ELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION OF MUNITIONS WASTEWATER

Electrochemical experiments for the reduction of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) were conducted. Experiments were carried out using a glassy carbon cathode and a platinum anode to determine the effect of various parameters like applied current, stir rate and presence and absence of dissolved oxygen. The end products formed at the end of some experiments were analyzed in order to obtain a mass balance for the reaction. Experimental observations showed that the reduction reaction of the nitroaromatics follows pseudo first order rate kinetics. The rate constants for the reduction of DNT, TNT and RDX were observed to increase with an increase in applied current and stir rate of the reaction. Also the rate constants were observed to be significantly higher in the absence of oxygen than in the presence of dissolved oxygen. A mass balance of 60 – 90% could be attained for all the experiments conducted in the presence of oxygen.