Patent Number: 048287598
Section: claims

1. A process for decontaminating radioactively contaminated metallic materials using a decontamination agent selected from the group consisting of fluoroboric acid; water soluble salts of fluoroboric acid; and mixtures thereof in aqueous solution, said decontamination agent having a concentration of about 0.05 to about 50 mol/liter in said aqueous solution, said process comprising contacting radioactively contaminated objects to be decontaminated with said decontamination agent; dissolving surface layers of said radioactively contaminated objects by said contacting with said decontamination agent; and separating said decontamination agent from radioactive contaminants and impurities by distillation. 2. A process in accordance with claim 1, wherein said surface layers of said radioactively contaminated objects are dissolved by immersing said radioactively contaminated objects in said decontamination agent, and additionally comprising conditioning a sump comprising said radioactive contaminants and impurities which is obtained after said distillation for removal. 3. A process in accordance with claim 2, wherein said conditioning of said sump comprises neutralizing, drying and depositing with potassium hydroxide. 4. A process in accordance with claim 2, wherein said conditioning of said sump comprises neutralizing with potassium hydroxide, and then solidifying with cement or bitumen. 5. A process in accordance with claim 2, additionally comprising separating dissolved radioactively contaminated material from said decontamination agent during said dissolving of said surface layers; and recycling said separated decontamination agent to said decontamination process after said distillation. 6. A process in accordance with claim 2, wherein said radioactive contaminants and solid impurities are separated by chemical precipitation with hydroxides. 7. A process in accordance with claim 2, wherein solid secondary reaction products produced on the surfaces of said radioactively contaminated objects during said decontamination are mechanically removed from said surfaces of said objects. 8. A process in accordance with claim 2, additionally comprising testing said decontamination agent used for said dissolution of said surface layers of said radioactively contaminated objects to determine the composition of said decontamination agent. 9. A process in accordance with claim 6, additionally comprising electrochemically separating dissolved metals from said decontamination agent and removing said dissolved metals and the precipitate separated from said used decontamination agent when the radioactive contamination of said dissolved metals and said precipitate exceeds a predetermined value. 10. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein said chemical precipitation with hydroxides comprises adding Ca.sup.2+ ions to said used decontamination agent in the form of Ca(OH).sub.2 to precipitate said radioactive contaminants and solid impurities, and separated precipitate is conditioned by solidifying with a cement to remove said radioactive contaminants and solid impurities from said used decontamination agent. 11. A process in accordance with claim 9, additionally comprising adding cations to said decontamination agent after said separation of said radioactive contaminants and solid impurities to convert said decontamination agent to a compound which is substantially insoluble in water. 12. A process in accordance with claim 2, wherein said used decontamination agent is distilled to drying and said sump product is pyrolyzed. 13. A process in accordance with claim 12, additionally comprising reacting said pyrolyzed sump product with hydrogen to produce metals and HF, and recycling said HF into a distillation device. 14. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said surface layers of said radioactively contaminated objects are dissolved by spraying said radioactively contaminated objects with said decontamination agent. 15. A process in accordance with claim 2 additionally comprising separating said decontamination agent from said contaminants and said solid impurities by electrochemical means. 16. A process in accordance with claim 7 wherein said mechanical removal comprises abrasively treating said surfaces with solid ice particles. 17. A process in accordance with claim 7 wherein said mechanical removal comprises abrasively treating said surfaces by brushing. 18. A process in accordance with claim 1, wherein said decontamination agent containing the radioactive contaminants and impurities is used as an electrolyte for transforming a pre-transformed geometry of materials into a transformed geometry of said materials which is easily measured and electrolytically produced.