Value added products from reclamation of military munitions

Abstract

The Department of Defense has a backlog of excess, obsolete and unserviceable munitions for disposal. For many of these munition items the only method of disposal is open burning/open detonation (OB/OD) which destroys valuable resources which can be reclaimed and converted to useful products. The Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NAVSURFWARCENDIV Crane) in support of the Navy's Ordnance Reclamation Program and the Joint Service Large Rocket Motor Disposal Program has been developing technology for the removal and reclamation of the energetics from munitions. The University of Missouri-Rolla has demonstrated the use of high pressure waterjet technology for removal of PBX explosives from projectiles and warheads. Development work is nearing completion for demonstrating the capability to remove Class 1.1 propellant from strategic rocket motors using high pressure waterjets. Current projects are under way focusing on resource recovery and recycling (R3) of the reclaimed energetics while minimizing disposal. The current reclamation projects include reformulation of the explosives and Class 1.1 propellants into commercial blasting agents, reuse of Navy gun propellant for various applications including agriculture and oil-gas well stimulation. Other projects include the recovery of RDX/HMX from Class 1.1 explosives and propellants and the conversion of Explosive D into higher value products. Lab/bench scale testing has been completed on many of these processes, and for some pilot scale demonstrations have been or are scheduled to be completed during 1997.