Skip to main content

Evaluation of Demonstration Test Results of Alternative Technologies for Demilitarization of Assembled Chemical Weapons A Supplemental Review (2000) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

3 General Atomics Technology Package
Pages 12-17

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 12...
... · dunnage shredding and hydropulping · SCWO ENERGETICS ROTARY HYDROLYZER The objectives of the demonstration tests of the ERH are listed below (DOD, l999b) : · Demonstrate the effective dissolution of aluminum and energetics in fuzes and bursters, as well as propellant in rocket motors, to allow downstream processing in the continuously stirred tank reactor, SCWO reactor, and heated discharge conveyor.
Read the entire page →
From page 13...
... No tests were conducted on the hydrolysis of energetics contaminated with agent; however, because of the long residence time in the ERH, the committee believes that chemical agent exposed to the caustic hydrolysis solution in the ERH would be hydrolyzed. Nevertheless, because the exact manner in which agent might penetrate energetic materials is not known, there is still some question as to whether chunks of unhydrolyzed energetic material, such as those that were found in the residue from the ERH, would be truly agent free.
Read the entire page →
From page 14...
... was not performed during the demonstration tests, the committee could not assess its efficacy. SUPERCRITICAL WATER OXIDATION SYSTEM The hydrolysates of energetic materials provided by the PMACWA were prepared using 12 percent sodium hydroxide (as specified in the technology provider's proposal)
Read the entire page →
From page 15...
... SAFETY CONCERNS The demonstration tests revealed that additional processing steps to remove aluminum from energetics hydrolysate would be necessary to prevent plugging of the SCWO reactor. The technology provider has proposed using a neutralization and filtration process to remove aluminum hydroxide from the hydrolysate, with subsequent 5X treatment of the precipitated aluminum filter cake in an inductively heated metal parts furnace (General Atomics, l999b)
Read the entire page →
From page 16...
... Tables 3.4-10 through 3.4-19 in the demonstration test report by General Atomics present some analytical results on the liquid and gaseous effluents from the SCWO reactors (General Atomics, 1999a)
Read the entire page →
From page 17...
... To determine the operability of the supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) reactor and the reliability of the materials of construction, long duration runs of a SCWO reactor should be conducted with slurry, with energetics hydrolysate, and with agent hydrolysate before full-scale implementation proceeds.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • scwo reactor
  • technology provider
  • energetic materials
  • water oxidation
  • supercritical water

  • aluminum hydroxide
  • dpe suits
  • demonstration test
  • agent hydrolysate
  • validation test

  • remove aluminum
  • fugitive emissions
  • earlier report
  • energetics hydrolysate
  • worker exposure

  • residence time
  • size reduction
  • test runs
  • test report
  • following finding

  • ventilation flow
  • filter cake
  • downstream processing
  • materials encased
  • finding concerning

  • solid materials
  • gaseous emissions
  • unhydrolyzed energetic
  • dunnage material
  • construction materials


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.