Ecological Disposal/Reclaim of Navy Colored Smoke Compositions.

This is a report on efforts sponsored by the Naval Sea Systems Command to dispose of or reclaim the approximately 9300 kg of colored manner. These smoke compositions, which contain carcinogenic dyes, are contained in nonfunctional pyrotechnic devices. After a consideration of many disposalreclaim methods, two laboratory-scale approaches were selected 1 controlled incineration, and 2 dye reclaim by solvent extraction. For both methods, the smoke composition from the Mk 13 Mod 0 Signal producing an orange smoke was selected for the first tests, because this composition accounts for 6600 of the 9300 kg. This composition contains 1-methylaminoanthraquinone and xylene-azo-beta-naphthol dyes. 1 Incineration. The first approach consists of incinerating the smoke composition as completely as possible to minimize toxic andor carcinogenic effluents, as measured by gas chromatographic, infrared spectroscopic, and wet chemical analyses. 2 Solvent Extraction. About five grams of Mk 13 smoke composition was placed in a test tube and treated with 25 cc of 50 sodium hydroxide solution. Two hours, with intermittent shaking at ambient conditions, were required to dissolve all the solubles.