METHOD FOR DECONTAMINATING GROUND FROM CESIUM RADIONUCLIDES Russian patent published in 2006 - IPC G21F9/28 

FIELD: environment protection.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method includes treatment of ground with aqueous solution incorporating mineral acids used as decontaminating chemical agents. For ground decontamination use is made of mixture of sulfuric and phosphoric acids, proportion of their concentrations, as expressed in moles, being 1-3. Phosphoric acid concentration amounts to 0.5-2M. Procedure is conducted at temperature of 50-100 °C followed by separation of aqueous solution containing decontaminating chemical agents from decontaminated ground. After that cesium radionuclides are extracted from separated solution. For the purpose alkali metal or ammonia is supplied to mentioned solution until concentration of 6 · 10^-4 to 7 · 10^-4M is attained and cesium radionuclide containing sediment is produced. Sulfuric or phosphoric acid is added to aqueous solution with residual content of chemical agent up to working concentration and mixed up with new portion of contaminated ground.

EFFECT: enhanced safety of method and rate of ground decontamination.

1 cl, 1 tbl, 1 ex