Comparison of explosive compounds (HMX, RDX, and TNT) reduction by micro and nano zero valent iron

Reduction kinetics and intermediates behaviour of three high explosives (HMX, RDX, and TNT) were studies in batch reactors using either nano or micro size zero valent iron(ZVI) as reducing agent. The kinetics constants normalize to the mass of iron($k_M$) or to the surface area ($k_{SA}$) were measured and compared along with the changes of intermediate concentrations of each explosive. Results showed that $k_M$ and $k_{SA}$ values neither correlated each other nor explained the behaviour of intermediates of each high explosive in the batch reactor, in which initial intermediates decreased rapidly with nano ZVI treatment whereas the intermediates accumulated and stayed longer in the micro ZVI treated reactor.