Fenton oxidation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX).

Oxidation of the high explosives hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1.3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) using Fenton's reagent proceeds rapidly between 20 degrees C and 50 degrees C at pH 3. At an H2O2: Fe2+: RDX molar ratio of 5,178: 48: 1, RDX and HMX were completely removed in 1 to 2 h. All the experimental data could be fit to a pseudo first-order rate equation. The reaction rate was also strongly dependent on Fenton's reagent concentrations. NO3- and N2 were identified as nitrogen byproducts from RDX and HMX oxidation. The experiment with radiolabeled RDX showed that approximately 37% of organic carbon in RDX was mineralized to CO2. We observed formaldehyde and formic acid as a short-lived intermediate. No other volatile or nonvolatile byproducts were found from GC/MS analysis. The results show that RDX and HMX can be effectively mineralized with Fenton's reagents.