Immobilized Cell Bioreactors are again treating hydrolysate, the product of the mustard agent neutralization process, after seeding with biomass from the local water reclamation facility.
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The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in Colorado is planning to temporarily ship excess hydrolysate to an off-site, permitted Treatment Storage and Disposal Facility. Hydrolysate is the product of the neutralization of chemical agent. Plant leaders explain how the process will be achieved safely and reinforce their dedication to using the biotreatment process as it was designed.
At the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP), hydrolysate is produced from the neutralization of mustard agent. The Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA) is committed to using the secondary destruction process of biotreatment at PCAPP to safely break down hydrolysate into water, salts and organics. Contingency planning was initiated for the potential, though unlikely possibility the Biotreatment Area at PCAPP experiences a failure.
During the course of pilot testing and operations at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP), there will be munitions unsuitable for processing by the plant’s automated system.
The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) is using neutralization followed by biotreatment to destroy the chemical weapons stockpile stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot. However, before the facility can begin processing rounds on a full-scale basis, it must demonstrate that personnel, facilities and equipment can process the munitions safely, compliantly and as designed. The systems have been rigorously tested, but not yet proven at this level to work together. Therefore, the Pilot Testing phase is the gradual introduction of mustard agent-filled munitions into the plant.
Making the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or PCAPP, biotreatment system work the way it is intended is a key priority for Army leaders overseeing the project.
On June 24, Biotreatment Area systems were turned over from systemization to operations, nearly completing the systemization phase at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.
The citizens of Colorado selected neutralization followed by biotreatment as an alternative to incineration for the Colorado stockpile of mustard agent munitions stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot.