Journal of Hazardous Materials 161 (2009) 589–607 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Hazardous Materials journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jhazmat Review Environmentally compatible next generation green energetic materials (GEMs)  M.B. Talawar, R. Sivabalan ∗ , T. Mukundan ∗ , H. Muthurajan, A.K. Sikder, B.R. Gandhe, A. Subhananda Rao High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune 411021, India article info Article history: Received 15 January 2008 Received in revised form 3 April 2008 Accepted 3 April 2008 Available online 11 April 2008 Keywords: Green energetic materials Lead-free initiators Energetic polymers Oxidizers abstract This paper briefly reviews the literature work reported on the environmentally compatible green energetic materials (GEMs) for defence and space applications. Currently, great emphasis is laid in the field of high-energy materials (HEMs) to increase the environmental stewardship along with the deliverance of improved performance. This emphasis is especially strong in the areas of energetic materials, weapon development, processing, and disposal operations. Therefore, efforts are on to develop energetic materials systems under the broad concept of green energetic materials (GEMs) in different schools all over the globe. The GEMs program initiated globally by different schools addresses these challenges and establishes the framework for advances in energetic materials processing and production that promote compliance with environmental regulations. This review also briefs the principles of green chemistry pertaining to HEMs, followed by the work carried out globally on environmentally compatible green energetic materials and allied ingredients. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Contents 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 590 1.1. Principles of green chemistry ................................................................................................................ 590 2. High-energy density materials (HEDMs) ........................................................................................................... 590 3. High nitrogen content high-energy materials (HNC-HEMs) ....................................................................................... 591 3.1. Tetrazine compounds ........................................................................................................................ 591 3.2. Polymeric nitrogen .......................................................................................................................... 592 3.3. Novel uranium–nitrogen compounds ....................................................................................................... 594 4. High performance explosives ....................................................................................................................... 594 5. Eco-friendly oxidizers ............................................................................................................................... 595 6. Green preparation methods of high explosives .................................................................................................... 596 6.1. 1,3,5-Triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) ................................................................................................ 596 6.2. 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene ........................................................................................................................ 596 7. Energetic polymers .................................................................................................................................. 597 7.1. Energetic thermoplastic elastomers (ETPE) as binders ...................................................................................... 597 8. Dinitrogen pentoxide: versatile nitrating agent for HEMs ......................................................................................... 599 9. Supercritical fluid technology: possible green technology for the 21st century ................................................................... 599 10. Alternate techniques—green context .............................................................................................................. 599 11. Nano-energetic materials .......................................................................................................................... 600 12. Lead-free ballistic modifiers: environmentally more compatible materials ...................................................................... 600 13. Eco-friendly (lead-free) primary explosives ....................................................................................................... 601 13.1. Green primary explosives .................................................................................................................. 602 14. Biodegradation of HEMs ........................................................................................................................... 603 15. Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................ 604 References .......................................................................................................................................... 605  This paper was presented during the National Science Day Seminar, in February 2005. ∗ Corresponding authors. Tel.: +91 20 25869303; fax: +91 20 25869316. E-mail addresses: rsivabalan2001@yahoo.co.in (R. Sivabalan), t mukun@yahoo.com (T. Mukundan). 0304-3894/$ – see front matter © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.04.011