faculty excellence An OSU research team working with the United States Army Defense Ammunition Center (DAC) in McAlester, Okla., has developed a functional prototype that uses only sunlight and a proprietary catalyst to detoxify water containing the dissolved explosives created during the manufacture of TNT and the salvaging of obsolete or unserviceable munitions. ‘Green’ Solution for Pink and Red Water Selling America Phil Shockley The device provides a simple, low-cost, but very effective way to deal with a global environmental challenge and has the potential to save the military millions of dollars. DAC officials say the technology comes at a critical time because America and other nations face severe environmental challenges due to the de-commissioning of huge stockpiles of excess, obsolete or unserviceable munitions. “America currently has a stockpile of more than 400,000 tons that must be destroyed,” says James Q. Wheeler, DAC director. “The military services add another 50,000 tons every year, and almost every industrialized nation in the world has the same challenge.” Munitions can currently be destroyed in an environmentally sound way, but the process is expensive, says Solim S.W. Kwak, DAC’s science and technology advisor. Under its Resource Recovery and Recycling (R3) program, the U.S. military has sought ways to recycle munitions components. However, some demilitarization processes produce a substance called “pink water,” which is water contaminated with TNT. Treating and de-toxifying pink water using current chemical and biologically based methods is slow, cumbersome and expensive. DAC contracted with physics professor Jim Harmon and his team to investigate alternative methods. The team developed a photo-catalytic method in which material within the device is coated with a catalyst developed at OSU. When exposed to sunlight, the catalyst neutralizes pink and red water, which is another highly toxic liquid produced during the manufacture of TNT. “The best way to describe it is reverse photosynthesis,” Harmon says. “The sunlight and catalyst create a reaction that turns nitro compounds into compounds such as ammonia.” The process works in ambient temperatures in any sunlit location, and special lights can be used on cloudy days, he says. “The device will also be very useful as the U.S. again begins producing TNT at a facility in Virginia,” Kwak says. America has not produced TNT since the 1980s due to excess stocks and the red water challenge. Since then, the U.S. has purchased TNT from international sources. “A large device could handle as much as 15,000 gallons of contaminated liquid per day, about the same amount of red water produced when making 10,000 pounds of TNT. The next step is to conduct tests on a larger scale and work with an Oklahoma company that will mass-produce the devices,” Harmon says. “We’re also working to arrange tests to see if the same system will destroy nerve agents like VX that were incorporated into some shells. According to a recent article in C&E News, some 250,000 gallons of the stuff awaits destruction, but the planned procedure has been aborted because of serious fire hazards.” Nestor Gonzales “The principles of advertising that help sell goods and services can also be applied to promoting ideals and changing attitudes about America,” she says. “A focused, concentrated, consistent ad campaign could help set the stage for America’s diplomatic efforts by telling America’s story to the world.” Fullerton is currently conducting experimental research to measure the effectiveness Erika Contreras pPhysics professor Jim Harmon, top left, led the team of researchers and students that developed a device to detoxify water containing dissolved explosives. Harmon uses a smaller, labsized version to demonstrate the process but says it can easily be “ramped up” to handle much larger quantities of TNT-contaminated liquids. tJami Fullerton, associate professor of advertising, says her research indicates effective advertising can change international attitudes toward America and open dialogue. As U.S. diplomats continue international efforts to shore up old alliances and build new ones, Jami Fullerton, associate professor of advertising, says effective advertising could be a powerful tool to change attitudes and open dialogues with diverse peoples. College of Arts and Sciences
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