Browsing by Author "Persico, Federica"
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Item Open Access Assessing the performance of environmental management in academic research laboratories(Elsevier, 2022-03-23) Ladyman, Melissa K.; Gutierrez Carazo, Encina; Persico, Federica; Temple, Tracey J.; Coulon, FredericManaging environmental risk is essential to ensure organisations minimise their impact on the environment, comply with environmental legislation and maintain their reputation in an increasingly environmentally aware society. Organisations frequently use management systems to plan and execute routine environmental assessments, however environmental impacts may still arise from routine activities or accidents that could be avoided by effective environmental management. Currently there is no method for an organisation to assess the level of awareness their employees have of activities that may lead to an environmental impact, or the level of uptake of environmental management processes. Therefore, the Environmental Management Performance Assessment (EMPA) process was developed to enable organisations to self-assess existing environmental management processes by survey of their employees. The EMPA process was aligned to key phases of the Deming Cycle and involves development and distribution of a survey to organisation employees. The responses are then used to recognise areas for improvement by progression through a bespoke flow chart integrated with the initial survey. This enables demonstration of how particular hazards arise from insufficient awareness at different stages in the Deming Cycle and how these hazards can have wider, reputational, economic, and legislative consequences. The process was trialled by surveying academic researchers on the environmental management processes in their laboratories as a sample set.Item Open Access Data for "Investigation into the environmental fate of the novel explosive 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO): Acridine and its constituents"(Cranfield University, 2024-10-22) Persico, Federica; Temple, Tracey; Mai, Nathalie; Pons, Jean-Francois3-Nitro-l,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) is an Insensitive High Explosive (IHE) often considered as a safer alternative to traditional explosive 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). NTO is highly soluble in water and previous studies have revealed that when transported through soil it has the potential to create an environmental challenge as it tends to easily reach groundwater systems. To combat some of these challenges recent work has shown that combining NTO in a co-crystal with Acridine (ACR) at a molar ratio of 1:1 has a positive effect on thermal stability and a reduction in solubility. This paper experimentally evaluates the fate and transport of this NTO:ACR co-crystal compared to its individual components, NTO and ACR, in a low-inorganic matrix. The findings of this study reveal that despite NTO maintaining its high solubility within the co-crystal structure , the quantity of NTO retained within the upper layers of the sand column is larger for NTO:ACR. The rate of transport of these materials through the soil was also considered. While the rate of transport of NTO was proportional to its concentration the presence ACR was shown to have an antagonistic effect on this activity. Therefore, consistent evidence is provided here of an interaction between NTO and ACR within the co-crystal structure which results in a lower solubility for NTO. Increasing the retention of a containment within soil could aid in environmental remediation of the area post-use.Item Open Access Data supporting 'Evaluate the effects of Insensitive High Explosives residues on soil by using an Environmental Quality Index (EQI) approach'(Cranfield University, 2023-02-16 16:14) Persico, Federica; Temple, Tracey; Coulon, Frederic; Ladyman, MelissaData presented show the fate and transport of Insensitive High Explosives (IHE) in two different soils, a pristine and a land-degraded soil. Results are also evaluating changes to the physical, chemical and biological sections of the soil over time. Moreover, and and Environmental Quality Index (EQI) has been developed and each value has been scored to understand if soil quality is impacted by the explosive presence.Item Open Access Data supporting: 'Assessing the performance of environmental management in academic research laboratories'(Cranfield University, 2022-11-23 16:56) Ladyman, Melissa; Persico, Federica; Gutierrez Carazo, Encina; Temple, TraceyElectronic survey and survey data for the paper: Assessing the performance of environmental management systems in academic research laboratoriesItem Open Access Data supporting: 'Development of an environmental hazard-based rating assessment for defence-related chemical compounds in ecological soil systems'(Cranfield University, 2022-08-31 16:53) Persico, Federica; Temple, Tracey; Coulon, Frederic; Ladyman, MelissaEnvironmental hazard-based methods are commonly used to categorise the severity of chemical contamination to ecological soil systems, although a traffic-light approach (green, amber, red) has never been used to assess these consequences. A traffic light approach is an easy to interpretate data as it has a clear visual display which can provide an early warning approach for stakeholders to identify areas that require further investigation. This approach should be underpinned by extensive research data and systematic methods of development. However, the extent of reliable data available for specific chemicals can be limited and therefore decision making may rely on expert judgement. Therefore, in this study, an environmental hazard-based rating methodology was developed by combining the guidelines from the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) and the USEPA for Predicted Non-effect Concentration (PNEC) and Ecological Soil Screening Levels (Eco-SSL) for defence-related chemicals (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX), cypermethrin, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)). The developed hazard-based rating assessment was design to categorise the chemicals into low, medium and high environmental hazards priority to inform and ease the decision-making process for contaminated areas to ensure that sustainable operations are carried out.Item Open Access Data: Persistence of TATB in the environment(Cranfield University, 2023-08-08 13:56) Persico, Federica; Temple, Tracey; Kadansky, Evie2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TATB) is an Insensitive High Explosive (IHE) that is increasingly being used as a safer alternative to traditional energetic materials. However, the high thermal stability of TATB poses challenges for its disposal, particularly through existing open burning methods and its ability to remain in the environment for long period of time. Therefore, this study investigated the persistence of TATB in the environment by conducting small-scale experiments which were designed to examine the resistance of TATB to open burning and to assess unburnt residues. To evaluate the impact of the unburnt materials in soil, laboratory-scale soil column transport studies were conducted to gauge the movement of TATB through soil and its consequences to environmental receptors. The results indicate that TATB exhibits a high resistance to burning, leaving unburnt materials that can persist in soil. The study emphasizes the importance of efficient disposal methods for explosives and highlights the need for further research on the environmental impact and toxicity of TATB.Item Open Access Dataset for "Environmental Fate of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in Marine Environments - Dissolution and Remediation Strategies"(Cranfield University, 2024-09-16) Persico, Federica; Temple, Tracey; Mai, Nathalie; Kadansky, EvieItem Open Access Development of a soil analytical framework to facilitate early identification of the deleterious effects of emerging contaminants and chemicals of military concern on soil(Cranfield University, 2023-01-05T12:42:02Z) Persico, Federica; Coulon, Frederic; Ladyman, Melissa; Temple, TraceyInsensitive munitions are currently in use in military operations and training areas around the world and are usually filled with Insensitive High Explosive (IHE) formulations, such as combinations of constituents including 2,4-dinitroanisle (DNAN), 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) and RDX. Literature is available on the physiochemical nature of these materials, although the actual consequence of residues being deposited post-detonation in the environment is still an unexplored area of research. Of particular interest is the evaluation of soil health as it provides an early warning sign of contamination that may impact on human health and other environmental receptors. This research aimed to establish the concentrations of IHE in soil that would be detrimental to soil by quantifying residues from three detonated 155mm artillery shells filled with IHE composition (15% RDX, 32% DNAN and 53% NTO). The data collected was used to calculate the impact of 100 detonations to estimate the cumulative impacts. The estimated soil concentration values were simulated in outdoor soil mesocosms to establish high, medium, and low soil health boundaries for IHE in soil. The results obtained provide insight on the environmental impact of IHE filled munitions supporting future research in understanding consequences on soil health of detonated munitions.Item Open Access Development of an analytical framework to assess the risks posed to soil by emerging contaminants and chemicals of military concern.(Cranfield University, 2022-11) Persico, Federica; Temple, Tracey J.; Coulon, FredericSoil provides multiple essential functions, such as provision of food and raw materials, a platform for urban development and human wellbeing and as a filtering and transforming medium. Many unregulated contaminants, often termed emerging contaminants, are globally released on soil creating potential risks, especially when undetected leading to significant impact on environmental receptors. The UK ministry of Defence plays an important role in soil protection as the biggest holder of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the UK as well as being an active polluter in these protected areas through essential training activities. Therefore, there is a need to improve methods for early identification of emerging contamination to avoid long term environmental impacts and costly remediation. The research undertaken for this thesis has contributed to the development of a soil analytical framework to facilitate early identification of the deleterious effects of emerging contaminants and chemicals of military concern on soil. During this research two different scenarios were considered, firstly, when there is a significant body of ecotoxicological data available for a specific contaminant in the literature and secondly, when ecotoxicological data is not available. A scale based on potential hazards was created for the first scenario, which aims to classify chemicals into three categories - low, medium, and high environmental hazards. This scale serves as an inexpensive method to identify the risk of soil degradation. Results from this research showed that for the contaminants of interest (e.g. 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine - RDX, 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene - TNT, Perfluorooctanoic Acid - PFOA, Perfluorooctane Sulfonate - PFOS and Cypermethrin) the low-level hazard values were lower than expected. These values were expected to correspond to existing Soil Screening Values (SSVs) and Ecological Soil Screening Levels (Eco-SSL), meaning that the contaminants are likely to have a negative impact on the soil at lower concentrations. For the second case, when data is not available experiments need to be undertaken to generate primary data. Insensitive High Explosives (IHE) compositions were identified as lacking data and explosive residues were collected and soil mesocosms were carried out to define the long-term consequences on soil. Field experiments were used to quantify IHE residue deposition concentrations from a standard 155 mm artillery shell, which was then used to estimate potential contamination after 100 detonations. These values were used to estimate low, medium and high contaminant concentration for soil mesocosm studies to quantify the impact on soil using indicators identified through literature review. A standardised procedure was developed based on this, which quantifies the consequences of explosives on soil. This procedure revealed that soils that are already degraded are more susceptible to the impact of explosives, which primarily affects the chemical and biological properties of the soil. . Specifically, this work has shown that the frequent use of IHE filled munitions on training ranges will have an effect on the quality of the soil even when low quantities of energetic residue are deposited. Results for this thesis represent a first step towards a more comprehensive soil analytical framework development providing early identification tools for soil protection.Item Open Access Development of an environmental hazard-based rating assessment for defence-related chemical compounds in ecological soil systems(Elsevier, 2022-07-08) Persico, Federica; Coulon, FredericEnvironmental hazard-based methods are commonly used to categorise the severity of chemical contamination to ecological soil systems, although a traffic-light approach (green, amber, red) has never been used to assess these consequences. A traffic light approach is an easy to interpretate data as it has a clear visual display which can provide an early warning approach for stakeholders to identify areas that require further investigation. This approach should be underpinned by extensive research data and systematic methods of development. However, the extent of reliable data available for specific chemicals can be limited and therefore decision making may rely on expert judgement. Therefore, in this study, an environmental hazard-based rating methodology was developed by combining the guidelines from the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) and the USEPA for Predicted Non-effect Concentration (PNEC) and Ecological Soil Screening Levels (Eco-SSL) for defence-related chemicals (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX), cypermethrin, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)). The developed hazard-based rating assessment was design to categorise the chemicals into low, medium and high environmental hazards priority to inform and ease the decision-making process for contaminated areas to ensure that sustainable operations are carried out.Item Open Access Evaluating the effect of insensitive high explosive residues on soil using an environmental quality index (EQI) approach(Elsevier, 2023-02-03) Persico, Federica; Coulon, Frederic; Ladyman, Melissa; Fernandez Lopez, Carmen; Temple, TraceyThe environmental impact of Insensitive High Explosive (IHE) detonation residues to soil quality was assessed using a series of outdoor soil mesocosms. Two different soils were used including a pristine sandy soil and a land-degraded soil collected from a training range. Both soils were spiked with an IHE mixture comprised of 53 % NTO, 32 % DNAN and 15 % RDX at three different concentrations 15, 146 and 367 mg/kg respectively. The concentration levels were derived from approximate residues from 100 detonations over a 2 week training period. A set of five physico-chemical and biological indicators representative of the two soils were selected to develop environmental quality indexes (EQI). It was found that none of the concentrations tested for the pristine soil affected the chemical, biological and physical indicators, suggesting no decrease in soil quality. In contrast, the EQI for the degraded soil was reduced by 24 %, mainly due to a decrease in the chemical and biological components of the soil. Therefore, it is concluded that depending on the soil health status, IHE residues can have minor or severe consequences on soil health. Further studies are needed to determine the environmental impact of IHE on soil and water especially in the case where a larger number of detonations are more likely to be carried out on a training range.Item Open Access Evaluation of Soil Health in Response to Insensitive High Explosive (IHE) Exposure(Cranfield University, 2020-12-07 13:50) Persico, FedericaSoil provides multiple important functions, such as provision of food and raw materials, a platform for urban development and human wellbeing and a filtering and transforming media for water, nutrients, and carbon. All these characteristics work together to ensure that the system functions efficiently as a living system. This functionality translates to a clear definition of soil health. The use of traditional explosives in various training areas has led to the contamination of soil with recalcitrant and persistent hazardous chemicals which can render the sites unusable and no longer accessible due to accumulation of these harmful energetic residues over time, having a great effect on soil health. New insensitive munitions, which have been designed to detonate on command and not accidentally, have been developed and are currently use in military operations and in training areas. These munitions are filled with insensitive high explosive (IHE) formulations which comprise of more stable explosive compounds, such as 2,4-dinitroanisle (DNAN), 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) and 1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine (RDX), whose behaviour and consequences in the environment in not yet fully understood. Therefore, a 155mm projectile filled with IHE has been detonated to investigate the spatial distribution and concentrations of explosive residues after a full-order detonation in a training area. The explosive concentrations found on site will be then replicated in a self-contained outdoor area to evaluate the consequences that the IHE has specifically on Soil Health. Leachate and plants will be analysed, plant growth monitored by comparison to several control beds and soil characteristics (e.g. pH, nutrients, oxygen), regularly tested. This will provide better understanding of the environmental consequences that IHE may have on soil health. In addition, results from this project will support future research in developing proactive risk assessment strategies for soil health.Item Open Access Persistence of 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene in the environment(Elsevier, 2023-10-13) Christian, Olivia; Spencer, Michael; Ladyman, Melissa; Persico, Federica; Gutierrez-Carazo, Encina; Kadansky, Evie; Temple, Tracey2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TATB) is an Insensitive High Explosive (IHE) that is increasingly being used as a safer alternative to traditional energetic materials. However, the high thermal stability of TATB poses challenges for its disposal, particularly through existing open burning methods and its ability to remain in the environment for long period of time. Therefore, this study investigated the persistence of TATB in the environment by conducting small-scale experiments which were designed to examine the resistance of TATB to open burning and to assess unburnt residues. To evaluate the fate and transport of the unburnt materials in soil, laboratory-scale soil column transport studies were conducted to gauge the movement of TATB through soil. The results indicate that TATB exhibits a high resistance to burning, leaving unburnt materials that can persist in soil. The study emphasizes the importance of efficient disposal methods for explosives and highlights the need for further research to understand the environmental impact and toxicity of TATB.Item Open Access Quantitative environmental assessment of explosive residues from the detonation of Insensitive High Explosive filled 155 mm artillery shell(Wiley, 2022-01-11) Persico, Federica; Temple, Tracey J.; Ladyman, Melissa K.; Gilroy-Hirst, William; Guiterrez-Carazo, Encina; Coulon, FredericInsensitive High-Explosive (IHE) typically comprises up to five constituents including 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), and 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), which are mixed in various ratios to achieve desired performance and increase insensitivity. Insensitive munitions, which are designed to detonate on command and not accidentally, are currently in use in military operations and training areas around the world. However, there is minimal literature available on the physiochemical behavior of these materials in the environment, therefore the actual consequence of residues being deposited post-detonation is still an unexplored area of research. Three 155 mm artillery shells filled with an IHE mixture of 53 % NTO, 32 % DNAN, and 15 % RDX were detonated in an inert sand arena to collect and quantify residues. Post detonation, approximately 0.02 % NTO, and 0.07 % DNAN were deposited in the environment which may rapidly accumulate dependent on the number of rounds fired. This is of concern due to the toxicity of DNAN and its degradation products, and the potential for increased acidity of soil and discoloration of watercourses from NTO contamination.Item Open Access Quantitative Environmental Assessment of Explosive Residues from the Detonation of Insensitive High Explosive Filled 155 mm Artillery Shell(Cranfield University, 2022-01-14 08:30) Persico, Federica; Temple, Tracey; Ladyman, Melissa; Fawcett-Hirst, William; Gutierrez Carazo, Encina; Coulon, FredericFollowing the detonation on a 155mm filled with an Insensitive High Explosive composition (IMX-104) composed by DNAN, NTO and RDX a sampling collection has been carried out to determine the residue deposition of the explosive residues. Half of a sampling arena (10m radius) has ben set up and filled with a 5 cm layer of sand. Samples have been collected in the area, following the Multi-Increment sampling technique, before and after the arena has been set up to determine if there was any cross-contamination after the detonation occurred. A rope has been used to create 2 x 2 m sections in which samples have been collected, following the multi-increment technique, in triplicates using spoons if sand was collected and sampling cores tools for soil. Samples have been stored at -20C for 3 months and t using the extraction technique by Temple et al, 2019 with Acetonitrile and water explosives residues have been analysed (always in triplicates).Item Open Access Synthesis, structure characterization, Hirshfeld surface analysis, and computational studies of 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO):acridine(Springer, 2024-04-30) Şen, Nilgün; Pons, Jean-François; Zorlu, Yunus; Dossi, Eleftheria; Persico, Federica; Temple, Tracey; Aslan, Nazife; Khumsri, AkachaiTo modify the physical features and extend applications of the 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), we synthesized NTO with acridine (ACR) at a molar ratio of 1:1, a neutralization reaction. Through altering the chemical composition, it was possible to alter physical properties such as thermal stability, free space (voids), packing coefficient, crystal density, difference in pKa of co-formers, morphology, solubility, and impact sensitivity, and detonation parameters . It appears that physical attributes could be entirely altered. Single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction methods, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR and 13C-NMR), and thermal analysis were utilized to comprehensively characterize and confirm the formation of the structure of NTO:ACR. The substantial hydrogen bond interactions and planar layered structures observed between the cations and anions generated a complex 3D network, providing insight into the structure–property interrelationship. One intriguing feature discovered is the layered structure present in NTO:ACR, which may be responsible for the low impact sensitivity. According to the experimental results, NTO:ACR showed good thermal stability (Td = 229 °C) and outstanding impact sensitivity (IS = 100 J). Detonation velocity and pressure were calculated using the EXPLO5 software program and found to be 7006 m·s−1 and 20.02 GPa, respectively.