Microbial passivation of explosive ordnance
AssigneeBoard of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education, on behalf of the Desert Research Institute
InventorsDavid L. Decker, Joseph J. Grzymski
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Abstract
A number of devices and methods for biopassivating explosive ordnance are disclosed. In some embodiments, a biopassivation reactor device is used to render energetic material in an explosive ordnance less explosive and/or non-explosive. This can be done by coupling the biopassivation reactor device to the fuse opening of the explosive ordnance. This can also be done by incorporating the biopassivation reactor device into the explosive ordnance at the time of manufacture. The biopassivation reactor device can include a housing enclosing microorganisms, water, additives, and/or the like. In some embodiments, an entire ordnance magazine can be operated as a bioreactor to passivate the explosive ordnance inside.
Claims25
An ordnance biopassivation reactor device comprising:
- a housing;
- energetic material biopassivating microorganisms enclosed in the housing;
- and
- water enclosed in the housing separately from the microorganisms;
- wherein the biopassivation reactor device is couplable to a fuze opening of an explosive ordnance in place of a fuze for the explosive ordnance.
A method for biopassivating explosive ordnance comprising:
- coupling a biopassivation reactor device to a fuze opening of an explosive ordnance including energetic material, the biopassivation reactor device being coupled in place of a fuze for the explosive ordnance, the biopassivation reactor device comprising:
- a housing;
- microorganisms enclosed in the housing;
- and
- water enclosed in the housing separately from the microorganisms;
- activating the biopassivation reactor device by combining the microorganisms and the water;
- and
- biopassivating the energetic material in the explosive ordnance using the microorganisms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.