The objective of this project is to determine the feasibility of utilizing hydrothermal treatment as a safe process to destroy nitrocellulose-based propellants by hydrothermal chemical reduction that can be relevant to a de-militarization process.

The approach for evaluating the feasibility of hydrothermal treatment for energetics destruction and reduction includes conducting bench scale hydrothermal experiments on the various propellants found at Crane Army Ammunition Activity (CAAA) at varying temperatures, durations, material compositions and concentrations, and with or without catalysts to determine effectiveness, efficiency, and optimization. An evaluation of scaling the process to address the real-world situation at CAAA will be done to compare the impact of this process with other treatment options and conduct a preliminary life cost assessment to compare with legacy technologies.

It is believed that hydrothermal treatment of propellants will offer a safe, environmentally acceptable method of treatment for nitrocellulose-based propellants. Advancing a viable alternative process to legacy methods will ensure that installations have resilient and adaptable options for the safe and effective destruction energetics. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2028)