The biotreatment process continues to be successful in treating hydrolysate, the product of the mustard agent neutralization process, at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP).

“We’re treating real hydrolysate and have proven that we can process thiodiglycol and salt water just like the plant was designed,” said Paul Usinowicz, technical advisor, PCAPP.

Biotreatment Area (BTA) systems, including 30-day Hydrolysate Storage Tanks, Immobilized Cell Bioreactors and Brine Concentrator Feed Tanks are working together and processing hydrolysate at a 25 percent concentration of thiodiglycol, the main ingredient in mustard agent hydrolysate, Usinowicz said.

“Now that the BTA is in operations, we are beginning to ramp the plant up to 100 percent feed rates to prepare for Integrated Facility Demonstrations [when the plant will run at full capacity and additional data collected as part of Pilot Testing],” said Kim Jackson, plant manager, PCAPP. “We are currently processing 2,100 rounds per week and will gradually move to 4,032 rounds.”

The increase in munition processing will also mean an increase in the amount of hydrolysate being fed into the BTA.