Decontaminating agent and process for dissolving radioactively contaminated surfaces of metallic components

Abstract

Abstract A reagent consisting of an HBF4 acid with at least one oxidising agent, preferably hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, added has been found for efficiently decontaminating radioactively contaminated metal components. Ideally, this mixture consisted of a 5%-strength HBF4 acid with 0.5 % by volume of H2O2 added. Radioactively decontaminated lead plates, for example, were removed from this reagent, while the contaminated solution was used as electrolyte without further additions. The contaminated lead or lead oxide deposits at the anode or cathode and can be disposed of as nuclear waste, while the solution can be returned to the process. The process can be performed in exactly the same way using the same reagent if the metal is not lead but copper, nickel, steel, silver or mercury or their alloys. <IMAGE>

Inventors

• 👤 Jozef Hanulik
• 👤 Jean-Francois Equey

Bibliographic Details