Citation:

Dilger, J., T. Martin, B. Wilkins, B. Bohrer, K. Thoreson, AND P. Fedick. Detection and toxicity modeling of anthraquinone dyes and chlorinated side products from a colored smoke pyrotechnic reaction. CHEMOSPHERE. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 287(Part 1):131845, (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131845

Impact/Purpose:

Performance objectives drive pyrotechnic chemical engineering in tailoring quantifiable reaction effects , to include temperature, color purity, - luminosity, - burn rate, or smoke dispersion, , often by subtle substitutions or additives - to the formulation or surrounding reaction environment. Maximizing performance historically also enlarged chemical exposure risks to ecological or human health. - As a result, an impressive compilation of work over the past several decades has sought to reengineer many types of pyrotechnic compositions by replacing hazardous formulation ingredients with “greener”, safer alternatives. The elimination of objectionable pyrotechnic reactants certainly has affected environmental health and sustainment; however, it is argued that the pyrotechnic chemist must also consider the other half of the chemical reaction and appropriately assess all products formed from these new “non-toxic” alternative formulations.

Description:

“Green” pyrotechnics seek to remove known environmental pollutants and health hazards from their formulations. This chemical engineering approach often focuses on maintaining performance effects upon replacement of objectionable ingredients, yet neglects the chemical products formed by the exothermic reaction. In this work, milligram quantities of a lab-scale pyrotechnic red smoke composition were functioned within a thermal probe for product identification by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Thermally decomposed ingredients and new side product derivatives were identified at lower relative abundances to the intact organic dye (as the engineered sublimation product). Side products included chlorination of the organic dye donated by the chlorate oxidizer. Machine learning quantitative structure-activity relationship models computed impacts to health and environmental hazards. High to very high toxicities were predicted for inhalation, mutagenicity, developmental, and endocrine disruption for common military pyrotechnic dyes and their analogous chlorinated side products. These results underscore the need to revise objectives of “green” pyrotechnic engineering.

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