Supercritical water oxidation of octol – containing wastewater

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This study investigated optimum operating conditions of supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) for octol and compared the degradation of its components TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) and HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7- tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine, octogen) under the same conditions. Pilot scale experiments were conducted at various temperatures, reaction times and oxidant amounts. Removal efficiency, by-product analysis and toxicity tests were selected as the performance criteria for the SCWO. Optimum conditions were determined as a temperature of 500 C, 120 s of oxidation time and an oxidant ratio of 150%. Removal of octol was achieved at a rate of 99.99%, while TNT and HMX were removed individually at a rate of ~85% when they existed in the wastewater. No toxicity was observed at the end of the octol oxidation, whereas toxicity was found in the TNT and HMX oxidation due to the formation of TNT isomer and aniline. Higher initial organic material concentrations promoted the removal rates. These results demonstrated that SCWO can be effectively used for the degradation of ammunition wastewater even when concentrations are high.