Open bum

Thermal processes like pyrolysis use heat to increase the volatility (separation) to burn, decompose, or detonate (destruction) or to melt (immobilization) contaminants in soil. Separation technologies include thermal desorption and hot gas decontamination. Destruction technologies include incineration, open bum/open detonation, and pyrolysis. Vitrification is used to immobilize inorganic compounds and to destroy some organic materials. In contrast, pyrolysis transforms... 

Sidhu S, Gullet B, Striebich R, Klosterman JR, Contreras J, DeVito M (2005) Endocrine disrupting chemical emissions from combustion sources diesel particulate emissions and domestic waste open bum emissions. Atmos Environ 39 801-811... 

On the battlefield, the infection risk of an open bum-wound is very high. The zone of residual thermal damage induced by the CO2 laser has the additional effect of sealing the wound surface, minimizing secondary infection. The zero infection rate in this study is encouraging when compared to previous dermabrasion studies of mustard bums in the same animal model in which a small number of infections occurred despite topical antimicrobials (Brown et al., 1998). 

Many DOD sites are contaminated with explosive waste as a result of explosives manufacturing munitions load, assemble, and pack operations explosives machining, casting, and curing open bum and open detonation operations and laboratory testing of munitions. Based on the experience of the U.S. Army Environmental Center (AEC) of DOD, one of the major explosive wastes of concern at DOD sites are residues from land disposal of explosives-contaminated process water. 

Contaminated Media Soil, surface, and groundwater have been contaminated with explosive compounds and their decomposition products. Metal fragments are also widely spread in open bum/open detonation areas and on bombing/firing ranges. In many cases, the area that has been contaminated with explosive and metal debris is very extensive. Time and cost for restoration are considerable. Prior to reuse of the area and to protect resources from contamination, areas where these contaminants exist must be remediated. Advanced technologies are needed to identify areas of contamination in a more cost effective and accelerated manner and to remediate soils in situ without excavation and the resulting environmental destruction. 

Rocket Motor and Fuel Disposal With the reduction of military forces in the United States and worldwide, rocket motors are being removed from service and reduced in number. The motors are being shipped to munitions depots for storage and for disposal. The disposal method presently used is open bum/open detonation, which can result in explosions that scatter motor parts and contaminate the environment with unbumed propellant. An effective and environmentally sound alternative to open bum/open detonation is required. 

A pilot-scale treatability study was conducted using white rot fungus at a former ordnance open bum/open detonation area at Site D, Naval Submarine Base, Bangor, Washington. Initial TNT concentrations of 1,844 ppm were degraded to 1,267 ppm in 30 days and 1,087 in 120 days. The overall degradation was 41%, and final TNT soil levels were well above the proposed cleanup level of 30 ppm (Spectrum Sciences Software, Inc., and Utah State University, no date). 

Open bum (OB) and open detonation (OD) operations are conducted by DOD and some private companies to destroy unserviceable, unstable, or unusable munitions and explosives materials. In OB operations, explosives or munitions are destroyed by self-sustained combustion, which is ignited by an external source, such as flame, heat, or a detonation wave (that does not result in a detonation). In OD operations, detonable explosives and munitions are destroyed by a detonation, which is initiated by the detonation of a disposal charge. 

Stockpiled Materiel in Magazine One traditional treatment method for demilitarization of conventional ordnance is open bum/open detonation. Incomplete destruction may produce unacceptable air emissions and contaminate soil and water resources (surface and groundwater). An innovative technology to eliminate open burn/open detonation is needed. 

A problem is also associated with abandoned open bum/open detonation areas at which neutralization and demilitarization were carried out in the past without stringent environmental controls. The debris remaining in these areas can pose both explosive and toxic chemical threats. A need exists for the adaptation of present methods of soil cleaning (which are typically applied to the removal of hydrocarbon or heavy-metal contamination from soil) and development of new approaches to address the problem of removing specific explosive and toxic compounds from soils. Such approaches could be applied both to the remediation of abandoned open burn/open detonation sites and to that of other areas (including... 

Rocket motor and fuel disposal (open bum/open detonation)... 

Castle Air Force Base, California FY 1995 Air Force base closure. Open bum/open detonation area. Research and development and applied technology testing-demonstration for contaminated media and subsurface unexploded ordnance detection, identification, and remediation in an uncontrolled test environment. This would also be a DOIT Committee process demonstration site. 

In the past, DOD disposed of a large percentage of unwanted munitions and the energetic materials they contained by an open bum/open detonation (OB/OD) process, an environmentally undesirable approach that has already... 

Blast furnaces are charged through the top with coke, flux (usually iron metal and siUca), and scrap while air is iajected through tuyeres continuously at the bottom just above the black copper. The coke (100 kg/1 slag) bums to maintain furnace temperatures of 1200°C, provides the reductant, and maintains an open border. A charge of 10 t/h is typical. The furnace produces a molten black copper that contains about 80% copper. The 2iac, lead, and... 

Polyisoprene mbber is relatively nonhazardous, but must be kept away from sparks, open flames, or excessive heat because it will bum. The current Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) should always be checked for known hazards before using polyisoprene or any other chemical materials. 

The major effect of such open burning is the nuisance caused by the smoke, but health effects are noticed by sensitive individuals downwind from the bum. Table 30-18 lists the pollutant emissions from grass field burning (15). 

Flares ideally bum waste gas completely and smokelessly. Two types of flares are normally employed. The first is called the open flare, whereas the second is called the enclosed flare. The major components of a flare consist of the burner, stack. 

Burning Rate - Defined as the rate (in millimeters per minute) at which a pool of liquid decreases as the liquid bums. Details of measurements are provided by D. S. Burgess, A. Strasser, and J. Grumer, Diffusive Burning of Liquid Fuels in Open Trays, Fire Research Abstracts and Reviews, 3, 177 (1961). 

A flash fire is the nonexplosive combustion of a vapor cloud resulting from a release of flammable material into the open air, which, after mixing with air, ignites. In Section 4.1, experiments on vapor cloud explosions were reviewed. They showed that combustion in a vapor cloud develops an explosive intensity and attendant blast effects only in areas where intensely turbulent combustion develops and only if certain conditions are met. Where these conditions are not present, no blast should occur. The cloud then bums as a flash fire, and its major hazard is from the effect of heat from thermal radiation. 

Figures are given for annual waste production in the Paris area and its composition is outlined. Many of the Paris area cities joined with Paris to create a solid wastes metropolitan authority for domestic waste treatment (SYCTOM). Three incineration plants bum 75% of the SYCTOM area solid wastes and the energy produced provides 43% of the energy consumed by the Paris urban heating network. Landfill is now expensive. There has been a reduction in the number of sites and French legislation prohibits landfill disposal of untreated solid wastes after 2002. A sorting unit at the landfill site was due to open in 1993 and another unit was planned for one of the incineration plants.

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