Systems and methods for treating hazardous materials are disclosed. One
exemplary implementation provides a system for rendering chemical weapons
materiel less hazardous. This system includes a detonation chamber, an
expansion chamber, and an emission treater adapted to treat gas from
detonation of the chemical weapons materiel. The emission treater yields
a substantially dry residual waste stream and a treated gas suitable for
venting to atmosphere. The emission treater may treat the gas with an
alkaline powder that interacts with the gas, producing the residual waste
stream.