Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions (1994) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix E: Neutralization (Chemical Hydrolosis)
Appendix E: Neutralization (Chemical Hydrolosis)
Pages 159-175
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From page 159... ...
has been studied extensively and is described by the reaction: o o 11 11 PrO ~—F + 2 NaOH ~ ~PrO—P- ONa + NaF + H2O 1 1 CH3 (I) CH3 Neutralization is potentially applicable to the whole family of phosphatebased nerve agents and to blister agents such as the sulfur ''mustards'' and arsen~c-based Lew~site, although the processes for agents other than GB have had much less study.
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From page 160... ...
The nerve agent was treated with a large excess of aqueous sodium hydroxide to procInce a water solution of inorganic salts and organic compounds. The solutions were evaporated, and the solid residues were deposited in a hazardous waste landfill.
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From page 161... ...
A second approach to dealing with water-insoluble agents such as VX and mustard is to carry out the hydrolysis in a polar organic solvent or in a mixture of water and an organic solvent. With VX, the alkaline hydrolysis can be carried out in a polar solvent to give mixed hydrolysis products.
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From page 162... ...
The limitations on the effectiveness of hydrolysis in destroying nerve and mustard agents suggest that neutralization may not be an adequate destruction system in itself. It may, however, constitute part of an effective system when combined with other techniques such as chemical, biological, or supercntical water oxidation.
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From page 163... ...
All the liquid streams must be treated by processes that totally destroy the agent arid eventually produce mineralized products. Supercntical water oblation or wet air oxidation combined with biotreatment appears to be a viable option for mineralization.
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From page 164... ...
If no other chemical munitions are present at such sites, the capital investment for draining, neutralization, and decontamination facilities may possibly be lower than for the baseline system even though development costs will be higher. The two arsenals that seem to meet this criterion are the Newport Army Ammunition Plant, Indiana, which stores only ton containers of VX, and the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, which stores only ton containers of mustard agents.
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From page 165... ...
Cation of Hem droned Ram ~~do~ ~ Be b~eUne Isle bu1 He bsUmbon would probed no1 result in cost reduction or ~ Irked Ever sag. Neuron could be used al Neon Ad Aberdeen ~ either of _ com_: (1)
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From page 166... ...
If the neutralization of GB were chosen for development, it could be useful as a front end for wet air or supercntical water oxidation. The alkaline hydrolysis of GB would give an aqueous solution that would have the reduced toxicity and low corrosivity desirable in a feed for supercritical water oxidation or wet air oxidation.
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From page 167... ...
Hi o o ~ ~ I C 0,= am In _ _ ~ 0 a Q a: ~ . ~ 0 :3 m In Cat C' c: ' 0 0 Cal _ ~ 0 · _ ~ In bolt Cal 0 ._ ._ ~ 0 C' ~5 Cal ._ _ ~ _ Cal o Cat In Cat o > 1 J / / .
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From page 168... ...
It should also be suitable for dem~litanzation by wet air oxidation or by biological treatment. Ike oxidation step must be closely linked to hydrolysis because, as noted earlier, TDE is a chemical agent precursor regulated by tread.
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From page 169... ...
Mild alkaline o~dants such as peroxide or hypochIonte may produce liquid wastes containing significant amounts of partially oxidized organic products. These compounds should have low toxicity, but watt require extensive further treatment before they can be released into the environment.
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From page 170... ...
The oxidizing agent is converted to dilute sulfuric acid, which win be contaminated with phosphate or chloride from oxidation of the agent. These waste streams could be treated with lime to precipitate calcium sulfate, but the sheer volume of this product would be a severe burden on landfiDs unless the sulfunc acid can be recycled.
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From page 171... ...
Some of the known hydrolysis products are toxic, and others may reform toxic substances as solution compositions change during the waste treatment processes. Research on analytical procedures and specific solution chemistry will be necessary.
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From page 172... ...
The glyco} ester arising from this process should give a product with low toxicity, and even though the catalyst is acidic, the ester should have low corrosives. As candidates for non-supercritical water oxidation, clean chemical oxidants such as ozone and hydrogen peroxide should be tested because they do not add to the waste burden from the agent destruction process.
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From page 173... ...
released to the env~ronunent. Time Requirements Development of neutralization systems to the stage at which they are ready for full-scale use wall take longer than development of an enhanced baseline system, even for neutralization processes with which we have considerable experience, such as hydrolysis of GB nerve agent.
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From page 174... ...
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ON NEUTRALIZATION PROCESSES Neutralization processes have potential advantages over the liquid incinerator of the baseline system for the destruction of chemical agents because they operate at low temperatures that are less apt to generate troublesome by-products such as diox~ns. Neutralization may also incur lower capital costs for destruction of bulk agents, but this advantage is lost in dealing with munitions that also require extensive thermal treatment for decontamination.
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From page 175... ...
Demonstration studies must also include the development of new analytical and process control techniques, and the establishment of waste treatment procedures adapted to each specific neutralization process and site. The time required to develop a neutralization-based process for use at any specific site may be three to five years longer than for the baseline system if a complete on-site system must be developed.
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