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Using Supercritical Water Oxidation to Treat Hydrolysate from VX Neutralization (1998) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction and Background
Pages 7-10

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From page 7...
... SELECTION OF NEUTRALIZATION FOLLOWED BY SUPERCRITICAL WATER OXIDATION FOR STOCKPILE DISPOSAL AT NEWPORT, INDIANA The U.S. Army plans to destroy VX nerve agent stored in bulk at its Newport, Indiana, facility with a disposal technology based on chemical neutralization.
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From page 8...
... The ease of process control was a significant factor in the selection of hydrolysis by aqueous caustic solution as the best candidate for further development. Other neutralization process options studied by the Army include using nonaqueous bases, such as methanolic KOH and monoethanolamine (U.S.
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From page 9...
... Of the various oxidation technologies, SCWO was considered the most likely to adequately destroy the organic constituents in the hydrolysate. Because there is little operating experience with SCWO on an industrial scale, however, the Stockpile Committee was asked to evaluate whether SCWO is an effective and appropriate means of preparing VX hydrolysate for ultimate disposition.
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From page 10...
... For the evaluation of SCWO technology for treatment of VX hydrolysate, the Stockpile Committee reviewed documents on SCWO process fundamentals, previous applications, testing carried out specifically for the treatment of VX hydrolysate, and the planned process design for the Newport facility; met with SCWO academic researchers, process developers from Sandia National Laboratory, and vendors; visited a pilot-scale SCWO testing facility; and held discussions with the Army and its process design contractors.
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Key Terms

  • stockpile committee
  • supercritical water
  • nerve agent
  • agent stored
  • subsequent treatment

  • water oxidation
  • chemical agents
  • nerve agents
  • newport facility
  • chemical agent

  • army plans
  • process control
  • chemical neutralization
  • stockpile disposal
  • treatment steps

  • operating experience
  • assembled munitions
  • neutralization process
  • process design
  • methylphosphonic acid

  • sodium hydroxide
  • facility design
  • greatly reduced
  • permitted unless
  • scwo academic

  • reaction progresses
  • strongly basic
  • normal atmospheric
  • quantitative risk
  • limited solubility


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