Extraction of TNT from aggregate soil fractions

Past explosives manufacture, disposal, and training activities have contami nated soil at many military facilities, posing health and environmental ris ks through contact, potential detonation, and leaching into ground water. W hile methods have been confirmed for extraction and measuring explosives co ncentration in soil, no work has addressed aggregate size material (the >2 mm gravel and cobbles) that often occurs with the smaller soil fractions. T his paper describes methods and results for extraction and measurement of T NT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) in aggregate material from 1/2 to 2-1/1 from a W WII era ammunition plant. TNT was extracted into acetonitrile by both Soxhl et and ultrasonic extraction methods. High pressure liquid chromatography a nalyses of extracts showed expected variation among samples. Also effective extraction and determination of TNT concentration for each aggregate size fraction was achieved. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.