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Sand-packed horizontal flow columns (5 cm i.d. x 65 cm)l were used in laboratory experiments to simulate in situ electrolytic and alkaline hybrid treatment zone for aqueous phase decomposition of RDX. An upgradient cathode and downgradient anode, spaced 35 cm apart were used to create alkaline reducing conditions followed by oxic, acidic conditions to degrade RDX by combination of alkaline hydrolysis and direct electrolysis. A preliminary experiment (25 mg/L RDX influent) with seepage velocity of 30.5 cm/day and current density of 9.9 A/m2 was used to determine the treatment feasibility and the aqueous products of RDX decomposition. Three additional column experiments (0.5 mg/L RDX influent) under the same conditions as the preliminary column were used to observe the treatment process repeatability and the alkaline treatment zone development. The results demonstrated approximately 95% decomposition of RDX in the column with an applied current density of 9.9 A/m2. Aqueous end-products formate, nitrite, and nitrate were detected in the effluent. Approximately 75% of the RDX was destroyed near the cathode, presumably by electrolysis, with 23% decomposed downstream of the cathode by alkaline hydrolysis. The preliminary column pseudo first order alkaline hydrolysis rate coefficient of 10.7 x 10(-3) min(-1) was used to estimate a treatment zone length less than 100 cm for RDX treatment below the EPA drinking water lifetime health advisory of 0.002 mg/L.

A series of column studies, using site-specific soil and groundwater, were conducted to determine the feasibility of biologically active zone enhancement (BAZE) process for reductive biotransformation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) in groundwater. This treatability study examined the use of four amendments (acetate, ethanol, soluble starch, and acetate plus ammonium), which served as electron donors. Triplicate columns, with groundwater residence time of about 27.5 h, were used for each amendment treatment and the amendment control. In treatment columns amendment dosing was 500 mg/L C for carbon sources and 100 mg/L N for ammonium. Each of the amendment treatments reduced RDX inlet concentrations of 100 g/L to less than 1 g/L. The highest first-order RDX biodegradation rate ranged between 0.140 and 0.447 h −1 for acetate amended columns as compared to 0.037 to 0.083 h −1 in control columns (no amendment). The addition of soluble starch resulted in increased toxicity (based on Microtox ® analysis) that was partially removed by biological activity in the columns. Ethanol addition itself did not result in increased toxicity but biological activity in this system did induce Microtox ® toxicity. Acetate did not have any Microtox ® toxicity associated with it. The addition of ammonium as a nitrogen source did not significantly increase the removal rate of RDX. Based on these observations acetate was selected for the field demonstration. Published by Elsevier B.V.

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