Chemical Agent Disposal Technology by a 2-step Process(II) (Agent Hydrolysis followed by Supercritical Water Oxidation)

A 2-step process for the safe destruction of chemical wafare agents(agent hydrolysis followed by supercritical water oxidation) was studied to obtain kinetic data for the pilot plant design. This process is simple to operate by using commercial equipments and could be applied as an alternative technology to incineration. Sarin(GB) and sulfur mustard(HD) were hydrolysed in sodium hydroxide and water respectively and their hydrolysates and OPA, which is binary agent for GB were oxidized in a continuous flow supercritical water oxidation system. Destruction efficiencies of the materials were above 99.99% in supercritical water.