National Academies Press: OpenBook

Alternative Technologies for the Destruction of Chemical Agents and Munitions (1993)

Chapter: Low-Temperature, Low-Pressure, Liquid-Phase Detoxification

« Previous: CHARACTERISTICS OF ALTERNATIVE DESTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES
Suggested Citation:"Low-Temperature, Low-Pressure, Liquid-Phase Detoxification." National Research Council. 1993. Alternative Technologies for the Destruction of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2218.
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Page 6
Suggested Citation:"Low-Temperature, Low-Pressure, Liquid-Phase Detoxification." National Research Council. 1993. Alternative Technologies for the Destruction of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2218.
×
Page 7
Suggested Citation:"Low-Temperature, Low-Pressure, Liquid-Phase Detoxification." National Research Council. 1993. Alternative Technologies for the Destruction of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2218.
×
Page 8
Suggested Citation:"Low-Temperature, Low-Pressure, Liquid-Phase Detoxification." National Research Council. 1993. Alternative Technologies for the Destruction of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2218.
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Page 9

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 The committee investigated a variety of alternative destruction processes (see Chapters 6 and 7). Table E-1 summarizes their status and applicability. For convenience, the technologies and processes are grouped in the following categories: (1) low-temperature, low-pressure, liquid-phase detoxification processes that convert agent to less toxic compounds; (2) low-temperature, low-pressure, liquid-phase oxidation processes, including biological oxidation, which react agent with oxygen to form carbon dioxide, water, and salts (for complete oxidation, or mineralization); (3) moderate-temperature, high-pressure oxidation; (4) high-temperature, low- pressure pyrolysis, which uses heat to destroy molecular bonds; (5) high-temperature, low-pressure oxidation; and (6) other technologies. Destruction technologies investigated by the committee include those under development for disposal of other types of toxic wastes (especially chlorinated hydrocarbons) and those being developed specifically for chemical warfare munitions destruction. Other technologies reviewed, such as high-temperature ovens, are commercially available components that have been more widely used. Low-Temperature, Low-Pressure, Liquid-Phase Detoxification Chemical treatment of agents can reduce their toxicity. Such treatment, with relatively low temperatures and pressures, has been used for the agent GB, and a large number of other chemical processes have been proposed. Various results suggest that chemical reaction in basic (high pH) solutions offers the potential to convert all three agents to products of much lower toxicity by what is called detoxification: • GB has been detoxified by sodium hydroxide in water solution in the United States and worldwide. • Limited laboratory studies suggest that VX can be detoxified by sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide in water solution. • HD has been successfully detoxified by calcium hydroxide in water solution at higher temperatures (90° to 100°C). • Using an alcohol or ethanolamine in place of water increases agents' solubility and is also believed capable of converting all three agents. Chemical reactions in acidic (low pH) solutions can use oxidizing agents (Cl2, peracids, hypochlorites, or hydrogen peroxide), a method by which all three agents should be treatable; however, except for VX, little information on this approach was found. At ambient temperatures, HD solubility in water is very low, and its high viscosity, when it contains thickeners, makes adequate contact with

TABLE E-1 Summary of Process Capabilities and Status Stream Treated Agent Metal and Energetics Process Initial Agent Complete Organic Need Gas Energetics Metal Afterburner Needed Next Step Comments Detox Oxidization Afterburner Low-temperature, Low-pressure detoxification EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Base hydrolysis GB No ? No No N.A. pp Has been used in (NaOH) field; for HD, limited by contacting problems NaOH + H2O2 VX No Yes No No N.A. Lab New finding Ca(OH)2(at 100°C) HD No ? No No N.A. Lab/pp Limited use in England KOH + ethanol HD, GB, VX No ? No No N.A. Lab Hypochlorite ion HD No Yes No No N.A. Lab Difficult contacting problem with HD Organic base GB, HD, No ? No No N.A. Lab/pp Limited use in (ethanolamine) possibly VX Russia; increase in organic waste Acidic systems HCI hydrolysis GB No ? No No N.A. Lab/pp Peracid salts VX, perhaps No Yes No No N.A. Lab/pp Increased waste (OXONE, others) GB and HD Chlorine VX, perhaps No Yes No No N.A. Lab/pp Increased GB and HD inorganic waste Ionizing radiation All No ? Yes? Yes? ? Lab High conversion not yet established 7

Stream Treated Agent Metal and Energetics Process Initial Agent Complete Organic Need Gas Energetics Metal Afterburner Next Step Comments Detox Oxidization Afterburner Needed Low-temperature, low- pressure oxidation Peroxydisulfate, ClO2, All Yes Yes No No N.A. Lab Catalysts generally H2O2 , O3 needed for complete EXECUTIVE SUMMARY complete conversion; spent peroxydisulfate can be electrochemically regenerated UV light with O3 and N.A. Yes Yes No No N.A. pp Very large power H2O2 requirement; applications have been for very dilute solutions Electrochemical All Yes Yes No No N.A. Lab oxidation Biological oxidation N.A. Yes Yes No No N.A. Lab Moderate-temperature, high-pressure oxidation Wet air and super- All Partially Yes Yes? No Yes pp Residual organic critical water oxidation components can be low for supercritical; residual materials are believed suitable for biodegradation 8

Stream Treated Agent Metal and Energetics Process Initial Agent Complete Organic Need Gas Energetics Metal Afterburner Needed Next Step Comments Detox Oxidization Afterburner High-temperature, low- pressure pyrolysis Kiln (external heat) All Partially Yes Yes Yes Yes Demo May need more than one unit to EXECUTIVE SUMMARY deal with all streams Molten metal All No Yes Yes? Yes Yes pp Plasma arc All No Yes Yes? Yes Yes Lab/pp Steam reforming All Yes Yes No? No Yes Lab/pp High-temperature, low- pressure oxidation Catalytic, fixed bed N.A. N.A. N.A. No No No Lab/pp Useful for afterburner Catalytic, fluidized bed All Yes Yes Yes No Yes pp Molten salt All Yes Yes Yes? No Yes pp Possible use for afterburner and acid gas removal Combustion All Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes — Baseline technology Other technologies Hydrogenation All No Yes No No No Lab Reactions with sulfur All Yes Yes No No No Lab NOTE: Question mark (?) indicates uncertainty about the noted application. N.A., not applicable; pp, pilot plant; demo, demonstration; lab, laboratory. 9

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The U.S. Army Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program was established with the goal of destroying the nation's stockpile of lethal unitary chemical weapons. Since 1990 the U.S. Army has been testing a baseline incineration technology on Johnston Island in the southern Pacific Ocean. Under the planned disposal program, this baseline technology will be imported in the mid to late 1990s to continental United States disposal facilities; construction will include eight stockpile storage sites.

In early 1992 the Committee on Alternative Chemical Demilitarization Technologies was formed by the National Research Council to investigate potential alternatives to the baseline technology. This book, the result of its investigation, addresses the use of alternative destruction technologies to replace, partly or wholly, or to be used in addition to the baseline technology. The book considers principal technologies that might be applied to the disposal program, strategies that might be used to manage the stockpile, and combinations of technologies that might be employed.

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