Hydrolysate Shipments from BGCAPP

Hydrolysate, as seen in this 2018 laboratory photograph, was a liquid waste stored in tanks at BGCAPP prior to off-site shipment for disposal. The last shipment of hydrolysate was made on Aug. 16, 2023.
Hydrolysate, as seen in this 2018 laboratory photograph, was a liquid waste stored in tanks at BGCAPP prior to off-site shipment for disposal. The last shipment of hydrolysate was made on Aug. 16, 2023.
Hydrolysate, as seen in this 2018 laboratory photograph, was a liquid waste stored in tanks at BGCAPP prior to off-site shipment for disposal. The last shipment of hydrolysate was made on Aug. 16, 2023.
Hydrolysate, as seen in this 2018 laboratory photograph, was a liquid waste stored in tanks at BGCAPP prior to off-site shipment for disposal. The last shipment of hydrolysate was made on Aug. 16, 2023.

The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) completed destruction of the chemical weapons stockpile stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) July 7, 2023.

During the destruction process, neutralization, broke down nerve agent into a wastewater product known as hydrolysate. This wastewater was shipped off site for further processing.

During the plant’s closure stage, hydrolysate will continue to be generated through decontamination activities.

The facility receiving and treating the liquids is Veolia North America near Port Arthur, Texas.

En Español

La Planta Piloto de Destrucción de Agentes Químicos Blue Grass (Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant) destruyó armas químicas almacenadas en el Depósito del Ejército de Blue Grass cerca de Richmond, Kentucky. Se utilizó un proceso llamado neutralización para destruir algunas de las armas, creando un producto de aguas residuales conocido como hidrolizado. Las aguas residuales se analizaron para asegurarse de que no contenían agentes químicos y luego se enviaron a Veolia North America cerca de Port Arthur, Texas, para su posterior procesamiento. El último envío se realizó en agosto de 2023, después de que se completaran las operaciones de destrucción de armas en julio de 2023. Para obtener información, comuníquese con la Oficina de extensión de existencias de productos químicos de Blue Grass (Blue Grass Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office) en bgoutreach@iem.com.

En Español

La Planta Piloto de Destrucción de Agentes Químicos Blue Grass (Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant) destruyó armas químicas almacenadas en el Depósito del Ejército de Blue Grass cerca de Richmond, Kentucky. Se utilizó un proceso llamado neutralización para destruir algunas de las armas, creando un producto de aguas residuales conocido como hidrolizado. Las aguas residuales se analizaron para asegurarse de que no contenían agentes químicos y luego se enviaron a Veolia North America cerca de Port Arthur, Texas, para su posterior procesamiento. El último envío se realizó en agosto de 2023, después de que se completaran las operaciones de destrucción de armas en julio de 2023. Para obtener información, comuníquese con la Oficina de extensión de existencias de productos químicos de Blue Grass (Blue Grass Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office) en bgoutreach@iem.com.

hydrolysate tanks

What is Hydrolysate?

BGCAPP hydrolysate was the product of the neutralization of nerve agent drained from chemical munitions stored at the depot during plant operations and will continue to be generated through decontamination activities during the plant’s closure stage.

The liquid waste has a high pH, making it comparable to a commercial drain cleaner or liquid bleach. Technicians used lab-created hydrolysate to calibrate equipment and prepare for plant operations.

Hydrolysate, as seen in this 2018 laboratory photograph, was a liquid waste stored in tanks at BGCAPP prior to off-site shipment for disposal. The last shipment of hydrolysate was made on Aug. 16, 2023.
Hydrolysate, as seen in this 2018 laboratory photograph, was a liquid waste stored in tanks at BGCAPP prior to off-site shipment for disposal. The last shipment of hydrolysate was made on Aug. 16, 2023.

Safe History of Transportation

Hydrolysate is a Department of Transportation Class 8 corrosive material, a hazard similar in many ways to other corrosive materials shipped daily in the U.S. and throughout the world. Hydrolysate was previously shipped from other chemical demilitarization facilities in the U.S. and from BGAD.

For example, all VX nerve agent hydrolysate from the Newport Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Indiana was incinerated at Veolia beginning in 2007.

In 2009, 1,000 gallons of GB nerve agent hydrolysate was shipped from Kentucky to the Veolia facility as part of Operation Swift Solution.

The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in Colorado shipped more than 842,000 gallons of mustard agent hydrolysate to Veolia for processing in 2017, 2018 and 2020.

An Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons treaty inspector observes as a tag is placed on the last shipment of hydrolysate from the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Aug. 16, 2023.
An Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons treaty inspector observes as a tag is placed on the last shipment of hydrolysate from the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Aug. 16, 2023.
An analyst and an Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons treaty official view a sample of VX hydrolysate in the laboratory at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Each batch of hydrolysate is tested to ensure chemical agent has been destroyed and that it is not flammable before being released to storage tanks to await off-site shipment.
An analyst and an Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons treaty official view a sample of VX hydrolysate in the laboratory at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Each batch of hydrolysate was tested to ensure chemical agent was destroyed and that it was not flammable before being released to storage tanks to await off-site shipment.

Safety First

Safety of the workforce, community and environment was a top priority for the project during weapons destruction operations and continues now during the closure activities. The utmost care and attention to detail was followed when shipping hydrolysate from BGCAPP and currently when shipping caustic solution. All applicable state laws and Department of Transportation regulations are followed.

Resources and Contact Information

BGCAPP Environmental Activities

For more information about hydrolysate shipment, contact Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant outreach staff at (859) 626-8944 or bgoutreach@iem.com.

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