• COVID-19
  • Progress
  • eNewsletter Sign-Up
  • 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: The safe elimination of chemical weapons at Pueblo and Blue Grass by Sept. 30, 2023

    • About PEO ACWA
      • Destruction Progress
      • 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
      • Hydrolysate Shipments
    • 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

Essential Test Complete for Secondary System

Published: April 21, 2020 | Category: BGCAPP News, Technology
Workers install the first supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) reactor in the SCWO Processing Building at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in November 2013. The SWCO system completed shakedown testing with surrogate and simulant materials in early April.

Workers install the first supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) reactor in the SCWO Processing Building at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in November 2013. The SWCO system completed shakedown testing with surrogate and simulant materials in early April.

Operators tested the Blue Grass hydrolysate processing system using chemical solutions that simulate real hydrolysate processing during a 30-day shakedown period that ended in early April. This follows a successful system demonstration using water plus isopropyl alcohol in January.

“The shakedown was designed to be as realistic as possible to train each crew to be proficient on the operation of the supercritical water oxidation, or SCWO, system,” said Dave Apodaca, SCWO deputy manager. “We used a surrogate solution to replace the energetics hydrolysate, as it will now not be produced in the main plant, and a solution to simulate GB nerve agent hydrolysate during this shakedown period.”

Crews started up, operated and shut down SCWO reactors during the shakedown to gain familiarity with the equipment and procedures, Apodaca said. They also tweaked and tuned instrumentation for optimal operations. The crews concentrated on two of the three reactors with one reactor to be selected for a four-month pre-operational assessment after the shakedown results are complete.

“The shakedown went well and provided us good information,” said Chuck Hieronimus, interdisciplinary engineer, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. “The SCWO team is preparing a report on the results of the activity. Once the report is reviewed and approved, the system is scheduled for a pre-operational assessment to evaluate the sustained performance of the system before we start processing the agent hydrolysate produced by the main plant.”

In operations, the SCWO system will process hydrolysate, the product of the chemical weapons neutralization process, using a high-pressure and -temperature process. Water, carbon dioxide and a brine solution will be the end result.

Progress continues at the site and includes workforce measures in accordance with the most up-to-date guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure their health and to prevent the potential spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

BGCAPP Technology Articles

  • Workers lower a 30,000-pound buffer tank into the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 1200 building through an opening in the roof. This tank will buffer exhaust gases from the destruction process of the drained nerve-agent rocket warheads before the gases are processed in the off-gas treatment system.

    New Tank Safely Lowered Through Roof

    Published: March 30, 2022
  • Workers pass a piece of plywood up the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 stairs in preparation for opening the roof to allow a new piece of equipment to be lowered into the building. The building passed decontamination verification testing in January, which means workers do not have to wear chemical protective gear as they prepare for the system’s next activity.

    Former Mustard Destruction Facility Passes Crucial Test

    Published: March 1, 2022
  • Demilitarization Protective Ensemble entrants decontaminate equipment in the Munitions Washout System room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Since all projectiles have been destroyed, much of this equipment is no longer needed for chemical weapons destruction.

    Decontamination Efforts Begin on Projectile Equipment

    Published: February 8, 2022
  • An operator cuts up the buffer tank from the mustard-processing off-gas treatment system at the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 1200 site Jan. 11. The tank pieces are being disposed of as scrap and a new buffer tank will be installed for the upcoming drained VX rocket warhead destruction campaign.

    Equipment Removed for Site Upgrade

    Published: February 1, 2022
  • Workers guide a stand-by diesel generator as it is lifted by a crane in preparation for placement on its foundation at the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 2000 site Jan. 11. During operations, this generator will provide back-up power in the event of a total power outage.

    From Tents to Today, a Year at the New Site

    Published: January 27, 2022
  • A team of Blue Grass plant operators demonstrate the process for loading a tanker during a visit of local and state officials on Sept. 21.

    State, Local Officials Observe Tanker Loading in Preparation for Hydrolysate Shipment

    Published: October 5, 2021
  • A scientist holds a slice of the propellant portion of a rocket motor, a shaped chemical compound known as the propellant. After being separated from the rocket warheads during the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant destruction process, the motors are crated and stored pending their shipment for disposal as a secondary waste.

    Rocket Motors Stored to Await Destruction

    Published: September 30, 2021
  • A training specialist explains the automated rocket processing equipment installed at the Duncannon Training Center for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell during his visit to the facility Aug. 18.

    Senator McConnell Visits Training Facility

    Published: August 30, 2021
  • Members of two community advisory groups watch as a robot moves a containerized punched and drained VX test rocket warhead during a tour at the Duncannon Training Center for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Community Advisory Group Members Tour Training Facility

    Published: August 17, 2021
  • A robot moves a non-contaminated rocket motor separated from its warhead to place it into a shipping crate in the Motor Packing Room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The motors, in their shipping and firing tubes, will be packaged and transported to Anniston, Alabama, for disposal in a Static Detonation Chamber unit.

    Rocket Motors Extensively Studied Before Shipment

    Published: July 29, 2021
No tags.

Other Recent BGCAPP News

  • Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Monthly Recap – April 2022

    Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Monthly Recap – April 2022

    May 2, 2022
  • Entire U.S. Stockpile of VX Nerve Agent Eliminated

    Entire U.S. Stockpile of VX Nerve Agent Eliminated

    April 20, 2022
  • Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    April 19, 2022
  • U.S. Chemical Demilitarization Transparency Event Held for International Organization

    U.S. Chemical Demilitarization Transparency Event Held for International Organization

    March 31, 2022
  • BGCAPP Monthly Recap – March 2022

    BGCAPP Monthly Recap – March 2022

    March 31, 2022

BCGAPP Technology Videos

  • Kentucky Workers Prepare for Next Campaign

    Kentucky Workers Prepare for Next Campaign

    August 12, 2020
  • Robots Take Apart Nerve Agent-filled Rockets

    Robots Take Apart Nerve Agent-filled Rockets

    April 20, 2018
  • Piping Pressure Builds at Blue Grass Plant

    Piping Pressure Builds at Blue Grass Plant

    February 8, 2018
  • Blue Grass Air Filter Banks Prepared for Testing and Operations

    Blue Grass Air Filter Banks Prepared for Testing and Operations

    January 31, 2018
  • What is BGCAPP?

    What is BGCAPP?

    November 17, 2017

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 chemical weapons 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
    • Destruction Progress
    • 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
    • Hydrolysate Shipments
  • 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)