Photochemical oxidation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) in aqueous phase

Abstract

Degradation of RDX in aqueous phase was investigated using photo per oxidation and photo-Fenton oxidation. Destruction and mineralization of RDX were compared for both processes. The oxidation rate was influenced by the amount of H 2 O 2 and iron salt. In photo per oxidation, H 2 O 2 at 26.5mM concentration was found to give the best possible elimination (97.5% in 30 minutes). It was found that the photo-Fenton process was more efficient than the photo per oxidation process. In photo-Fenton oxidation, the addition of 3 ml of Fenton's reagent at 3:1 ratio (H 2 O 2 : Fe 2+ ) resulted in the destruction of RDX to below detectable level in 30 minutes of irradiation time. The time taken for complete mineralization of RDX in terms of TOC, TN and COD removal was 60 minutes. NO 3 -and NO 2 -were the major ionic species produced and trace amounts of NO 2 gases were produced. RDX degradation was found to follow first order reaction kinetics.