Patent Number: 050358405
Section: claims

1. A process for reducing the metal salt concentration in metal salt contaminated H.sub.4 EDTA comprising the following steps in combination: (a) esterifying the metal salt contaminated H.sub.4 EDTA in the presence of an esterification reagent to produce an esterification reaction mixture comprising a metal salt and a liquid EDTA ester, and  (b) separating the metal salt from the esterification reaction mixture.  (a) esterifying the H.sub.4 EDTA precipitate containing radioactive metal salt in the presence of an esterification reagent and a non-protic organic solvent at a temperature of from about 0.degree. C. to the lower boiling point temperature of either the non-protic organic solvent or the esterification reagent for a period of time ranging from 15 minutes to about 24 hours to produce an esterification reaction mixture comprising a solid radioactive metal salt, and an EDTA ester, and  (b) separating the solid radioactive metal salt from the esterification reaction mixture to produce a separated solid including a solid radioactive metal salt, and a clarified esterification reaction mixture.  (a) esterifying the solid radioactive metal salt containing H.sub.4 EDTA precipitate in the presence of methanol at a temperature of from about 0.degree. C. to about the boiling point temperature of methanol but in any event no greater than about 220.degree. C. for a period of time of from about 15 minutes to about 24 hours to produce an esterification reaction mixture comprising the solid radioactive metal salt, methanol, and EDTA ester, and  (b) filtering the esterification reaction mixture to recover the solid radioactive metal salt and to define a clarified esterification reaction mixture. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein esterifying the metal salt contaminated H.sub.4 EDTA occurs in the presence of an organic solvent. 3. The process of claim 2 wherein the organic solvent is non-protic. 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the esterification reagent is an alcohol. 5. The process of claim 1 wherein the metal salt is a salt of a radioactive metal isotope. 6. A process for removing a radioactive metal salt contained in an H.sub.4 EDTA precipitate comprising the following steps in combination: 7. The process of claim 6 wherein the esterification reagent is a primary alcohol. 8. The process of claim 7 wherein the primary alcohol is methanol. 9. The process of claim 6 wherein the non-protic organic solvent is methanol. 10. The process of claim 6 wherein the solid radioactive metal salt is separated from the esterification mixture by filtration. 11. The process of claim 6 wherein the clarified esterification mixture is disposed of by incineration. 12. The process of claim 6 wherein the clarified esterification reaction mixture is hydrolyzed to produce a hydrolysis product including an H.sub.4 EDTA precipitate essentially free of solid metal salts and an hydrolysis solution comprising non-protic organic solvent, water and alcohol. 13. The process of claim 12 wherein the essentially solid metal salt free H.sub.4 EDTA precipitate is recovered from the hydrolysis solution, and the non-protic organic solvent and the alcohol are recovered from the hydrolysis solution and recycled to the esterification reaction. 14. The process of claim 6 wherein the clarified esterification mixture is distilled to produce essentially pure component streams of esterification reagent, organic solvent, excess alcohol and EDTA ester. 15. The process of claim 14 wherein the essentially pure streams of the esterification reagent, alcohol, and organic solvent are recycled for further use in the esterification reaction. 16. The process of claim 14 wherein the essentially pure EDTA ester stream is disposed of. 17. The process of claim 14 wherein the essentially pure EDTA ester stream is hydrolyzed under acidic conditions to produce an essentially solid metal salt free H.sub.4 EDTA precipitate. 18. The process of claim 14 wherein the essentially pure EDTA ester stream is hydrolyzed at basic conditions to produce an essentially metal salt free EDTA salt solution. 19. A process for removing a solid radioactive metal salt contained in an H.sub.4 EDTA precipitate comprising: