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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)
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      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

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Decision Made on Hydrolysate Treatment

Published: March 31, 2021 | Category: BGCAPP News, Technology
In this file photograph from August 2018, Dr. George Lucier, deputy chief scientist, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, explains to members of a public working group the rerouting of piping in the Supercritical Water Oxidation Processing Building to prepare for the possibility of hydrolysate shipment at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The decision was made in August 2020 to ship the hydrolysate to a permitted disposal facility for final destruction.

In this file photograph from August 2018, Dr. George Lucier, deputy chief scientist, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, explains to members of a public working group the rerouting of piping in the Supercritical Water Oxidation Processing Building to prepare for the possibility of hydrolysate shipment at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The decision was made in August 2020 to ship the hydrolysate to a permitted disposal facility for final destruction.

Hydrolysate, the product of nerve-agent neutralization at the Blue Grass plant, will be destroyed at an off-site hazardous-waste treatment, storage and disposal facility in Texas, program officials announced March 3.

“We considered three technologies: bio-treatment, deep-well injection and incineration,” said Michael Abaie, program executive officer, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives during the public meeting conducted online.

Off-site shipment to a facility capable of safe and environmentally compliant incineration was the only technology that met program needs, Abaie said. He also explained the process had a good safety and performance record.

Following the announcement to not use the plant’s supercritical water oxidation secondary treatment system, the decision of how and where to treat the hydrolysate had to be made. Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass selected Veolia as the destruction facility through a contract process, Abaie said.

“We used Veolia in Port Arthur in 2018 and 2020 to destroy program hydrolysate,” Abaie said, discussing his experience with the program’s temporary off-site treatment requirements from the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in Colorado. “They do a great job and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons recognizes them as a destruction facility.”

The shipment of hydrolysate is expected to begin in late summer, following the completion of permitting actions and other planning measures. Hydrolysate is the result of the mixture of nerve agent with hot water and sodium hydroxide to neutralize it. It is tested to ensure it contains no chemical agent or byproducts and that it does not contain flammable compounds before being released to await off-site shipment.

More BGCAPP Technology Articles

  • Workers in protective suits make updates to the Punch and Drain Station in the Munitions Demilitarization Building at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in preparation for upcoming GB nerve agent M55 rocket destruction. This automated system will punch holes in the rocket warheads and drain them of their chemical agent. (Portions of this photograph have been blurred in accordance with Department of Defense guidelines.)

    Rocket Destruction Efficiencies Applied for Final Destruction Campaign

    Published: June 30, 2022
  • Entrants in Demilitarization Protective Ensembles work to decontaminate a portion of the Munitions Washout System room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant where VX nerve agent projectiles were destroyed in early 2021. This work is being done in the changeover period between the destruction of the VX M55 rockets and the start of the GB nerve agent M55 rockets. (Portions of this photograph have been blurred in accordance with Department of Defense guidelines.)

    Changeover Period Begins at Blue Grass Plant

    Published: May 31, 2022
  • 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
hydrolysate

Related News

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

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

    July 28, 2022
  • Army Official: Work at Blue Grass Plant a ‘Success’

    Army Official: Work at Blue Grass Plant a ‘Success’

    July 13, 2022
  • Last Munitions Destruction Campaign Begins at Kentucky Plant

    Last Munitions Destruction Campaign Begins at Kentucky Plant

    July 7, 2022
  • Rocket Destruction Efficiencies Applied for Final Destruction Campaign

    Rocket Destruction Efficiencies Applied for Final Destruction Campaign

    June 30, 2022
  • Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Monthly Recap – June 2022

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

    June 30, 2022

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