Stable Isotopes of Nitrate Reflect Natural Attenuation of Propellant Residues on Military Training Ranges

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• 作者：Genevi猫ve Bordeleau ; Martine M. Savard ; Richard Martel ; Anna Smirnoff ; Guy Ampleman ; Sonia Thiboutot
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T)
• 出版年：2013
• 出版时间：August 6, 2013
• 年：2013
• 卷：47
• 期：15
• 页码：8265-8272
• 全文大小：340K
• 年卷期：v.47,no.15(August 6, 2013)
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

Nitroglycerin (NG) and nitrocellulose (NC) are constituents of double-base propellants used notably for firing antitank ammunitions. Nitroglycerin was detected in soil and water samples from the unsaturated zone (pore water) at an active antitank firing position, where the presence of high nitrate (NO₃^{鈥?/sup>) concentrations suggests that natural attenuation of NG is occurring. However, concentrations alone cannot assess if NG is the source of NO₃鈥?/sup>, nor can they determine which degradation processes are involved. To address this issue, isotopic ratios (未15N, 未18O) were measured for NO₃鈥?/sup> produced from NG and NC through various controlled degradation processes and compared with ratios measured in field pore water samples. Results indicate that propellant combustion and degradation mediated by soil organic carbon produced the observed NO₃鈥?/sup> in pore water at this site. Moreover, isotopic results are presented for NO₃鈥?/sup> produced through photolysis of propellant constituents, which could be a dominant process at other sites. The isotopic data presented here constitute novel information regarding a source of NO₃鈥?/sup> that was practically not documented before and a basis to study the contamination by energetic materials in different contexts.}