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I IONIZING RADIATION 272 compounds were destroyed to better than 85 percent but not better than 99 percent. Compounds containing carbon-phosphorus bonds were harder to destroy. Furthermore, it is not known whether the products from irradiations are indeed less hazardous than the feed materials. The major advantage of the radiation technique is that disassembly may not be required to render the contents of rockets or mines harmless. However, there is no experimental evidence indicating that such a level of destruction has been achieved. BY-PRODUCTS AND WASTE STREAMS After irradiation, the components containing agent, propellant, or munitions will need to be analyzed to ascertain that they may be opened and the products of radiation collected for conventional destruction. Conventional destruction includes any of the oxidation techniques such as molten salt, high temperature steam, fluidized-bed oxidation, or catalytic oxidation. Note that these munitions containers may be under substantial pressure from radiolytic production of gases in the closed containers. Leakage of these gases and containment become major concerns. It is very doubtful that complete destruction of agent is achievable (i.e., 99.9999 percent). It is not dear what the radiation products will be. It is possible that two phases will be recovered, namely, a radiolyric gas and polymerized solids. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES The procedures for destroying agent by using penetrating nuclear radiation such as gamma rays or X-rays have the advantage that they may not need reverse assembly of weapons. There should be no thermal effects, thus reducing the possibility of explosions. The disadvantages of irradiations of other than penetrating radiation is that disassembly will be required. Thus, mixed radiation from spent fuel elements, electron irradiation, or beta rays will require less absorbing matter between the radiation and the agent. Other disadvantages are that radiation embrittlement of containers may become a problem at very high absorbed doses, and in conjunction with radiolytic gases, containers may have to withstand high stresses in embrittled containers.
