2008 Spring Meeting & 4th Global Congress on Process Safety

(71b) The Disposal of Neutralized Chemical Warfare Materials Using a Commercial Wet Oxidation System: A Case Study

Authors

Adams, B. - Presenter, U.S. Army Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel Program
Doyle, E. - Presenter, U.S. Army Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel Project
Bettinger, J. - Presenter, Shaw Environmental, Inc.
Killilea, B. - Presenter, Shaw Environmental, Inc.
Laymon, K. - Presenter, Shaw Environmental, Inc.


In order to meet the requirements of an International Treaty mandating the destruction of chemical weapons, the US Army in 2005-06 neutralized its stockpile of DF and QL, which are used to make GB and VX nerve agents. In order to completely meet Treaty requirements, this neutralized wastewater must be further treated to destroy chemical agent breakdown products.

Wet Oxidation was selected to provide this additional treatment. A commercial system was installed in 2006 and operations began in 2007. All of the QL neutralent wastewater has been successfully destroyed. The DF neutralent destruction is ongoing, and scheduled for completion by the end of 2007. This paper describes the wet oxidation system and its performance.