Humic acid substances (HAs) in natural soil and sediment environments effect the retention and degradation of insensitive munitions compounds and legacy high explosives (MCs): DNAN, DNi- NH4+, nMNA, NQ, NTO (neutral and anionic forms), TNT, and RDX. A humic acid model compound has been considered using molecular dynamics, thermodynamic integration, and density functional theory to characterize the munition binding ability, ionization potential, and electron affinity compared to that in the water solution. Humic acids bind most compounds and act as both a sink and source for electrons. Ionization potentials suggest HAs are more susceptible to oxidation than the MCs studied. The electron affinity of HAs are very conformation-dependent and spans the same range as the munition compounds. When HAs and MCs are complexed the HAs tend to radicalize first thus buffering MCs against reductive as well as oxidative attacks.

Computational investigation on interactions between some munitions compounds and humic substances

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.