Gradient Chemical Conversion Processes

Gradient Technology is a small chemical engineering business headquartered in Elk River, MN. Gradient focuses on advancing environmentally friendly resource recovery and reclamation (R3) technologies for the demilitarization of unwanted munitions.

Integrated Recycling Process—Gradient Technology’s integrated waterjet and chemical processing systems have helped change old munitions from being an environmental liability into being valuable commodities. Previously, most weapons and explosives had few disposal options other than burning or detonating them to get rid of them. Besides the obvious loss of valuable resources, the burning materials released unnecessary pollutants into the environment.

Gradient Technology’s integrated waterjet and chemical processing systems have helped change old munitions from being an environmental liability into being a valuable commodity.

Fully Recycled—Gradient Technology has developed several state-of-the-art chemical processes for recovering and reclaiming the components of conventional munitions. On a typical munition almost 100% can be recycled as either recycled metal or as new chemicals used in either agriculture or in the manufacture of consumer products.

High Purity Products—Gradient’s process for the chemical conversion of Explosive D from obsolete Navy munitions provides a safe and environmentally friendly pathway for changing a hazardous explosive into a chemical precursor for leather dyes used in Europe and into fertilizer. Gradient’s conversion process achieves purity levels exceeding the dye industries’ traditional sources and requirements at a reduction to the Government in both cost and environmental pollution.

Less Expensive—The chemical conversion process is substantially less expensive than the traditional methods used by the military to dispose of unwanted explosives. Consequently, Gradient Technology has received contracts for processing over a million pounds of unwanted explosives at the Explosive D chemical conversion plant alone.

Plastic Bonded Explosive Plastic Bonded Explosive (PBX) Conversion

Next Generation Recycling—Gradient Technology also has developed a chemical conversion process for recovering and separating components of the latest generation of hightech, plastic bonded explosives (PBX). From this process Gradient recovers high quality, high yield nitramines as well as the polyurethane binder and high quality aluminum, if present.

PBX explosive demilitarization and recovery system

Recovered alumiunum and TNT from Tritonal

Advanced Research Laboratories—Gradient’s in-house laboratories, coupled with Gradient’s existing conversion and accessing processes are allowing a modest investment in R&D dollars to rapidly generate recycling capability. Gradient’s continuing research into chemical conversion of munitions and explosives promises the low-risk scale-up of laboratory and pilot plant processes to production scale facilities. These new and innovative processes convert and recycle hazardous conventional weapons into useful materials for consumer or industrial products.

Government Laboratory Collaboration—Working closely with the US Air Force Research Laboratories, Gradient Technology performed the research and development necessary to design and fabricate an operational pilot plant for removing PBX-based explosives from warheads and chemically separating the components into high-purity, usable materials. Many of these recyclable chemicals are expensive and in short supply. In addition, some of these materials are currently being imported from overseas due to loss of production capacity within the United States. Consequently, the US Air Force teamed with Gradient to establish a new recycling technique for these exotic chemicals.

Recovered RDX from demilitarized PBXN-109

For more information on these or any other demilitarization or For more information on these or any other demilitarization or recycling topics, please contact:

Duane A. Goetsch
President
(goetsch@gradtech.com)

Steven J. Schmit, Ph.D.
Sr. Chemical Engineer
(schmit@gradtech.com)

Gradient Technology
11080 Industrial Circle NW
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 792-9990 phone
(763) 792-9972 fax