METHOD OF CLEANING IRRADIATED BERYLLIUM FROM RADIOACTIVE IMPURITIES Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC G21F9/28 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: method comprises removing tritium from irradiated beryllium, dissolving beryllium in acid, adding a complexing agent (preferably diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) or ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)), adding ammonia to precipitate beryllium hydroxide, converting the amorphous form of the beryllium hydroxide precipitate to a crystalline form, e.g., by prolonged heating in ammonia solution, separating the ammonia solution from the beryllium hydroxide precipitate by centrifuging or filtering. The separated beryllium hydroxide precipitate can be re-dissolved in acid and subjected to said treatment steps until the required degree of purity is achieved.

EFFECT: low radioactivity of highly active beryllium wastes, which enables re-fabrication and recycling thereof.

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