Characterization of Mg-based bimetal treatment of insensitive munition 2,4-dinitroanisole

Emese Hadnagy, Andrew Mai, Benjamin Smolinski, Washington Braida, Agamemnon Koutsospyros

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The manufacturing of insensitive munition 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) generates waste streams that require treatment. DNAN has been treated previously with zero-valent iron (ZVI) and Fe-based bimetals. Use of Mg-based bimetals offers certain advantages including potential higher reactivity and relative insensitivity to pH conditions. This work reports preliminary findings of DNAN degradation by three Mg-based bimetals: Mg/Cu, Mg/Ni, and Mg/Zn. Treatment of DNAN by all three bimetals is highly effective in aqueous solutions (> 89% removal) and wastewater (> 91% removal) in comparison with treatment solely with zero-valent magnesium (ZVMg; 35% removal). Investigation of reaction byproducts supports a partial degradation pathway involving reduction of the ortho or para nitro to amino group, leading to 2-amino-4-nitroanisole (2-ANAN) and 4-amino-2-nitroanisole (4-ANAN). Further reduction of the second nitro group leads to 2,4-diaminoanisole (DAAN). These byproducts are detected in small quantities in the aqueous phase. Carbon mass balance analysis suggests near-complete closure (91%) with 12.4 and 78.4% of the total organic carbon (TOC) distributed in the aqueous and mineral bimetal phases, respectively. Post-treatment surface mineral phase analysis indicates Mg(OH)2 as the main oxidized species; oxide formation does not appear to impair treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)24403-24416
Number of pages14
JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
Volume25
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2018

Keywords

  • Bimetal
  • DNAN
  • Insensitive munition
  • Magnesium
  • Reduction
  • Wastewater

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