White phosphorus (treatability study)
What White phosphorus (treatability study) is, and how we evaluate it with MuniRem®.
What it is
White phosphorus (WP) is used in smoke and incendiary munitions. It ignites on its own in air and produces harmful smoke, and it is regulated as an ignitable waste. Old WP can sit in sludge for decades.
How MuniRem® treats it
In a pilot test on decades-old WP sludge, a customized MuniRem-WP reagent neutralized about 98% of the WP at a 2:1 reagent-to-WP mass ratio over 7 days. The samples stopped smoking in air, and WP fell from about 14 lb to 0.35 lb. Persulfate treatments did worse. MuniRem says a treatability study is required for each site.
- A sample is bench-tested first. This treatability study is required.
- MuniRem-WP powder is mixed into the sludge at about 2 parts reagent to 1 part WP by mass.
- The mix sits for 7 days with occasional mixing.
- WP converts to stable phosphate minerals, confirmed by X-ray diffraction, and an EPA-approved lab measures the WP left.
What it becomes
Phosphate, Calcium-iron phosphate minerals (anapaite/tamanite), Phosphorus sulfide.
Where it's found
Smoke-munition production and storage sites and WP sludge.
Talk to us
Every site is different. The dose depends on the material, the amount and the site conditions.
Discuss Your Project← Back to MuniRem