On June 22, 2023, PCAPP completed destruction of the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot stockpile of mustard agent filled munitions. Three methods were used:
1. Neutralization Followed by Biotreatment
Neutralization followed by biotreatment used pressurized hot water and bio sludge to effectively destroy the mustard agent molecules.
After a munition was washed out, the resulting product was hydrolysate, which is mostly water, and thiodiglycol, a common industrial chemical that is readily biodegradable. Ordinary sewage treatment bacteria, also known as microbes, consumed the organics in the hydrolysate. The biotreatment process is similar to the methods used in sewage treatment facilities across the country.
2. Explosive Destruction System
The Explosive Desctrutive System (EDS) was reserved for leaking or problematic munitions whose deteriorated physical condition does not easily allow for automated processing. In this process, charges were attached to up to six munitions at a time and detonated in order to open each munition for neutralization.
The learn more about the chemical weapons destruction technologies used at PCAPP, visit:
www.peoacwa.army.mil/pcapp/pcapp-destruction-technologies.
3. Static Detonation Chambers
SDC’s use thermal destruction methods to destroy munitions. A SDC is a nearly spherical, armored, high-alloy stainless steel vessel. The heat produced in this electrically-heated containment vessel detonated the munition to destroy the agent and munition components.