• eNewsletter Sign-Up
  • Job & Business Opportunities
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Give Feedback
Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)
  • HOME
  • PEO ACWA
    • ACWA logo

      Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)


      Mission: Destroy Chemical Weapons Stockpile

      Vision: Chemical Weapons Free by 2023

    • About PEO ACWA
      • Chain of Command
      • Team Biographies
      • Program Timeline
      • Program Legislation
      • Public Involvement
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • PEO ACWA Media Library
      • PEO ACWA News
      • PEO ACWA Videos
      • PEO ACWA Facts
      • PEO ACWA Press Releases
      • PEO ACWA Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • BLUE GRASS
    • pcapp_logo
      Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP)

      BGCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Kentucky.

    • BGCAPP Homepage
      • Project Stages
      • Destruction Technologies
      • Team Biographies
      • Environmental Activities
      • Public Involvement
      • Operation Swift Solution
    • BGCAPP Media Library
      • News
      • Videos
      • Facts
      • Press Releases
      • Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • PUEBLO
    • pcapp_logo
      Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP)

      PCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado.

    • PCAPP Homepage
      • Project Stages
      • Destruction Technologies
      • Team Biographies
      • Environmental Activities
      • Public Involvement
    • PCAPP Media Library
      • News
      • Videos
      • Facts
      • Press Releases
      • Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • CONTACT US

Microbes to Treat Neutralized Chemical Agent Product

Published: October 3, 2016 | Category: PCAPP News, Technology
Within the Immobilized Cell Bioreactors, microbes grow as biofilm on packed media, 2-inch polyurethane cube sponges and 3 x 2-inch plastic spacers. In this fixed-film process, bioreactions occur in the biofilm.

Within the Immobilized Cell Bioreactors, microbes grow as biofilm on packed media, 2-inch polyurethane cube sponges and 3 x 2-inch plastic spacers. In this fixed-film process, bioreactions occur in the biofilm.

The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) is preparing to use a process similar to that of an industrial wastewater treatment plant to treat the product of its chemical agent neutralization process.

“We remove the mustard agent from the munitions and neutralize it, resulting in a product called hydrolysate,” said Rick Holmes, Bechtel Pueblo Team project manager. “Once the agent destruction is confirmed, we store the hydrolysate in a storage tank and when enough is accumulated, biotreatment can begin.”

After munitions are robotically disassembled and the mustard agent is drained, the neutralized product will be treated in the plant’s biotreatment system. Utilizing Immobilized Cell Bioreactors (ICB), microbes will break down dissolved organic compounds such as thiodiglycol (TDG), said Dr. Yakup Nurdogan, a wastewater treatment expert at PCAPP.

“The ICB process is an aerobic fixed-film wastewater treatment process designed to oxidize TDG, the main ingredient in hydrolysate,” Dr. Nurdogan said

The goal of the biotreatment system is to break down TDG to simpler molecules such as carbon dioxide, water, sulfuric acid, and intermediate organic compounds. Biotreated effluent will be treated in the Brine Reduction System, which uses evaporation and crystallization processes to recover water for recycling and reuse in the plant, Dr. Nurdogan said.

The plant began processing munitions on Sept. 7 and it will take approximately two months before enough hydrolysate is produced to feed the microbes, said Dr. Pat Sullivan, environmental manager, PCAPP.

Related Posts

  • Attention to Detail Prevents System Clogs

    Attention to Detail Prevents System Clogs

    Published: March 23, 2021
  • Innovative Solution Reduces Problematic Munitions

    Innovative Solution Reduces Problematic Munitions

    Published: March 4, 2021
  • Pueblo Plant Upgrades Closed-Circuit Camera System

    Pueblo Plant Upgrades Closed-Circuit Camera System

    Published: February 10, 2021
  • Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Automation Specialist Wendell Savage teaches the Training Facility robot about the new Drained Munition Weight Station. Later, the lessons were applied to the plant’s Munitions Washout System.

    Pueblo Plant Worker Instrumental in Campaign Success

    Published: February 2, 2021
  • Static Detonation Chamber Units Begin Testing

    Static Detonation Chamber Units Begin Testing

    Published: December 22, 2020
  • Workers Reconfigure Equipment for Next Destruction Campaign

    Workers Reconfigure Equipment for Next Destruction Campaign

    Published: November 30, 2020
PCAPP Biotreatment

Related News

  • Bioreactors Seeded with Biomass

    Bioreactors Seeded with Biomass

    October 22, 2018
  • Off-Site Shipment of Wastewater Complete

    Off-Site Shipment of Wastewater Complete

    September 14, 2017
  • First Off-Site Shipment of Wastewater Successful

    First Off-Site Shipment of Wastewater Successful

    August 11, 2017
  • Temporary Off-Site Shipment of Wastewater Begins

    Temporary Off-Site Shipment of Wastewater Begins

    August 1, 2017
  • Colorado Plant Achieves Munition Processing Milestone

    Colorado Plant Achieves Munition Processing Milestone

    June 22, 2017
  • Salt Cake Shipment Signifies Complete Plant Cycle

    Salt Cake Shipment Signifies Complete Plant Cycle

    June 21, 2017

Related Videos

  • Temporary Off-site Shipment of Hydrolysate from Colorado Plant

    Temporary Off-site Shipment of Hydrolysate from Colorado Plant

    June 29, 2017
  • PCAPP is Committed to Secondary Process

    PCAPP is Committed to Secondary Process

    January 23, 2017
  • Surrogate Testing Proves Successful at the Pueblo Plant

    Surrogate Testing Proves Successful at the Pueblo Plant

    September 23, 2016
  • Fun Video Shows Science Behind Destruction of Chemical Weapons in Colorado

    Fun Video Shows Science Behind Destruction of Chemical Weapons in Colorado

    July 5, 2016
  • Five Steps of Chemical Weapons Destruction at PCAPP

    Five Steps of Chemical Weapons Destruction at PCAPP

    March 31, 2014

Connect with PEO ACWA

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Sign up for the Connect with ACWA e-newsletters to have information sent directly to your inbox. It’s a great way to stay connected with destruction plant activities.

Sign Up

Recent Tweets
  • Terms of Use
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • Privacy and Security Policy
  • iSALUTE
  • Archive
  • Welcome to ACWA
  • Home
  • PEO ACWA Pages
    • About PEO ACWA
    • Team Biographies
    • Chain of Command
    • Program Timeline
    • Public Involvement
  • PEO ACWA Media Library
    • PEO ACWA Media Library (Main)
    • PEO ACWA News
    • PEO ACWA Videos
    • PEO ACWA Facts
    • PEO ACWA Press Releases
    • PEO ACWA Briefings and Reports
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Blue Grass Pages
    • BGCAPP Homepage
    • BGCAPP Project Stages
    • BGCAPP Destruction Technologies
    • BGCAPP Team Biographies
    • Environmental Activities at BGCAPP
    • Public Involvement at BGCAPP
    • Operation Swift Solution
  • BGCAPP Media Library
    • BGCAPP Media Library (Main)
    • BGCAPP News
    • BGCAPP Videos
    • BGCAPP Facts
    • BGCAPP Press Releases
    • BGCAPP Briefings, Reports and Downloads
  • Pueblo Pages
    • PCAPP Homepage
    • PCAPP Project Stages
    • PCAPP Destruction Technologies
    • PCAPP Team Biographies
    • Environmental Activities at PCAPP
    • Public Involvement at PCAPP
  • PCAPP Media Library
    • PCAPP Media Library (Main)
    • PCAPP News
    • PCAPP Videos
    • PCAPP Facts
    • PCAPP Press Releases
    • PCAPP Briefings, Reports, and Downloads
  • Archive
  • Job and Business Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • Privacy and Security Policy
Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)