METHOD FOR REMOVING TECHNETIUM FROM METAL CONTAMINATED WITH RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: decontamination of radioactive surfaces. SUBSTANCE: technetium is separated from radioactive metal in three-stage process. Contaminated metal is dissolved in acid solution; technetium contained in obtained solution as pertechnetate ions is quantitatively brought to its metal state due to substitution reaction between metal (that is carburization) and base metal possessing higher reducing potential; target metal practically free from technetium is extracted from solution by electrolysis. Method may also include stages using electrocleaning bath with cathode and anode compartments separated either by semi-permeable, or cationic, or ion- exchange membrane. Aqueous acid solution is continuously passed from anode compartment through base metal mass to cathode compartment. Anode is dissolved and metal extracted from decontaminated solution is settled down on cathode by means of electric current. EFFECT: improved efficiency and capacity of method, facilitated procedure. 11 cl, 1 dwg