Mitigating Environmental Impact of TNT Production: Strategies for Red Water Reduction and Treatment

Abstract. The commonly used purification route of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) using a sodium sulfite wash, also called the sellite process, generates significant quantities of red water, a hazardous byproduct containing toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic nitroaromatic compounds. This review explores two primary strategies for mitigating red water production associated with the sellite process and its environmental impact: The first approach involves the exploration of alternative synthesis routes, nitration agents such as N2O5, and the use of catalysts such as zeolites, which minimize the generation of asymmetrical derivatives, thereby reducing or eliminating the necessity for the sellite process. Second, if red water production cannot be avoided, advanced red water treatment technologies, especially integrated treatment systems combining physical, chemical, and biological methods, were investigated. Advanced oxidation processes and the use of zero-valent iron offer promising solutions for red water detoxification and treatment. These approaches aim to establish a sustainable and economically viable solution for TNT synthesis that complies with modern environmental standards while addressing the risks involved in handling TNT red water.