Demilitarization

Demilitarization and Disposal of Explosive Material. An important consequence of international agreements to greatiy reduce the stockpiles of conventional and nuclear munitions is the intensification of a program to develop procedures to destroy, recycle, and/or reclaim explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnic material efficientiy and without significant environmental impact. 

Develop, prepare, and publish demilitarization procedures for assigned materiel... 

Containment Structure Concepts. In some types of safety facilities, it is either necessary or desirable to completely contain the effects of internal explosions. This requirement can arise because personnel, critical equipment, or critical operations must be located very near the facility, so one wishes to entirely eliminate blast emitted from the safety structure. A more stringent requirement requiring complete containment occurs in facilities for demilitarization of chemical munitions. Here, the extremely toxic... 

The Army terminology for destruction of obsolete weapons Is "demilitarization". This term encompasses all the steps required to disassemble and safely destroy or decontaminate the component materials of which the munition was constructed. National Academy of Sciences and Department of the Army Guidance for demilitarization of obsolete chemical weapons (t) requires absolute safety and security, assurance of total containment of agent during processing, maximum protection of operating personnel and Incontrovertible evidence verifying the destruction of the toxic wastes. 

Safety Barriers. Figure 1 illustrates an application employing intrinsically safe electrical circuits for the demilitarization of ammunition. Three separate areas are required for this application - one area, classified as non-hazardous, to serve as the control and loading area a second area, classified as hazardous, where the actual demilitarization is accomplished and a third area, classified as non-hazardous, is required for the hydraulic pump due to the level of noise produced. 

The U.S. Army Defense Ammunition Center and School is employing the use of intrinsically safe electrical circuits in equipment designed to demilitarize and renovate munitions - from small arms to large projectiles. This is accomplished by using pneumatics and hydraulics to provide the power, while using position switches and solenoid valves linked to programmable controllers to direct the total machine process. 

Ammunition Peculiar Equipment, commonly referred to as APE, is specialized equipment for use in the maintenance, modification, renovation, surveillance and demilitarization of ammunition items. This equipment is used at world wide military installations with ammunition missions that require any of the above mentioned activities. 

OTHER PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Full protective clothing will consist of the m3 butyl rubber suit with hood, M2A1 butyl boots, M3 gloves, impregnated underwear, M9 series mask and coveralls (if desired), or the Demilitarization Protective Ensemble (DPE). For general lab work, gloves and lab coat shall be worn with M9 or M17 mask readily available. 

Demilitarization Protective Emsemble (DPE), or Toxicological Agent Protective Ensemble Self-Contained (TAPES), used with prior approval from AMC Field Safety Activity. 

Analysis of Engineering Design Studies for Demilitarization of Assembled Chemical Weapons at Blue Grass Army Depot... 

ANALYSIS OF ENGINEERING DESIGN STUDIES FOR DEMILITARIZATION OF ASSEMBLED CHEMICAL WEAPONS... 

Committee on Review and Evaluation of Alternative Technologies for Demilitarization of Assembled Chemical Weapons Phase II... 

In 1996, persuaded by the public opposition in Lexington, Kentucky, and Pueblo, Colorado, Congress enacted Public Law 104-201, which instructed the Department of Defense (DoD) to conduct an assessment of the chemical demilitarization program for destruction of assembled chemical munitions and of the alternative demilitarization technologies and processes (other than incineration) that could be used for the destruction of the lethal chemical agents that are associated with these munitions. The Army established a... 

M M2 8 MACT MAV MDB MDM MEO MPA MPa MPT MSB molar concentration energetic material used for propulsion of certain assembled chemical weapons maximum achievable control technology modified ammunition van munitions demilitarization building munitions demilitarization machine mediated electrochemical oxidation methylphosphonic acid megapascals metal parts treater munitions storage building... 

PA PCP PCR PFA PGB PHA PID PLC PMACWA PMD POTW ppm PRH PRR psi psig PTFE PVDF PWS picric acid pentachlorophenol propellant collection reactor perfluoroalkoxy product gas burner preliminary hazards analysis proportional integral differential controller programmable logic control Program Manager for Assembled Chemical Weapons Assessment projectile mortar demilitarization (machine) publicly owned treatment works parts per million projectile rotary hydrolyzer propellant removal room pounds per square inch pounds per square inch gauge polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) polyvinylidene fluoride projectile washout system... 

WHEAT WMDM WPMD water hydrolysis of explosives and agent technology WHEAT multipurpose demilitarization machine WHEAT projectile/mortar disassembly (machine)... 

It safely treats process offgases using a combination of thermal treatment, catalytic oxidation, activated carbon filters, and treatment of the munitions demilitarization building (MDB) HVAC system ventilation air through activated carbon filter media prior to release. 

In 1996 Congress enacted two laws, Public Law 104-201 (authorization) and Public Law 104-208 (appropriation), mandating that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) assess technology alternatives to the baseline incineration system developed by the Army for the demilitarization of assembled chemical weapons and that it conduct demonstration tests for at least two of them. The laws included the following stipulations ... 

DEMILITARIZATION OF ASSEMBLED CHEMICAL WEAPONS AT BLUE GRASS ARMY DEPOT... 

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