Decontamination of radioactively contaminated liquids

Claim 1

A method of decontaminating mixtures of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated water-immiscible organic liquids to produce a decontaminated organic liquid which can be disposed of in a conventional manner, said method comprising: (a) separating a discontinuous mixture of radioactively contaminated water and a radioactively contaminated water-immiscible organic liquid in which the organic liquid comprises a continuous phase into a waste water fraction carrying metal radionuclides and an organic liquid fraction carrying metal radionuclides; (b) decontaminating said waste water fraction; (c) mixing said radioactively contaminated organic liquid fraction with a sufficient amount of an aqueous solution of a water-soluble chelating agent until water-soluble metal-chelate complexes form between said chelating agent and substantially all of said metal radionuclides carried by said organic liquid fraction; (d) separating said aqueous solution from said organic liquid fraction thereby removing said water-soluble metal-chelate complexes containing substantially all of the radionuclides from said organic liquid fraction, making said organic liquid substantially free of radionuclides and safely disposable by conventional methods; and (e) decontaminating said aqueous solution.

Claim 2

A method of decontaminating mixtures of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated water-immiscible organic liquids to produce a decontaminated organic liquid which can be disposed of in a conventional manner, said method comprising: (a) separating a discontinuous mixture of radioactively contaminated water and a radioactively contaminated water-immiscible organic liquid in which the organic liquid comprises a continuous phase into a waste water fraction carrying metal radionuclides and an organic liquid fraction carrying metal radionuclides; (b) decontaminating said waste water fraction; (c) mixing said radioactively contaminated organic liquid fraction with a sufficient amount of an aqueous solution of a water-soluble chelating agent until water-soluble metal-chelate complexes form between said chelating agent and substantially all of said metal radionuclides carried by said organic liquid fraction; (d) separating said aqueous solution from said organic liquid fraction thereby removing said water-soluble metal-chelate complexes containing substantially all of the radionuclides from said organic liquid fraction, making said organic liquid substantially free of radionuclides and safely disposable by conventional methods; and (e) decontaminating said aqueous solution.

Claim 19

A method of decontaminating the organic liquid portions of mixtures of water and radioactively contaminated water-immiscible organic liquids to produce a decontaminated organic liquid which can be disposed of in a conventional manner, said method comprising: (a) separating a discontinuous mixture of radioactively contaminated water and a radioactively contaminated water-immiscible organic liquid in which the organic liquid comprises a continuous phase into a waste water fraction and an organic liquid fraction carrying metal radionuclides; (b) mixing said radioactively contaminated organic liquid fraction with a sufficient amount of an aqueous solution of a water-soluble chelating agent until water-soluble metal-chelate complexes form between said chelating agent and substantially all of said metal radionuclides carried by said organic liquid; and (c) separating said aqueous solution from said organic liquid fraction thereby removing said water-soluble metal-chelate complexes containing substantially all of the radionuclides from said organic liquid fraction, making said organic liquid substantially free of radionuclides and safely disposable by conventional methods.

Claim 20

A method of decontaminating the organic liquid portions of mixtures of water and radioactively contaminated water-immiscible organic liquids to produce a decontaminated organic liquid which can be disposed of in a conventional manner, said method comprising: (a) separating a discontinuous mixture of radioactively contaminated water and a radioactively contaminated water-immiscible organic liquid in which the organic liquid comprises a continuous phase into a waste water fraction and an organic liquid fraction carrying metal radionuclides; (b) mixing said radioactively contaminated organic liquid fraction with a sufficient amount of an aqueous solution of a water-soluble chelating agent until water-soluble metal-chelate complexes form between said chelating agent and substantially all of said metal radionuclides carried by said organic liquid; and (c) separating said aqueous solution from said organic liquid fraction thereby removing said water-soluble metal-chelate complexes containing substantially all of the radionuclides from said organic liquid fraction, making said organic liquid substantially free of radionuclides and safely disposable by conventional methods.

Claim 21

A method of decontaiminating emulsions of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated lubricating oil to produce decontaminated lubricating oil which can be disposed of in a conventional manner, said method comprising: (a) heating an emulsion of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated lubricating oil to a temperature of about 180° F.; (b) centrifugally separating said heated emulsion into a radioactively contaminated waste water fraction carrying metal radionuclides and a radioactively contaminated oil fraction carrying metal radionuclides; (c) decontaminating and disposing of said waste water fraction; (d) filtering said radioactively contaminated oil fraction thereby removing any fine particulate suspended material therefrom; (e) centrifugally mixing and heating said radioactively contaminated oil fraction with an aqueous solution of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid in an amount and for a time period sufficient for water-soluble metal-chelate complexes to form between said ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and substantially all of said metal radionuclides carried by said oil fraction while maintaining a pH of about 10.5; (f) separating said aqueous solution from said oil fraction thereby removing said water-soluble metal-chelate complexes containing substantially all of the radionuclides from said oil fraction making said oil fraction safely disposable by conventional methods; (g) decontaminating said water fraction thereby removing substantially all of the radionuclides therefrom; and (h) disposing of said oil fraction in a conventional manner.

Claim 22

A method of decontaiminating emulsions of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated lubricating oil to produce decontaminated lubricating oil which can be disposed of in a conventional manner, said method comprising: (a) heating an emulsion of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated lubricating oil to a temperature of about 180° F.; (b) centrifugally separating said heated emulsion into a radioactively contaminated waste water fraction carrying metal radionuclides and a radioactively contaminated oil fraction carrying metal radionuclides; (c) decontaminating and disposing of said waste water fraction; (d) filtering said radioactively contaminated oil fraction thereby removing any fine particulate suspended material therefrom; (e) centrifugally mixing and heating said radioactively contaminated oil fraction with an aqueous solution of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid in an amount and for a time period sufficient for water-soluble metal-chelate complexes to form between said ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and substantially all of said metal radionuclides carried by said oil fraction while maintaining a pH of about 10.5; (f) separating said aqueous solution from said oil fraction thereby removing said water-soluble metal-chelate complexes containing substantially all of the radionuclides from said oil fraction making said oil fraction safely disposable by conventional methods; (g) decontaminating said water fraction thereby removing substantially all of the radionuclides therefrom; and (h) disposing of said oil fraction in a conventional manner.

Claim 26

A method of decontaminating mixtures of radioactively contaminated particulate material and emulsions of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated water-immiscible organic liquids, thereby producing a decontaminated organic liquid which can be disposed of in a conventional manner, said method comprising: (a) separating a mixture of radioactively contaminated particulate material and an emulsion of radioactively contaminated water and a radioactively contaminated water immiscible organic liquid into an emulsion portion and a particulate portion; (b) disposing of said particulate portion; (c) separating said emulsion into a radioactively contaminated waste water fraction carrying metal radionuclides and a radioactively contaminated organic liquid fraction carrying metal radionuclides; (d) mixing said radioactively contaminated organic liquid fraction with an amount of an aqueous solution of a water-soluble chelating agent in a manner and for a time period sufficient for water-soluble metal-chelate complexes to form between said chelating agent and substantially all of said metal radionuclides carried by said organic liquid; (e) separating said aqueous solution from said organic liquid fraction thereby removing said water-soluble metal-chelate complexes containing substantially all of the radionuclides from said organic liquid; (f) decontaminating said water fraction thereby removing substantially all of the radionuclides therefrom; and (g) disposing of said oil fraction in a conventional manner.

Claim 27

A method of decontaminating mixtures of radioactively contaminated particulate material and emulsions of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated water-immiscible organic liquids, thereby producing a decontaminated organic liquid which can be disposed of in a conventional manner, said method comprising: (a) separating a mixture of radioactively contaminated particulate material and an emulsion of radioactively contaminated water and a radioactively contaminated water immiscible organic liquid into an emulsion portion and a particulate portion; (b) disposing of said particulate portion; (c) separating said emulsion into a radioactively contaminated waste water fraction carrying metal radionuclides and a radioactively contaminated organic liquid fraction carrying metal radionuclides; (d) mixing said radioactively contaminated organic liquid fraction with an amount of an aqueous solution of a water-soluble chelating agent in a manner and for a time period sufficient for water-soluble metal-chelate complexes to form between said chelating agent and substantially all of said metal radionuclides carried by said organic liquid; (e) separating said aqueous solution from said organic liquid fraction thereby removing said water-soluble metal-chelate complexes containing substantially all of the radionuclides from said organic liquid; (f) decontaminating said water fraction thereby removing substantially all of the radionuclides therefrom; and (g) disposing of said oil fraction in a conventional manner.

Claim 28

A method of decontaminating mixtures of radioactively contaminated particulate material and emulsions of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated lubricating oil to produce decontaminated lubricating oil which can be disposed of in a conventional manner, said method comprising: (a) separating a mixture of radioactively contaminated particulate material and an emulsion of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated lubricating oil into an emulsion portion and a particulate portion; (b) disposing of said particulate portion; (c) heating said emulsion of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated lubricating oil to a temperature of about 180° F.; (d) centrifugally separating said heated emulsion into a radioactively contaminated waste water fraction carrying metal radionuclides and a radioactively contaminated oil fraction carrying metal radionuclides; (e) filtering said radioactively contaminated oil fraction thereby removing any fine particulate suspended material therefrom; (f) centrifugally mixing and heating said radioactively contaminated oil fraction with a sufficient amount of an aqueous solution of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid for a time period sufficient for water-soluble metal-chelate complexes to form between said ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and substantially all of said metal radionuclides carried by said oil fraction while maintaining a pH of about 10.5; (g) separating said aqueous solution from said oil fraction thereby removing said water-soluble metal-chelate complexes containing substantially all of the radionuclides from said oil fraction; (h) filtering said separated oil fraction; and (i) decontaminating said aqueous solution thereby removing substantially all of the radionuclides therefrom; and (j) disposing of said oil fraction in a conventional manner.

Claim 29

A method of decontaminating mixtures of radioactively contaminated particulate material and emulsions of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated lubricating oil to produce decontaminated lubricating oil which can be disposed of in a conventional manner, said method comprising: (a) separating a mixture of radioactively contaminated particulate material and an emulsion of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated lubricating oil into an emulsion portion and a particulate portion; (b) disposing of said particulate portion; (c) heating said emulsion of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated lubricating oil to a temperature of about 180° F.; (d) centrifugally separating said heated emulsion into a radioactively contaminated waste water fraction carrying metal radionuclides and a radioactively contaminated oil fraction carrying metal radionuclides; (e) filtering said radioactively contaminated oil fraction thereby removing any fine particulate suspended material therefrom; (f) centrifugally mixing and heating said radioactively contaminated oil fraction with a sufficient amount of an aqueous solution of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid for a time period sufficient for water-soluble metal-chelate complexes to form between said ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and substantially all of said metal radionuclides carried by said oil fraction while maintaining a pH of about 10.5; (g) separating said aqueous solution from said oil fraction thereby removing said water-soluble metal-chelate complexes containing substantially all of the radionuclides from said oil fraction; (h) filtering said separated oil fraction; and (i) decontaminating said aqueous solution thereby removing substantially all of the radionuclides therefrom; and (j) disposing of said oil fraction in a conventional manner.

Claim 30

A method of decontaminating mixtures of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated water-immiscible organic liquids to produce a decontaminated organic liquid which can be disposed of in a conventional manner, said method comprising: (a) separating a discontinuous mixture of radioactively contaminated water and a radioactively contaminated water-immiscible organic liquid in which the organic liquid comprises a continuous phase into a waste water fraction carrying metal radionuclides and an organic liquid fraction carrying metal radionuclides; (b) decontaminating said waste water fraction; (c) mixing said radioactively contaminated organic liquid fraction with a sufficient amount of an aqueous solution of a water-soluble chelating agent and an inorganic precipitating agent in a manner and for a time period sufficient for water-soluble metal-chelate complexes to form between said chelating agent and a portion of said metal radionuclides carried by said organic liquid fraction and for insoluble metal-salt precipitates to form between said inorganic precipitating agent and the remainder of said radionuclides carried by said organic liquid fraction; (d) separating said aqueous solution and said metal-salt precipitate from said organic liquid fraction thereby removing said water-soluble metal-chelate complexes containing substantially all of the radionuclides from said organic liquid fraction, making said organic liquid substantially free of radionuclides and safely disposable by conventional methods; (e) separating said metal-salt precipitates from said aqueous solution; (f) decontaminating said aqueous solution; and (g) disposing of said organic liquid fraction in a conventional manner.

Claim 31

A method of decontaminating mixtures of radioactively contaminated water and radioactively contaminated water-immiscible organic liquids to produce a decontaminated organic liquid which can be disposed of in a conventional manner, said method comprising: (a) separating a discontinuous mixture of radioactively contaminated water and a radioactively contaminated water-immiscible organic liquid in which the organic liquid comprises a continuous phase into a waste water fraction carrying metal radionuclides and an organic liquid fraction carrying metal radionuclides; (b) decontaminating said waste water fraction; (c) mixing said radioactively contaminated organic liquid fraction with a sufficient amount of an aqueous solution of a water-soluble chelating agent and an inorganic precipitating agent in a manner and for a time period sufficient for water-soluble metal-chelate complexes to form between said chelating agent and a portion of said metal radionuclides carried by said organic liquid fraction and for insoluble metal-salt precipitates to form between said inorganic precipitating agent and the remainder of said radionuclides carried by said organic liquid fraction; (d) separating said aqueous solution and said metal-salt precipitate from said organic liquid fraction thereby removing said water-soluble metal-chelate complexes containing substantially all of the radionuclides from said organic liquid fraction, making said organic liquid substantially free of radionuclides and safely disposable by conventional methods; (e) separating said metal-salt precipitates from said aqueous solution; (f) decontaminating said aqueous solution; and (g) disposing of said organic liquid fraction in a conventional manner.