DISPOSAL OF SOLID ROCKET PROPELLANTS BY SUPERCRITICAL WATER OXIDATION

THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES AN SBIR PROJECT TO EVALUATE A NEW APPROACH TO PROPELLANT DEMILITARIZATION USING SUPERCRITICAL WATER OXIDATION (SCWO). THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN SHOWN TO EFFECTIVELY DESTROY TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS WASTES. THE OXIDATION IS CONDUCTED IN A CLOSED SYSTEM WHICH VIRTUALLY ELIMINATES POLLUTANT EMISSION TO THE ENVIRONMENT. THE EFFLUENTS OF PROPELLANT DESTRUCTION ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE NON-HAZARDOUS, POTENTIALLY REUSABLE AND/OR READILY DISPOSED. THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS TO DEMONSTRATE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF SCWO FOR PROPELLANT DISPOSAL, TO DEVELOP A FULL SCALE DESIGN, AND TO PROVIDE PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ESTIMATES.