Peter C. Hsu

Treatment of solid wastes with molten salt oxidation

Abstract Molten salt oxidation (MSO) is a robust thermal treatment process that can be used to oxidatively and efficiently destroy the organic constituents of mixed and hazardous wastes, and energetic materials [1–7] . An integrated pilot-scale MSO demonstration facility has been installed and operated at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). This facility, which has been operational since December 1997, was built to demonstrate the capability of processing organic feed at a commercially useful scale (5–7 kg/h). The integrated MSO treatment train consists of several subsystems:a primary MSO processor (reaction vessel), an off-gas conditioning system, a salt recycle system, and a ceramic final forms immobilization system. The MSO/off-gas system began operations in December 1997, while the salt recycle system and the ceramic final forms immobilization system were activated in May 1998 and September 1998, respectively. During FY98, we have successfully conducted tests in the MSO facility on a variety of liquid and solid organic feeds: chlorinated solvents, tributyl phosphate/kerosene mixtures, PCB-contaminated waste oils and solvents, shredded booties and coveralls, plastic pellets, ion-exchange resins, activated carbon, several radioactive-spike organics, and two well-characterized low-level liquid mixed wastes. This paper presents the results from the operation of the integrated pilot-scale MSO system for the treatmentof several solid feeds including activated carbon, ion exchange resin, plastic pellets, and shredded booties and gloves.

Thermal Damage Characterization of Energetic Materials

We conducted thermal damage experiments at 180° C on PBXN‐9 and characterized its material properties. Volume expansion at high temperatures was very significant which led to a reduction in material density. 2.6% of weight loss was observed, which was higher than other HMX‐based formulations. Porosity of PBXN‐9 increased to 16% after thermal exposure. Small‐scale safety tests (impact, friction, and spark) showed no significant sensitization when the damaged samples were tested at room temperature. Gas permeation measurements showed that gas permeability in damaged materials was several orders of magnitude higher than that in pristine materials. In‐situ measurements of gas permeability and density were proved to be possible at higher temperatures.

Study of thermal sensitivity and thermal explosion violence of energetic materials in the LLNL ODTX system

Some energetic materials may explode at fairly low temperatures and the violence from thermal explosion may cause a significant damage. Thus it is important to understand the response of energetic materials to thermal insults for safe handling and storage of energetic materials. The One Dimensional Time to Explosion (ODTX) system at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory can measure times to explosion, lowest explosion temperatures, and determine kinetic parameters of energetic materials. Samples of different configurations can be tested in the system. The ODTX testing can also generate useful data for determining thermal explosion violence of energetic materials. We also performed detonation experiments of LX-10 in aluminum anvils to determine the detonation violence and validated the Zerilli Armstrong aluminum model. Results of the detonation experiments agreed well with the model prediction.

ONE-DIMENSIONAL TIME TO EXPLOSION (THERMAL SENSITIVITY) TESTS ON PETN, PBX-9407, LX-10, AND LX-17

Incidents caused by fire and combat operations can heat energetic materials that may lead to thermal explosion and result in structural damage and casualty. Some explosives may thermally explode at fairly low temperatures ( PBX-9407 > LX-10 > LX-17.

DHS small-scale safety and thermal testing of improvised explosives-comparison of testing performance

One of the first steps in establishing safe handling procedures for explosives is small-scale safety and thermal (SSST) testing. To better understand the response of improvised materials or homemade explosives (HMEs) to SSST testing, 16 HME materials were compared to three standard military explosives in a proficiency-type round robin study among five laboratories-two DoD and three DOE-sponsored by DHS. The testing matrix has been designed to address problems encountered with improvised materials-powder mixtures, liquid suspensions, partially wetted solids, immiscible liquids, and reactive materials. More than 30 issues have been identified that indicate standard test methods may require modification when applied to HMEs to derive accurate sensitivity assessments needed for developing safe handling and storage practices. This paper presents a generalized comparison of the results among the testing participants, comparison of friction results from BAM (German Bundesanstalt fur Materi-alprufung) and ABL (Allegany Ballistics Laboratory) designed testing equipment, and an overview of the statistical results from the RDX (1,3,5-Trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine) standard tested throughout the proficiency test.

Energetic Materials Center Report--Small-Scale Safety and Thermal Testing Evaluation of Butyl Nitrate

Butyl Nitrate (BN) was examined by Small-Scale Safety and Thermal (SSST) Testing techniques to determine its sensitivity to impact, friction, spark and thermal exposure simulating handling and storage conditions. Under the conditions tested, the BN exhibits thermal sensitivity above 150 °C, and does not exhibit sensitive to impact, friction or spark.

Integrated Data Collection Analysis (IDCA) Program: FY2011 Project Descriptions

This document provides brief descriptions of research topics for consideration by the IDCA for potential funding in funding in FY 2011. The topics include the utilization of the results from the Proficiency Test developed during FY 2010 to start populating the small-scale safety and thermal testing (SSST) Testing Compendium and revising results from methods modifications. Other research topics were also developed for FY 2011 from issues that arose in the Proficiency Test.