Low-order detonations and blow-in-place procedures often result in explosive residue left on military training grounds. To prevent pollution and ensure uninterrupted access to training facilities military forces are developing tools to estimate potential for explosive transport into ground water. This study was conducted to determine if distribution coefficients determined for explosive compounds in batch studies with pure compounds are adequate to describe explosive transport in soils where compounds are present as solid particles in formulations. Saturated column transport experiments were conducted with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5- trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), and the explosive formulation, Composition B (59.5 ± 2.0% RDX, 39.5 ± 2.3% TNT and 1% wax) in solid and dissolved forms. Two soils used were Plymouth loamy sand (mesic, coated Typic Quartzipsamments) from Camp Edwards, MA and Memphis silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic Typic Hapludalfs) from Vicksburg, MS. Stopped flow was employed to determine if soils were at equilibrium with solution. HYDRUS-1D code for simulating the one-dimensional movement of water, heat and multiple solutes in variably saturated porous media was used to determine fate and transport parameters. Results indicated that sorption was kinetic controlled. Dissolved Composition B behaved similar to pure TNT and RDX. Solid Composition B behavior was controlled by dissolution. Dissolution depended on particle size and changes in Composition B after partial detonation. Adsorption coefficients determined by HYDRUS-1D were different from ones determined in batch tests for the same soils indicating that values determined from batch isotherms may not be adequate to predict fate of RDX and TNT in the soils.
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