Electrolysis: processes – compositions used therein – and methods – Electrolytic material treatment – Organic
Patent
1996-10-22
1998-09-22
Phasge, Arun S.
Electrolysis: processes, compositions used therein, and methods
Electrolytic material treatment
Organic
205702, 205717, 205771, 204267, 204271, A62D 300
Patent
active
058109951
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This Application is a 371 of PCT/GB95/01287 filed Jun. 5, 1997.
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the disposal of organic materials encased in metal and more specifically to the disposal of metal encased munitions such as bullets, shells, land mines, bombs, etc.
Organic materials comprising the contents of such munitions can be decomposed by electrochemical oxidation in nitric acid containing ions of silver It as an electrochemically regenerable oxidising species. Methods and apparatus suitable for such electrochemical decomposition are described in our patent specification EP 0297738 and the specification of our patent application No GB 94 11212.5.
Before such treatment of the contents of a munition can be carried out, the metal casing, usually comprising iron, steel or aluminium, has to be removed or penetrated to allow extraction of the contents. Conventional techniques for this purpose comprise drilling through the casing and draining out the contents, cutting up the casing using, for example an abrasive water jet, and cryogenic fracturing of the casing.
All of these methods involve extensive handling of the munition and treatments during all of which there is a risk of explosion, particularly where the munition for destruction is "non-stockpile", that is to say recovered from the ground where the munition has been deliberately buried, or has buried itself after firing but failing to detonate (e.g. on ranges).
The invention provides, in one of its aspects, a method for the disposal of organic materials selected from the group consisting of explosives, dangerous chemical agents and chemical warfare agents, encased in metal, which method comprises contacting the metal with an electrolyte and passing electrical current through the electrolyte via the metal and at least one other electrode to cause anodic dissolution of the metal, in which method anodic dissolution is continued until the organic materials encased therein are released, and nitric acid is circulated so as to carry the released organic materials directly from the remains (if any) of the metal (11) to an electrochemical cell containing nitric acid and ions of silver II as an electrochemically regenerable primary oxidising species and in which electrochemical cell the released organic materials are decomposed.
Preferably the said electrolyte comprises nitric acid and the decomposition of the released organic materials is carried out by circulating the nitric acid electrolyte through the said electrochemical cell after anodic dissolution of the said metal has released the organic materials encased thereon.
Silver is dissolved in the nitric acid electrolyte either before or after the anodic dissolution so that the required level of silver ions is maintained in the electrochemical cell during the said circulation of nitric acid electrolyte therethrough.
In this way the metal casing is penetrated with the minimum of mechanical handling and it is possible to carry out the subsequent decomposition of the organic contents, rendering them safe, without further movement or mechanical handling of the casing and its contents.
The invention also provides apparatus for use in the disposal of organic materials encased in metal, which apparatus comprises an enclosure for containing an electrolyte, means for supporting a metal casing containing organic materials, within the enclosure in contact with electrolyte, at least one electrode within the enclosure, connection means for creating an electric potential between the said one electrode as cathode and the said metal casing as anode, to cause anodic dissolution of the metal and valve means operatively connected to circulation means for isolating and, connecting the enclosure to a separate electrochemical cell for circulation of the electrolyte therethrough said enclosure holding the metal until organic materials encased therein are released by anodic dissolution, being actuated to circulate the nitric acid from an electrochemical cell containing nitric acid and ions of silver II as an electro
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Soilleux Richard James
Steele David Frame
Warren Nigel Desmond Evan
AEA Technology PLC
Hinds William R.
Hochberg D. Peter
Holt William H.
Phasge Arun S,.
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