Abstract :
Due to wide usage of nitrocellulose in civilian and non-domestic industries, massive amount of waste
residues is generated. The waste has to be treated with an environmental friendly process. Historically, methods
for decomposition of waste materials have been open buming or open explosion may not be suitable or safe
disposal. Alkaline hydrolysis of nitrocellulose seems to be a simple and inexpensive method for cleavage of its
structure to non-energetic materials that can be directly disposed or further biologically deteriorated.
Furthermore having a valuable product is desired for making the process to be profitable. In this work, a simple
method for alkaline decomposition of waste nitrocellulose to cellulose was used. The effect of sodium hydroxide
solution and temperature on decomposition of nitrocellulose was investigated. In such circumstances the
optimum conditions that achieved were I.S M sodium hydroxide, at SS°C. The identification and characterization
of product was carried out by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron
Microscope (SEM). The obtain results showed that hydrolysis occurred and the product was completely
denitrified and its characterization compatible and similar to pure cellulose.
