Patent ID: 8865961

Claim:
A method for the dissolution and neutralization of nitrocellulose propellants and plasticized military munitions comprising the steps of: placing plasticized munitions or nitrocellulose propellant or equipment or soil containing plasticized munitions or nitrocellulose propellant in a container; selecting from one of two reaction options: the first option consists of the steps of: adding a strong base to plasticized munitions in the container or soil containing plasticized munitions or solid nitrocellulose propellant, adding an organic solvent, and adding water to mixture, the second option consists of the steps of: adding organic co-solvent to plasticized munitions in a container or soil containing plasticized munitions or solid nitrocellulose propellant; allowing the mixture to react; adding a sulfur based bulk reductant to the mixture to degrade all nitro and amino compounds remaining in solution; evaporating and recovering the organic solvent, as determined by either following the first option or the second option for reuse; adding to the container to make up for the evaporated organic solvent; measuring the pH of solution; and adding a suitable acid if the pH is higher than 8.5 to drop the pH to near neutral.