Modeling the dissolution of various types of mixed energetic residues under different flow conditions

Energetic residues are scattered around active ranges due to the detonation events and dissolution is usually the first step for the entry of explosive compounds into the environment. The current models for describing the dissolution are subject to limitations in either model applicability or generality. This study attempted to develop a general model that is applicable to various types of energetic residues. Experimental data that were acquired from previous reports were used for testing the developed model. The results showed that the model captured well the dissolution processes of different types of energetic residues: 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), Tritonal, Composition B, Octol, and Greener Insensitive Material (GIM). Moreover, it was observed that the mass transfer coefficients of TNT, hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrol,3,5-triazine (RDX), and/or octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) that were part of the energetic residues increased quantitatively with rising flow rates. In addition, the values of resistance coefficient, a model parameter, were negligible for the drop-impingement experiments, implying that under the conditions of rainfall and/or snowmelt flow, the surface attachment effect on the dissolution of energetic residues that rest on range soils is trivial. The study herein provides a general modeling approach for various types of energetic residues with additional insights in regards to their dissolution processes. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.