Patent Number: 046630856
Section: abstract

The invention resides in an apparatus for the decontamination of radioactivated metallic waste by the electrolytic oxidation-reduction with an aqueous nitric acid solution containing trivalent cerium ions, i.e. the step of converting the trivalent cerium ions into tetravalent cerium ions through electrolytic oxidation and the step of dissolving the surface layer of the radioactivated metallic waste by oxidizing it with the electrolytic solution now vested with the oxidative power of the freshly produced tetravalent cerium ions and, at the same time, effecting regeneration of the tetravalent cerium ions. The main objects of this invention are to provide a high decontamination efficiency and suppression of the amount of secondary waste to be generated to the minimum by the apparatus which is capable of thoroughly dissolving the surface layer of the object under treatment without reference to size and shapes, the very factors that prevent the conventional methods of decontamination from fulfilling their functions indiscriminately, thereby lowering the level of radioactivity to a point where the object will be handled as safely as ordinary industrial waste.