including NO2 -, HCHO, HCOOH, NH3, and N2O, but little information is available on intermediates, apart from the tentatively identified pentahydro-...