The Government of Japan has been making efforts to solve the issue of chemical weapons abandoned in China by setting up the Abandoned Chemical Weapons Coordination Council (hereafter called the Coordination Council) in August 1997, following the Cabinet approval. As part of the efforts, the Technology Study Group for the Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons (hereafter called the Technology Study Group) was established in May 1998 to study various technologies for the destruction of abandoned chemical weapons from technological and professional viewpoints and to present the Group's view to the Coordination Council.

Subsequently, "Invitation for Submission of Technology Proposal for the Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons" was published in the Gazette dated July 6th this year and the receipt of technology proposals commenced in order to collect extensively information of prospective technologies from domestic/foreign private enterprises and other entities, ensuring a fair and transparent process, for the study by the Technology Study Group. As a result, a considerable number of proposals were submitted by domestic/foreign private enterprises and other entities. The scope of this invitation for the proposals covers the destruction technologies (Pre-treatment, Treatment and Post-treatment Technologies) that form part of the total disposal process, which consists of excavation/recovery, transportation/storage, destruction, etc., necessary for the disposal of the abandoned chemical weapons, estimated at about 700,000, that exist at various sites including Haerbaling Area of Dunhua City, Jilin State (the largest burial site).

This Interim Report was prepared in order to report to the Coordination Council the future study plan and the destruction technologies to be further studied by the Technology Study Group.

The on-going study by the Technology Study Group is being conducted as part of information gathering on available technologies for the destruction of abandoned chemical weapons, but is not a pre-qualification examination to tender conducted by a procurement entity.

CONTENTS

1. Outline of Past Studies

2. Destruction Technologies to Be Further Studied by the Technology Study Group

3. Future Study Plan

1. Outline of Past Studies

Since Japan has no experience of the destruction of abandoned chemical weapons, the Technology Study Group considered it an appropriate step to acquire and study data and information on available destruction technologies from domestic/foreign enterprises and other entities. At the second meeting, the Technology Study Group approved the "Invitation for Submission of Technology Proposal for the Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons" which specifies the five technical requirements (the first stage); namely, efficacy/integrity, schedule, environmental emission standards, safety and maturity. The Secretariat (the Abandoned Chemical Weapons Coordination Division, Councillors' Office on External Affairs, Cabinet Secretariat) then made it public and called for technology proposals from domestic/foreign private enterprises and other entities. At the fourth meeting, the Technology Study Group identified the destruction technologies which are to be further studied, based on the submitted technology proposals. At the same time, based on the technical requirements for the environment and safety (the first stage), the Technology Study Group has examined more detailed technical requirements for the environment and safety, the evaluation procedures for the technology proposals and other issues.

As for the detailed technical requirements for the environment, the Technology Study Group has put forth the following basic principle: If the Chinese law does not provide for any emission standards regarding substances related to the destruction of abandoned chemical weapons where as such standards exist in the Japanese, the American or the European law, then their standards will be applied; in case such standards do not exist in the latter laws, then the necessity for establishing such standards will be studied.

Regarding the detailed technical requirements for the safety, the safety measures only related to the equipment and buildings of the facility, i.e., the principles, countermeasures for explosions and leakage, etc., were examined on the understanding that more detailed safety measures would be established in the future and, as required, reviewed.

[Reference]

(1) Outline of the First Meeting

1) Date and Time
May 1st, 1998 (Friday) 14.00 - 16.00

2) Primary Agenda
a. Outline of the issue of Abandoned Chemical Weapons
b. Examples of destruction technologies

3) Contents

The Secretariat (Abandoned Chemical Weapons Coordination Division) explained the issue of abandoned chemical weapons in China, the characteristics of abandoned weapons, tentative destruction schedule considered in accordance with CWC, and the background in setting up the Technology Study Group. Further, the current situation of foreign destruction facilities was explained based on the reports of research teams dispatched to the US and Europe. Questions and answers followed.

(2) Outline of the Second Meeting

1) Date and Time

June 23rd, 1998 (Tuesday) 14.00 - 16.00

2) Primary Agenda

Technology proposals for the destruction of abandoned chemical weapons (including the technical requirements (the first stage))

3) Contents

The documents "Invitation for Submission of the Technology Proposal for the Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons" and "Technical Requirements (the First Stage)" were examined and adopted by the Technology Study Group.

(3) Outline of the Third Meeting

1) Date and Time

July 30th, 1998 (Thursday) 14.00 - 16.00

2) Primary Agenda

a. Technical requirements (the second stage) for technology proposals for the destruction of abandoned chemical weapons

b. Evaluation criteria for technology proposals

3) Contents

Technical requirements (the second stage) and evaluation criteria were discussed.

(4) Outline of the Fourth Meeting

1) Date and Time

September 29th, 1998 (Tuesday) 14.00 - 16.30

2) Primary Agenda

The Interim Report (Draft) of "The Technology Study Group for the Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons"

3) Contents

The Interim Report (Draft) was reviewed and discussed.

2. Destruction Technologies to be further studied by the Technology Study Group

Based on the submitted technology proposals, the Technology Study Group will further study the destruction technologies (Pre-treatment and Treatment Technologies) listed in Tables (1) and (2) hereafter, as the technologies to dispose of Yellow munitions (the munitions filled with so-called "Yellow agents" including mustard and lewisite) and Red munitions (the munitions filled with so-called "Red agents" including diphenylcyanoarsine and the like). Here, the Treatment Technologies refer to the destruction technologies used to process chemical agents (Yellow and Red agents).

In addition to those destruction technologies listed in Tables (1) and (2) hereafter, the Technology Study Group will study the accompanying destruction technologies which can dispose of Red canisters and other types of munitions, and which can process explosives and metal parts after the Pre-treatment process.

As Post-treatment is closely related to the final disposal procedure of solid wastes, it is necessary to study the Post-treatment Technologies together with the examination of preferable final disposal procedure.

(1) Pre-treatment Technologies

Mechanical Piercing	Technology that mechanically pierces projectiles and the like and extracts chemical agents
Mechanical Cutting	Technology that mechanically cuts projectiles and the like
Waterjet Cutting	Technology that cuts projectiles and the like by using high-pressure water jet with abrasives
Ammonia Fluid Jet Cutting	Technology that cuts projectiles and the like into pieces by using high-pressure ammonia fluid jet
Low-pressure Fluid Jet Cutting	Technology that cuts projectiles and the like by using low-pressure caustic fluid with abrasives
Cryofracture / Cryoshear / Cryotec	Technology that mechanically breaks projectiles and the like after immersing them in a pool of liquid nitrogen
Detonation Chamber	Technology that breaks projectiles and the like by detonating them in a chamber

(2) Treatment Technologies (including the technology in which both the Pre-treatment and Treatment processes are combined as a single process)

Incineration	Technology that incinerates chemical agents in the furnace
Plasma Melting	Technology that induces oxidation of chemical agents in a pool of slag melted by the plasma torch
Molten Salt Oxidation	Technology that induces oxidation of chemical agents using a catalytic pool of molten salt
Detonation Chamber	Technology that destroys projectiles and the like by detonating them in a chamber and induces thermal decomposition of chemical agents by using the heat in the chamber
Engineered Buried Implosion	Technology that buries projectiles underground, destroys them by engineered implosion, then induces thermal decomposition of chemical agents by using the heat due to the implosion
Pyrolysis	Technology that induces thermal decomposition of chemical agents by heating them under non-oxygenic conditions
Neutralization	Technology that decomposes chemical agents in a solution by adding neutralizing agents
Super Critical Water Oxidation (SCWO)	Technology that oxidizes and decomposes chemical agents by using air or oxygen in water at temperatures and pressures above the critical point of water
Electrochemical Oxidation	Technology that oxidizes and decomposes chemical agents in a solution including metallic ions
Gas Phase Chemical Reduction	Technology that reduces and decomposes chemical agents in an atmosphere of excess hydrogen at a high temperature
Solvated Electron Technology	Technology that reduces and decomposes chemical agents by using the solvated electron solutions including metallic ions
Sodium Reduction Technology	Technology that reduces and decomposes chemical agents by using the solution produced by dissolving sodium in alcohol

Note : The Technologies are not listed in any particular order in the above Tables (1) and (2).

3. Future Study Plan

With regard to the destruction technologies as mentioned in 2. above, the subjects listed in (2) hereafter will be studied based on the submitted technology proposal documents and, where necessary, the supplementary technical information to be acquired, taking the points listed in (1) hereafter into consideration.

(1) Points to be Considered in the Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons

In the future study, the following specific features relating to the destruction of the abandoned chemical weapons need to be taken into consideration:

1) Since the abandoned chemical weapons have been buried in the ground for a long time and heavy corrosion and damage are observed, it is not practical to apply a pre-treatment process similar to the "Reverse Assembly" which has been used for the disassembly of the stockpile of chemical weapons in the US.

2) Since it is required to complete the disposal of a large number of abandoned chemical weapons, estimated at about 700,000, within the period stipulated in CWC, a process rate that can meet this requirement is necessary.

3) Since the existence of projectiles that contain picric acid as booster charge is confirmed and there is a possibility that picrates (highly sensitive to explosion) may have been formed therein, well-considered safety measures for the process of breaking or handling of the projectiles is necessary.

4) Since it is anticipated that a considerable portion of the chemical agents contains arsenic , the management of arsenic as a final waste will be a key issue.

Furthermore, unlike cases in which a well identified target substance is processed by a proven and well-established technology, this project has the following constraints.

1) It is ideal to select the most suitable destruction technology based on fully detailed information on the munitions after all of the estimated 700,000 munitions have been excavated and identified. However, the extent of the investigation of the abandoned chemical weapons is limited due to safety concerns and budgetary constraints and other issues.

2) Since the degree of corrosion/damage varies from munition to munition, it is difficult to quantitatively evaluate the formation of picrates and the probability of explosions.

Taking the above constraints into consideration, the Technology Study Group needs to identify the required investigations as well as the tests in the study process of the technologies for the destruction of the abandoned chemical weapons.

(2) Subjects to be further studied

Primary subjects to be further studied by the Technology Study Group are summarized as follows. The next report will be prepared based on the results of studies on these subjects.

1) Study on Specific Technical Requirements
The technical requirements (the second stage) for the environment and safety and will be further studied. If any additional specific technical requirement is necessary, it will also be studied.

2) Study of Each Constituent Process Technology (See note below)
The characteristics and advantages/disadvantages of each constituent process technology of Pre-treatment and Treatment will be identified, and, where necessary, technical conditions to be required for the process technologies will be studied.

Furthermore, as Post-treatment Technologies are closely related to the final disposal procedure of solid wastes, it is necessary to study the Post-treatment Technologies together with the examination of preferable final disposal procedure.

Note:

The "Constituent Process Technology" quoted herein covers the following three process technologies:

Pre-treatment Technology:

Technology to break and cut into pieces the munitions

Treatment Technology:

Technology for treatment of substances produced by the Pre-treatment (Treatment technology for each of chemical agents, explosives and metal parts, where they are separated in the Pre-treatment process.)

Post-treatment Technology:

Technology for treatment of each of exhaust gases, effluents and solid wastes

3) Study of Combinations of Constituent Process Technologies
With regard to combinations of constituent process technologies, the characteristics and advantages/disadvantages will be identified, and, as required, technical conditions to be required for the combinations will be studied.

4) Others
Including the points mentioned above in (1), the Technology Study Group will identify technical matters to be further investigated and researched in detail in relation to the destruction technologies. Technical matters in relation to the excavation, recovery, transportation and storage of the chemical weapons, which constitute the work processes prior to the destruction processes, will also be identified, as required.

(End)