Bioconversion of Nitramine Propellant Wastewaters - Triaminoguanidine Nitrate

The biodegradability of triaminoguanidine nitrate was determined under a variety of environmental conditions. Supplemental carbon was required in order for biodegradation to occur under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Although triaminoguanidine nitrate is biodegraded under both aerobic and anerobic conditions, the nitrate portion of the salt will only degrade anaerobically (denitrification). The alternate carbon is required for this process as well. Triaminoguandine nitrate was found to be unstable under alkaline conditions resulting in the formation of carbohydrazide (diaminourea). No urea, guanidine cyanamide, cyanoguanidine, cyanoguanidine or hydrazine were detected during the degradation of triaminoguanidine nitrate. Resorcinol was also shown to be biodegraded, as has been previously reported in the literature. lsodecylpelargonate and Paraplex G-54 were only sparingly soluble in water. Toxicity data collected from previously published literature are also presented.