The demilitarization/degradation of unexploded ordnance (UXO) or aged/excess munitions is a prime concern to all branches of the US military and supports the efforts of the USAF, as well as the US Army DAC.  Research efforts by OSU scientists into the photo catalytic modification of TNT include measurement and analysis of the rate of photo-electron generation by porphyrins under various conditions of light intensity, wavelength, and medium conditions.  Research efforts have focused on determining the optimal conditions for photo catalysis and the determination of the resultant products.  Various aspects of the research are to determine the parameters of the photo catalytic destruction of explosives and measure the rates of destruction under different temperature and light conditions.

Furthermore, OSU scientists will use quantum chemistry and mechanical modeling of the reactions to determine intermediates and possible rate constants, as well as the interaction of energetics and porphyrins.  Measurement and analysis of chemical transformations will include kinetics of different porphyrins and catalysts under different conditions, such as temperature, light, etc., and the identification of chemical intermediates (UV-VIS, HPLC, GC-MS, etc.).  The final stage of research will involve the design and development of a small sunlight-driven prototype unit to test the catalysis of TNT using immobilized porphyrins.