title: Abiotic degradation of hexahydro-l,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine in the presence of hydrogen sulfide and black carbon.
abstract: We report that hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) was rapidly destroyed by sulfides in the presence of black carbon, forming nitrite and formaldehyde, rather than toxic nitrosated reduction products. Although traditionally viewed as inactive sorbents, black carbons have been noted to participate in the destruction of certain contaminants, such as azo dyes, via quinonoid groups. However, in our experiments sulfide modification of quinones did not seem to be involved. Although at least 1.2 mM sulfides were needed for the reaction to proceed, abiotic natural attenuation of RDX in marine sediments may occur, because these concentrations are found in certain marine sediments, together with black carbon. In the absence of natural black carbons, synthetic black carbons, such as activated carbon, may be added to sediments. As compared with other in situ techniques, such as bioremediation and zero-valent iron cutoff trenches, which often generate nitrosated byproducts, this in situ, abiotic technique may be an attractive alternative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Yale University, Mason Lab 313b, 9 Hillhouse Avenue New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Jerome M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kemper
authors.forename: Emaan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ammar
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Mitch
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D053834:Explosive Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000737:chemistry; D012623:Seawater; D014227:Triazines / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D053834:Explosive Agents; D014227:Triazines; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002244:Carbon; C009160:cyclonite; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide