A heterogenous catalytic system consisting of mechanically alloyed Mg/Pd particles has been used to degrade the peroxide explosive, triacetone triperoxide (TATP). The degradation of the TATP with the Mg/Pd particles (half life of 1.2 x 10(1) mm) was compared to the degradation with microscale Mg particles (half life of 1.7 x 10(3) min) and 10% Pd on activated carbon (half life of 8.7 x 10(2) min). Combining the Mg and Pd on carbon (Pd/C) through a mechanical alloying process is shown to produce reactive particles that can be used to degrade TATP. The major product of the degradation of TATP with mechanically alloyed Mg/Pd particles was acetone. A material balance for carbon was also calculated for the degradation reaction with 94 +/- 5% (mean +/- standard deviation) of the TATP carbons accounted for in the production of acetone.