Abstract:
NTO is a high aquatic solubility constituent of new insensitive munitions (IM) formulations. This
study addresses transport of NTO in the vadose zone in pure and IM formulations in a variety of soils
representative of testing installations across the USA. NTO is highly mobile in all the soils tested and
advective water transport linked to the rainfall pattern appears to be the controlling mechanism on
NTO mobility. The NTO dissolution rate is hindered when NTO is part of IM formulations containing
low aqueous solubility components. The presence of low solubility products appears to force NTO to
diffuse through the organic matrix before reaching the aqueous phase. Despite its ionic character in
solution, substantial amounts of NTO are taken up by ryegrass. This likely is the result of the high
concentration of NTO in the aqueous phase and the high water uptake of ryegrass.
Citation:
Braida, W. J., Wazne, M., Ogundipe, A., Tuna, G. S., Pavlov, J., Koutsospyros, A., & Balok, V. (2012). Transport of nitrotriazolone (NTO) in soil lysimeters. Proceedings of Protection and Restoration of the Environment XI (Thessaloniki, Greece).