Controlled Electrochemical Neutralization of Highly Energetic Waste Streams

Safe and economical disposal technologies for small quantities of environmentally hazardous waste propellants, pyrotechnics, and explosives are required for research laboratories.  These wastes are currently disposed of via an open burn / open detonation process with potential adverse effects on the environment and significant regulatory compliance burden and cost.  Lynntech proposes to expand the capabilities of an existing electrochemical technology to increase applicability from hydrazine based fuels to nitramines, nitroaromatics, and nitrate esters. The proposed electrochemical system offers a safe, controlled, closed system to electrochemically transform highly energetic materials into environmentally benign gaseous products such as N2, H2O, and CO2. The electrochemical solution has been previously demonstrated to decompose NASA mixed fuel waste (i.e., over 99% hydrazine, monomethylhydrazine, and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine content) into N2, H2O and CO2 in a controlled manner at a rate of over three pounds per hour.  This electrochemical conversion technology potentially can dispose of a broad range of energetic materials.  The Phase I will provide preliminary results for various compounds demonstrating the universal applicability or limitations of the technology with regard to disposal of nitramines, nitroaromatics, and nitrate esters.  The Phase II effort will develop and demonstrate prototype hardware for use in disposing of these materials. BENEFITS: Due to the use of dimensionally stable electrode materials and an electrochemically stable electrolyte that can operate within a wide electrical potential range, this technology could be used to oxidize nearly any highly energetic and organic waste compounds.  This technology will be particularly useful for hard to oxidize industrial organic compounds and contaminants.  Major commercial applications are the treatment of aromatic waste streams (such as toluene and benzene based compounds), oxidizing dyes for water reclamation for textile industry, pharmaceutical wastes, and healthcare industry generated waste products.