Patent ID: 8172955

Claim:
A process for decontaminating a solid organic substrate contaminated by solid radioactive particulate inorganic contaminants, comprising: contacting the solid organic substrate with an extraction medium, wherein the extraction medium is devoid of water and comprises: dense pressurized CO 2 ; at least one nonhalogenated surface-active compound chosen from the group consisting of block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide); and polydi(1 to 6C)alkylsiloxanes; and at least one complexing agent chosen from the group consisting of tributyl phosphate, crown ethers, tributylphosphine oxide, triphenylphosphine oxide, and tri(n-octyl)phosphine oxide; and subjecting the solid organic substrate or the extraction medium, or both the solid organic substrate and the extraction medium, to a mechanical action simultaneously with the contacting operation, thereby decontaminating the solid organic substrate of solid radioactive particulate inorganic contaminants.