METHOD FOR DECONTAMINATION OF PARTS AND APPARATUSES CONTAMINATED BY RADIONUCLIDES Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: procedure of washing and decontamination of surfaces of equipment contaminated by radioactive substances, applicable in various operations at radiochemical plants. SUBSTANCE: washing baths with parts or apparatuses to be decontaminated are alternately filled with solutions of oxidizing and complexing agents, they are heated and cured at a heating temperature. Only part of the space of the washing bath or apparatus equal to 0.25 to 0.5 of its volume is filled with the solutions and heated to the boiling point. The method consists of several cycles of treatment. In each cycle heating is conducted by steps with disconnection of heat supply after every 10 to 15 min for 3 to 5 min with a total duration of each cycle within 1.5 to 2 hours. Another method of heating of the decontaminating solution is provided: gradual heating at a rate of 10 to 15 C per minute up to the beginning of the boiling process. EFFECT: enhanced cleaning coefficient by 3 to 40 times, reduced consumption of solutions by 35% and reduced time of decontamination by 1.5 times. 3 cl, 4 tbl