the present invention relates to a method of working up and recovering returned explosives which are principally of the military type and which contain both fusible and non - fusible crystalline substances . in accordance with the invention , the returned explosive is treated in a multi - stage process which includes a first leaching stage for removing the non - crystalline , preferably fusible , component of the explosive in the form of trotyl , wax or plastic . the substance used in the leaching stage , principally toluene , does not affect the crystalline components of the explosive . the collected leaching liquid is separated off and the toluene , together with its dissolved content of trotyl or wax , is conveyed onwards for working up . the toluene which is recovered during the working up is returned to the process while the remaining filtrate from the filtration stage is treated with solvent which dissolves the crystalline high - energy explosives octagen and hexagen , respectively , which are relevant in this connection , which explosives , in a subsequent process stage , are precipitated out in the form of new crystals which , after a possible recrystallization , are ready to be reused . the solvent which is used in this connection is returned to the process .