Degradation of Insensitive Munitions Diaminodinitroethylene (FOX-7) Using Activated Nanoparticles of MgO and ZnO

Degradation mechanisms of an insensitive munitions (IM) compound, diaminodinitroethylene (DADE, also known as FOX-7), are studied in a laboratory environment on the surface of catalytic nanoparticles mixed oxides of magnesium and zinc. A mixture of nanoparticles MgO and ZnO was synthesized following a sol-gel approach. These nanopartcles were characterized using SEM, FTIR and XRD techniques.  FOX-7 was dissolved in a solvent and placed in a batch reactor containing the nanoparticles O₂ or H₂ gas was bubbled through to facilitate the oxidation/ reduction reactions. Samples that were taken before and after these reactions were analyzed using IR, proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (¹H NMR), Liquid Chromatography (LC), and Mass Spectrometry (MS) in order to determine the reaction products. Degradation of FOX-7 was maximum under reduction conditions, and also evidence of acetic acid production has been observed.