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DF (Methylphosphonic Difluoride)

Pine Bluff Arsenal produced the precursor chemical methylphosphonic difluoride, or DF, at its Integrated Binary Production Facilities (IBPF) in the late 1980s and early 1990s as part of the United States’ Binary Chemical Weapons Program. Binary munitions contain two non-lethal chemicals that mix together in flight to form a lethal chemical.

Operators placed DF, a clear non-lethal liquid chemical with a pungent acid-like odor, inside a M20 canister. The M20 canister was designed for insertion into an artillery projectile on the battlefield. The projectile also contained a M21 canister filled with a solution of isopropyl alcohol and isopropylamine (OPA). Once fired, disks in the canisters would rupture allowing the DF and OPA to mix, forming GB nerve agent. The projectile consisted of a steel body containing a burster, fuze and two plastic-lined, hermetically sealed metal canisters. The explosive burster would shatter the projectile’s steel body, spreading agent onto a target area. This artillery projectile was the only binary chemical munition produced. International treaties now ban the production and stockpiling of chemical weapons and call for their destruction, including binary chemical munitions.

DF Storage

Officials stored the projectiles containing the M21 canisters separate from the M20 canisters at Deseret Chemical Depot, Utah, and Umatilla Chemical Depot, Oregon. The destruction of the artillery projectiles and M21 OPA-filled canisters ended in 1999 at Hawthorne Army Depot, Nevada. All M20 canisters and several 55-gallon drums of DF were sent to Pine Bluff Arsenal for destruction.

Processing DF Neutralent

DF, a clear, non-flammable liquid, has a strong acid-like odor. The compound can be combined with a second component to form the nerve agent sarin (GB). To destroy DF, operators add water to react with DF. The waste water that results from the process, while now free of DF, will contain hazardous byproducts that require additional treatment before disposal. The estimated 155,000 gallons of DF neutralent waste were shipped to Texas Molecular, Inc. in Deer Park, Texas, for treatment.

For the chemical treatment, the Army renovated an existing building into the Pine Bluff Binary Destruction Facility (PB BDF). PB BDF neutralization operations began December 2005, treating the canisters and drums of DF using neutralization, combining water with the DF. DF neutralization operations ended in April 2006.

After completing its QL destruction mission in September 2006, the Army demolished the PB BDF in accordance with U.S. international obligations. Destruction was completed in December 2006.

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RCMD Fact Sheets

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  • Munitions

  • Chemical Agent Identification Sets

  • Transportable Detonation Chamber (TDC)

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  • Multiple Round Container (MRC)

  • Managing Secondary Waste

  • QL (Diisopropyl Aminoethylmethyl Phosphonite)

  • Interim Holding Facility (IHF)

  • Digital Radiography and Computed Tomography System (DRCT)

  • Chemical Weapons Destruction Expertise

  • Phosgene Carbonyl Chloride

  • Mobile Munitions Assessment System (MMAS)

  • Magnetic Induction Decontamination System (MIDS)

  • Large Item Transportable Access and Neutralization System (LITANS)

  • Former Production Facilities Demolition

  • Materiel Assessment Review Board (MARB)

  • Portable Isotopic Neutron Spectroscopy (PINS)

  • Explosive Destruction System (EDS) Overview

  • RCMD Overview

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U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity
Mountain

The mountain has been an element that has graced many of the past depot emblems, representing Pike’s Peak.

Missile

The Pershing Missile in the center represents one of the most prominent missions of the depot in the 1980s.

Hawk

The hawk represents native depot wildlife, the present and future mission of the environmental programs, and was also the name of one of the missile systems supplied by the depot during its missile mission in the 1950s and 60s.

Insignias

The branch insignia of both the U.S. Army Chemical Corps and Ordnance Corps represent the depot’s command structure through its history as both an ordnance and a chemical depot.

Colors & Text

The colors cobalt blue and yellow gold are representative of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. “Pueblo Depot” is representative of the installation throughout its history. “1942” is the date of establishment. “Safety” and “Service” capture the continued and historical depot missions.

Motto

The motto translates to “A Common Good.”

Sun

The rising sun denotes the dawning of a new day without chemical weapons and the organization’s mission to safely destroy chemical weapons stockpile, thus changing the future of modern warfare.

Wheat

The three stalks of wheat symbolize the harvest of hope that has been secured through industry, cultivation and abundance. It also refers to the unit’s chemical/biological, smoke/obscurant and support to Homeland security industrial base missions at Pine Bluff Arsenal.

Eagle

The double-headed eagle suggests the two CMA methods for stockpile chemical weapons disposal, incineration and neutralization. These methods’ roots are traced back to Project Eagle I (incinerating of mustard agents) and Eagle II (neutralizing nerve agents).

Olive Branch

The olive branch signifies peace and the Activity’s commitment to abide by the stipulations of the Chemical Weapons Convention Treaty and assisting other nations.

Octagon

The octagon alludes to the eight original chemical weapons stockpile storage sites in the United States.