Physicochemical Grounds for Application of Schungite for Neutralization of 1,1-Dimethylhydrazine in Wastewater

Abstract

Chromatography–mass spectrometry and MALDI mass spectrometry have been used to study the interaction of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine and products of its oxidation with the surface of mineral schungite in aqueous solutions. A comparative analysis has been performed for organic compounds contained in initial and equilibrium 1,1-dimethylhydrazine solutions brought in contact with schungite, as well as compounds desorbed from the modified surfaces of the mineral and its inorganic components. The analysis has revealed the efficiency of schungite as a low-cost and environmentally friendly sorbent capable of catalyzing the profound oxidation of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine and products of its transformation to nontoxic low-molecularmass substances. Environmentally safe methods have been proposed for the regeneration of used schungite.