Thermal Decomposition of Base Hydrolysis Products

Thermal Decomposition of Base Hydrolysis Products This pilot plant was tested to demonstrate the feasibility of decomposing base hydrolysate, a mixture of sodium nitrite, sodium formate and other constituents. This material is the waste stream from the base hydrolysis process for destruction of energetic materials, being studied by researchers at LANL. The hydrolysate used in this test was from base hydrolysis experiments to destroy PBX-9404. 

LLNL performed an extended one-day (8 hr) test of the solids recirculation system, with continuous injection of approximately 0.035 gal/min of waste for a period of 7 hr. Over the injection period, 50 gal of waste was processed. Continuous on-line gas analysis tracked the progress of the experiment and quantified the decomposition products. 

Analyses showed the primary solid product, collected in the lift exit cyclone, was indeed sodium carbonate, as expected. The evaporated liquid waste was condensed and analyzed following processing and determined to be nonhazardous by Federal and State standards. Inspection of spheres removed from the process following shutdown showed no signs of sticking, tacking or agglomeration. 

---