The destruction of chemical warfare surrogates and subsequent phosphorus distribution during gasification

The ChemChar process enables gasification of a wide variety of liquid and s ludge wastes on a readily handled macroporous granular char. The process pr oduces combustible gas products, largely retains metals and halides on the char matrix, and effectively destroys organohalides without producing SOx, NOx, chlorinated dibenzodioxins or chlorinated dibenzofurans (which can occ ur with incineration). To study chemical warfare agent wastes under gasific ation conditions, the destruction removal efficiencies (DRE) of the chemica l warfare surrogates parathion and diethylchlorothiophosphate were determin ed. DREs of > 99.9996 % and > 99.99998 % were found for parathion and dieth ylchlorothiophosphate, respectively. Additionally, a study of the distribut ion of radiolabeled phosphorus (P-32) after gasification of parathion and t ributylphosphate showed essentially complete retention of the phosphorus wi thin the gasification system. This study illustrates that the ChemChar gasi fication process holds significant promise as an alternative to incineratio n for the safe and complete destruction of chemical warfare agent wastes.