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APPLICATION OF ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE U.S. CHEMICAL WEAPONS 185 STOCKPILE 8 Application of Alternative Technologies to the Destruction of the U.S. Chemical Weapons Stockpile This final chapter discusses the use of alternative destruction and decontamination technologies to manage the components of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile, namely, chemical agents, energetics, and contaminated metal parts and containers. Several major issues are addressed: possible improvements in the composition of the waste streams produced, principal destruction options for achieving demilitarization goals, and substitution of alternative processes for elements of the baseline process. The discussion draws on the preceding chapters, summarizing the characteristics of different technologies and providing perspective on their use in the Army Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program. DESTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES The destruction technologies investigated by the committee include those under development for disposal of other types of toxic wastes (especially chlorinated hydrocarbons) as well as those specifically for chemical warfare munitions destruction Other alternative technologies, such as high-temperature ovens, are more widely available components that have been developed and used by private industry. Technologies are sorted here by unit processes. Unit process groups include all technologies that appear useful for accomplishing a distinct step in the destruction process. Major categories of these processes are the following: ⢠low-temperature, low-pressure, liquid-phase detoxification; ⢠low-temperature, low-pressure, liquid-phase oxidation (including biological oxidation); ⢠moderate-temperature, high-pressure oxidation; ⢠high-temperature, low-pressure pyrolysis; ⢠high-temperature, low-pressure oxidation; and ⢠other technologies.
