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441d

Treatment Technologies for Perchlorate

Edward N. Coppola, Process Development Group, Applied Research Associates, Inc., 430 West 5th Street, Suite 700, Panama City, FL 32401

This paper discusses treatment technologies for aqueous effluents from demilitarization and production of propellants, explosives, and munitions that contain perchlorate, nitrate, and other energetic materials. The status of two, full-scale biodegradation systems located at ATK Thiokol Propulsion, Promontory, Utah, and at Hodgdon Powder Company's Pyrodex gunpowder production plant near Herington, Kansas will be provided. The ARA biodegradation system at ATK Thiokol treats effluents from Minuteman, Shuttle, and Delta propulsion systems, in addition to effluents from flares, insensitive munitions, and synthesis of new energetic compounds. A new ion exchange technology for perchlorate will also be presented. The key features of the new ion exchange process are: 1) use of a weak base anion (WBA) resin that is perchlorate-selective, 2) high capacity for perchlorate or nitrate, 3) complete removal of perchlorate from aqueous effluents regardless of initial concentration, 4) complete regeneration using low volumes of caustic solution, and 5) low O&M cost. A pilot demonstration of this technology for remediation of groundwater was completed at Redstone Arsenal in 2005. A second pilot demonstration for treatment of drinking water was conducted at Fontana, California in 2006. Results of these demonstrations and other perchlorate treatment approaches will be discussed. These technologies are important to current and future war-fighting capability by providing the ability to treat demil and production effluents from perchlorate-containing energetic materials in an economical and environmentally acceptable manner.