Patent Number: 048805599
Section: abstract

Disclosed is a method of decontaminating the metal surfaces in the cooling system of a nuclear reactor by contacting the metal surfaces with an aqueous solution containing about 0.5 to about 3% of a ceric acid which can be tetrasulfato ceric acid, hexasulfamato ceric acid, hexaperchlorato ceric acid, or mixtures thereof, and about 1 to about 5% of an inorganic acid that forms a complex with the ceric acid.. The cerium III in the aqueous solution can be oxidized to cerium IV to increase the life and effectiveness of the solution. After oxidation, the aqueous solution can be passed through a hydrogen form cation exchange column to remove metal ions. If the aqueous solution contains uranyl or plutonyl ions these can be recovered by extraction for use in making fuel.. Also disclosed is a decontaminating solution of water containing about 0.5 to about 3% of a ceric acid which can be tetrasulfato ceric acid, hexasulfamato ceric acid, hexaperchlorato ceric acid, or mixtures thereof, and about 1 to about 5% of an inorganic acid that forms a complex with the ceric acid.