Reclamation Reuse of Pyrotechnic Ingredients

The Navy has over 14,000 tons of pyrotechnic flares and smoke munitions forecasted to enter the Resource Recovery and Disposition stockpile by FY 2001. Disposal of pyrotechnics is now limited to open burning by controlled incineration. Processes to demil these munitions while recovering Valuable constituents are needed. TPL is the leading company in the development of demilitarization resource recovery and reuse MO) processes. Through its U.S. Army Pyrotechnic Munitions Demilitarization, TPL has experience in disassembly, reclamation and reprocessing procedures for many munitions of interest to the Navy. Innovation processes are proposed to further aid in reclamation and resource recovery from six classes of pyrotechnic munitions. In Phase I, proposed R3 innovations will be evaluated via a screening analysis. Reclamation techniques, such as liquid ammonia and supercritical fluids, and constituent separation and recovery processes will be tested at the bench scale. A market assessment study will be conducted. One innovation will be selected for micro-plant scaleup. Laboratory facilities, the Fort Wingate Demilitarization Facility, and extensive pyrotechnic's database are in place to support the program. The PI has played a major role in the development of TPL's R3 processes.