tuyere at moderately high pressure, less than 10 atmospheres. Oxygen, in stoichiometric proportion to convert all carbon in the feed and the methane cofeed to carbon monoxide, is metered into the next annulus at high velocity to induce turbulence, mixing with the feed stream, and formation of a jet that rapidly breaks up into small bubbles. A small amount of methane is fed through the outer annulus to cool the tuyere.

An inert gas is injected automatically into each of the feed lines as needed to make up the difference between the total flow required in each line and the set-point flow of each feed component (agent, oxygen, and methane). During startup and shutdown, the inert gas alone is pumped through all feed lines to prevent molten metal from entering and plugging the tuyere.

According to the TPC's description of the process, when feed material is injected into the bath along with oxygen and methane, the molecular entities in the feed material are decomposed by catalysis into their component elements. These elements dissolve in the metal and form intermediates by bonding chemically with the metal. By appropriate selection of process conditions, the dissolved elements with high solubility in the metal (e.g., carbon, sulfur, and phosphorus) can either be retained in the metal bath up to their saturation limit or induced to react with less soluble elements (e.g., hydrogen, oxygen, and chlorine) to form gaseous products—principally H₂, CO, HCl, and H₂S with minor amounts of H₂O, and CO₂. These gaseous products then form bubbles, which ascend and exit the bath. According to the TPC, because CEP is carried out at low oxygen potential and decomposes feed molecules to elements regardless of their starting molecular structure, the process provides neither pathways nor precursors for the formation of oxides of nitrogen or sulfur or the formation of dioxins and furans.

The TPC has reported that it expects the process residuals from treating VX or HD, the ton containers, and dunnage to be ferrous alloys, aqueous hydrochloric acid, elemental sulfur, and a synthesis gas. The TPC also has reported that markets for the alloys, hydrochloric acid, and sulfur have been identified. The synthesis gas is combusted, along with natural gas, in an on-site gas turbine generator to provide electricity used in the process. A small amount of slag or ceramic (less than 5 percent of total solid product mass) is also produced and must be disposed of as waste. The panel agrees with the TPC that this slag is likely to pass the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test. (Unless it is delisted, however, it could still be classified as hazardous waste because it is derived from agent.)

According to the submitted design, chemical demilitarization operations are to be conducted in a central processing building of approximately 13,000 square feet. The building is partitioned into distinct areas by function (Figure 4-1). Precautionary safety measures confine agent to small areas, reduce the possibility of cross contamination, and reduce requirements for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); high efficiency particulate-arresting filters; carbon filters; and agent monitoring equipment.

Ton containers are opened in area 100 and, if necessary for interim storage, cleaned to 3X condition. Dunnage from daily operations is compacted and packaged in small metal containers in the same area. The equipment and techniques used to handle ton containers, including the punch-and-drain process, vacuum transfer of agent and decontamination liquids to interim storage tanks, safe airlock passage, cascaded HVAC, double-containment envelopes, and low pressure injection are based on the equipment and techniques used in the baseline system facilities at Johnston Atoll in the Pacific Ocean and at Tooele, Utah. The only significant change is the addition of an aspirated, self-cleaning gland surrounding the punch to mitigate spillage of agent when the container is penetrated.

The two CPUs, designated CPU-1 and CPU-2, are located in area 200. The gas handling train (GHT) and facilities for product recovery are located in Area 300. Area 500 is devoted to product gas utilization; products of CEP are stored in area 700; utilities are located in area 800; and area 1000 houses the emergency relief system. The CPUs and the equipment in the product recovery areas are of modular design, which will allow the TPC to use the same CPUs and product recovery equipment at the Aberdeen site to process HD and, afterward, at the Newport site to process VX.

For processing either agent, CPU-2 contains molten iron and processes all ton containers and dunnage. Emptied ton containers are fed by horizontal indexing conveyors and coordinated, double-door, cascade-ventilated airlocks to the premelting side chamber of CPU-2. The steel ton containers melt, and the organics, including all remaining gels, solids, and surface agent residuals, are pyrolyzed. Pyrolysis products and molten

FRONT MATTER (R1-R18)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (1-5)

1 INTRODUCTION (6-14)

2 EVALUATION FACTORS (15-21)

3 FRAMEWORK FOR ASSESSING ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES (22-24)

4 CATALYTIC EXTRACTION PROCESS TECHNOLOGY (25-71)

5 MEDIATED ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION SILVER II (72-101)

6 GAS-PHASE CHEMICAL REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY (102-119)

7 NEUTRALIZATION TECHNOLOGY FOR MUSTARD AGENT HD (120-142)

8 NEUTRALIZATION TECHNOLOGY FOR NERVE AGENT VX (143-154)

9 COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATOR VIEWS CONCERNING THE ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES (155-166)

10 TECHNOLOGY COMPARISONS (167-182)

11 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (183-188)

REFERENCES (189-254)