METHOD TO DECONTAMINATE RADIOACTIVE METAL WASTES Russian patent published in 2011 - IPC G21F9/34 

FIELD: ecology.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of radioactive metal wastes (RMW) treatment with the purpose to remove solid radioactive deposits from their surface and may find application to decontaminate RMW of stainless steels, which are generated during repair or dismantling of equipment, pipelines and metal structures of nuclear reactors. Metal wastes are previously maintained in the solution of sodium chloride for 50÷100 hours, then their electrochemical decontamination is carried out in the same solution in anode mode. Then wastes are maintained for 50÷100 hours in the aqueous solution of acid selected from the following group: sulfuric acid, orthophosphoric acid, nitric acid or in the aqueous solution of mixture of orthophosphoric, nitric and carbonic acids, with subsequent electrochemical decontamination accordingly in the same solution in anode mode. Efficiency of the method is provided at low power inputs and using comparatively low concentrations of electrolytes.

EFFECT: efficient and safe reduction of polyoxide strongly fixed radioactive contamination to the level, making it possible to reuse steel in industry.

9 cl, 7 tbl