Bench-scale investigation of composting for remediation of explosives-contaminated soils from Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana

Abstract : The production and handling of conventional munitions have resulted in the generation of explosives-contaminated soils at various military installations. The principal explosive contaminants are 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro- 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7- tetrazocine (HMX). The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane, Indiana, provides material and logistic support to the Navy's weapon systems, including expendable and nonexpendable ordnance items. As the complexity of weapons increased, the facility became more involved in the technical aspects of weaponry through the development of test methods, procedures, and equipment, while the facility's basic mission remained the same. Because of the potential for groundwater contamination, and the subsequent migration of explosives, treatment of the explosive-contaminated soils at several sites at the NSWC is necessary to protect the environment and avoid costly actions in the future. Incineration and composting are demonstrated technologies for the remediation of explosives-contaminated soils. However, incineration is publicly undesirable and economically infeasible for remediation of small sites. Composting was the selected technology to be evaluated for the remediation of the explosives-contaminated soils at NSWC.