Patent ID: 6702902
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: G21F

Abstract:
Method for the decontamination of a steel surface consisting in bringing the surface to be decontaminated into contact with a pickling solution comprising nitric acid and a first oxidation agent of the metal constituents of the steel surface such that the face of the said surface is eroded by the oxidation of the metallic constituents it contains, wherein said bringing into contact is achieved by direct, continuous introduction into the pickling solution of a gas comprising a second oxidation agent to continuously homogenize and oxidize at least partly said first oxidation agent reduced by the oxidation of the metallic constituents of the surface, wherein the pickling solution is an aqueous solution containing nitric acid at a concentration of approximately 0.5 to 5 mol.1âˆ’1 and cerium nitrate at a concentration of approximately 0.001 to 0.1 mol.1âˆ’1, and wherein the contact temperature is maintained in the range of approximately 10 to 80Â° C.