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APPEN DIKES
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188
RE VIE WOFALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES
and the technology provider expects that this solid waste stream will be disposed of off
site. The large amount of soot generated in the thermal-reduction batch processor could
lead to buildups in gas recirculation paths, which could resmct throughput and require
additional maintenance to clear the gas path.
Sampling andFAna1tysis
Sampling and analysis requirements appear to be reasonably well known for this
integrated process. Easy evaluations of the composition of the hydrolysate can be made
from the hydrolysate feed tanks to the SCWO. Similar observations can be made for
solid wastes that cannot be released until agent concentrations in adjacent gas spaces are
below allowable levels. The technology provider will also have to ensure that agent does
not condense, adsorb, or otherwise accumulate on the internal surfaces of the GPCR off-
gas hold-test-release tanks, where it would not be detected in the gas analysis but could
subsequently revaporize upon depressunzation and venting to the boiler fuel system.
(The same problem exists for all gaseous hold-test-release systems that are subject to
significant pressure variations.)
Maturity
Disassembly Process. The LMIDS uses much of the baseline disassembly process
that has been proven at the Johnston Atoll and Tooele, Utah, demilitarization facilities.
Modifying the process to include a wash-out step is based loosely on ton-container wash-
out tests for the Aberdeen and Newport sites; however, the specific design modifications
have not been tested. One of Lockheed Martin's partners, Aeroj et, has more than 30
years of experience with hydromining rocket propellants.
Interfaces between the disassembly process and downstream processes may limit
the throughput because the reliability of the remotely operated handling equipment used
for the interfaces could be difficult to maintain. Some of this equipment is new or has
never been used in the harsh environment of caustic hydrolysis processes. Materials
selection and design of this equipment will be very important.
Agent Hydrolysis. Neutralization is a proven technology for the deactivation of
chemical agents (see Appendix D), and agent hydrolysis processes for HD and VX are
being implemented at Aberdeen and Newport. Hydrolysis for GB has been done on a
large scale at Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Therefore, the hydrolysis of agent is a mature
and well tested technology that requires simple engineering and control.
Energet;ics Hydrolysis. Several issues remain to be accessed about the technology
provider's implementation of hydrolysis for energetics.
I. The caustic hydrolysis step is intended to dissolve the aluminum fuze and
expose the energetic materials. The dissolution of aluminum will result in an
exothermic generation of hydrogen gas that will bubble out of the aqueous
alkaline solution. The production rate of hydrogen and the release rate of thermal
energy wall have to be monitored and controlled to ensure that there is no
possibility of ignition. Also, an autocatalytic redox reaction could occur when
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APPENDIX
A
Description of Assembled
Chemical Weapons
The U.S. chemical weapons stockpile is made up of
a variety of munitions that serve different military func-
tions. This study is concerned with assessing technolo-
gies to destroy munitions that contain both chemical
agent and energetic materials (i.e., propellant and/or
explosive charges) in an assembled configuration
,. . . .
a,
finance, Designated as assembled chemical weapons).
There are three basic classes of assembled chemical
weapons: (1) projectiles and mortars, (2) rockets, and
(3) land mines. Each class is described below in greater
detail. The specifications for the munitions were taken
from the Assembled Chemical Weapons Assessment
~ . ~ ~ 7 AT T <4 ~
KequestJor Proposal I.. Army, 1997) and are sum-
marized in Table A- 1.
PROJECTILES AND MORTARS
Both projectiles and mortars are shells that are fired
from guns or cannons. They have roughly cylindrical
steel bodies with tapered noses and a hollow cylindri-
cal tube, known as the burster well, running down the
center of the shell. This tube holds the burster, a high-
explosive charge that disperses the chemical agent
upon detonation. The liquid agent itself is contained in
the annular region between the burster well and the
shell wall. The nose of the shell consists of either an
explosive fuze or a lifting ring, depending on the type
of munition. Mortars, which are typically muzzle
loaded, are intended for shorter ranges than Projectiles
. a. . .. . ...
--my -- r--~- ~
anct are direct at lower velocities and higher trajectories.
Definite their differences hecauLse nrniectileLs and mor
105-mm Projectiles
The 105-mm projectile is 105 mm in diameter (just
over 4 inches) and has a mass of 16 to 18 kg. As shown
in Table A-1, there are two types of 105-mm projec-
tiles the M60, which contains HD, and the M360,
which contains GB (see Figure Ado. The burster for
the M60 is smaller than for the M360 because HD has
a tendency to burn rather than disperse if the charge is
too powerful. The 105-mm projectiles are stored with
their fuzes attached.
155-mm Projectiles
There are five types of 155-mm projectiles in the
chemical stockpile the M121, the M121A1, the
M104, the M110, and the M122 (see Table Ado. All of
these are 155-mm in diameter (just over 6 inches) and
have a mass of 42 to 45 kg; the type of chemical agent
(GB, VX, H. or HD) varies, as does the type and
amount of burster material (Composition B4 or
tetrytol). The bursters for HD (mustard) rounds are
much smaller than those for the nerve agent rounds.
A cutaway of the M121 is shown in Figure A-2. The
155-mm projectiles are stored with lifting rings in
place of fuzes.
8-inch Projectiles
The 8-inch (20.32 cm) projectile, designated the
M426, has a mass of more than 90 kg and contains
either GB or VX (see Figure Aid. Like the 155-mm
tars are comparable in design and construction, the ap- projectile, the M426 is stored with a lifting ring in place
proach to their destruction is also similar. of a fuze.
189
.
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190
ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR DEMILITARIZATION OF ASSEMBLED CHEMICAL WEAPONS
TABLE A-1 Assembled Chemical Weapons in the U.S. Stockpile
Munition Type TotalMass (kg) Agent Agent Mass (kg) Burster Explosive Burster Mass (kg)
105-mm projectile
M60 17.6 HD 1.4 tetrytol 0.12
M360 16.1 GB 0.73 tetrytoV Comp B4 0.50/0.50
155-mm projectile
M121 44.1 GB 2.9 tetrytol 1.2
M121A1 44.9 GB/VX 2.9/2.7 Comp B4 1.1
M104 43.1 H/HD 5.3/5.3 tetrytol 0.19
M110 42.9 H/HD 5.3/5.3 tetrytol 0.19
M122 44.1 GB 2.9 tetrytol 1.2
4.2-in mortar
M2 11.3 HD/HT 2.7/2.6 tetryl 0.064
M2A1 11.3 HD 2.7 tetryl 0.064
8-in projectile
M426 90.3 GB/VX 6.6 Comp B4 3.2
Rocketa
M55 25.9 GB/VX 4.9/4.5 Comp B./ tetrytol 1.5/1.5
Land mine
M23 10.3 VX 4.8 CompB4 0.37
aThe MSS rocket also contains 8.75 kg of M28 double-base propellant.
Source: Adapted from U.S. Army, 1997.
4.2-inch Mortars
The two types of 4.2-inch (105-mm) mortars in the
chemical stockpile are the M2 (filled with HD or HT)
and the M2A1 (filled with HD), both of which have a
mass of 11.3 kg. These rounds are similar to 105-mm
projectiles, except the outer shell wall is thinner, and
there are internal vanes in the agent cavity (see Figure
A-4. The 4.2-inch mortars are stored with fuzes in
place.
M55 ROCKETS
A rocket is an airborne weapon propelled by fuel
and oxidizer, which is carried along during flight. The
only rocket in the chemical stockpile is the 115-mm
Burs er well Burster Body
\ / / Fuze
FIGURE A-1 105-mm M360 projectile. Source: U.S. Army,
1988.
diameter M55 (see Figure A-5~. This rocket is 1.98 m
long and has a mass of nearly 26 kg. It consists of two
sections: (1) an aluminum-alloy warhead section,
which contains the chemical agent, two bursters, and
the fuze; and (2) a steel motor section, which contains
the propellant grain, the igniter assembly, and the
nozzle and fins. The chemical agent is either GB or
VX, and the bursters are either Composition B (Comp B)
or tetrytol. The propellant is double-base M28
(nitroglycerin/nitrocellulose). The rocket is stored in a
shipping and firing tube made of fiberglass-reinforced
resin that can contain polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs). An indexing ring on the outside of the tube
Fuze adapter
Burster well \ Lifting plug
\ 1
L ~. , - \
Bo dy Agent Gasket
FIGURE A-2 155-mm M121 projectile. Source: U.S. Army,
1988.
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APPENDIX A
Body Agent Adapter
191
S ik Propellant r Burster I Vane r Burster well
Lifting plug
Burster well
FIGURE A-3 8-inch M426 projectile. Source: U.S. Army,
1988.
M28 propellant
grain
Thin-wall
aluminum
Fu: ~
FIGURE A-5 115-mm M55 rocket. Source: SAIC, 1996.
near the front (fuze) end of the rocket identifies the
front of the rocket in the shipping and firing tube. Alu-
minum caps seal the ends of the tube.
M23 LAND MINES
A land mine is an explosive device that is usually
concealed just below the surface of the ground. When
the mine is disturbed, it detonates, causing damage to
nearby objects and personnel. The chemical stockpile
contains only one type of land mine, designated the
M23. This cylindrical mine, shown in Figure A-6 (33
cm in diameter and 13 cm high), is filled with VX and
weighs 10.3 kg without the fuze. The M23 contains
several explosive components, including a conical burster
(Comp B4; 0.37 kg), a tubular initiator (Comp B4;
Ignition T /
cartridge ' Obturating HO
mechanism
FIGURE A-4 4.2-inch M2 mortar. Source: U.S. Army, 1988.
Arming plug
/ Burster tube
Booster ~ Belleville storing
\ 1 / Burs;er cone
\ Al-/
6\~x 1
Agent 4~ Cal: ~
Torsion spring ~ ~ Main explosive
Carrying handle Activator well charge
FIGURE A-6 M23 land mine. Source: SAIC, 1996.
0.054 kg), a cylindrical booster (Comp A5; 0.009 kg),
and a small booster pellet (tetryl; 0.003 kg). The fuze is
packaged separately.
REFERENCES
SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation). 1996.
Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility Quantitative Risk
Assessment. SAIC-96/2600, December 1996. Abingdon, Md.:
Science Applications International Corporation.
U.S. Army. 1988. Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program Final
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. Aberdeen
Proving Ground, Md.: U.S. Army Program manager for Chemi-
cal Demilitarization.
U.S. Army. 1997. Assessment of Technologies for Assembled
Chemical Weapon Demilitarization. Solicitation No. DAAMO1-
97-R-0031, July 28,1997. Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.: U.S.
Army Chemical and Biological Defense Command.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
chemical weapons
