DETERGENT COMPOSITION

Patent · Wed Dec 14 00:00:00 EST 1960

OSTI ID:4118312

Stevenson, D G

A detergent composition suitable for removing radioactive metal contamination from objects and materials contains a synthetic surface active agent, a water-soluble polycarboxylic acid containing the group -N(CH/sub 2/COOH)/ sub 2/, a water-soluble nitrogen-free polycarboxylic acid, and an alkali metal or ammonium base to set up a buffer system of pH 3 to 9. The decontamination is more efficient if the metal forms an anionic complex with the acid containing the group -N(CH/sub 2/COOH)/sub 2/, and any quadrivalent ions such as Pu/sup 4+/ should be reduced since they would form neutral com plexes. The preferred components of the composition are C/sub 10/ to C/sub 15/ alkyl sulfate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or ammonia triacetic acid, and citric acid or oxalic acid. Where the contaminated surface is metallic, a source of fluoride ions should be added. Examples of the use of this composition are given in which Ce/sup 144/, Sr/sup 90/, and Pu/sup 23/ /sup 9/ contamination is removed from cotton twill, aluminum, and stainless-steel. A graph is included which illustrates the effect of pH on the removal of Ce/sup 3+/ and Sr/sup 2+/ from cotton twill. (D.L.C.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-15-007268
• OSTI ID: 4118312
• Report Number(s): GB 856377
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-61
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CHEMISTRY
ACETIC ACID
ACIDS
ALKYL RADICALS
ALUMINUM
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIONS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CERIUM 144
CITRIC ACID
COMPLEXES
CONTAMINATION
COTTON
DECONTAMINATION
DETERGENTS
EDTA
FLUORIDES
IONS
METALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
OXALIC ACID
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM 239
POLYCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
POLYMERS
RADIOACTIVITY
STAINLESS STEELS
STRONTIUM 90
SULFATES
TEXTILES