Development of a cleanser for decontamination purposes with controlled foaming characteristics

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1973

OSTI ID:4939353

Kunze, S

Comparative tests of the decontamination power of 1% aqueous cleanser solubons were carried out on contaminated stainless steel plates (material no. 1.4541) with stirring after fixed time intervals; the amount and stability of foam produced from aqueous solutions containing 0.5 and (partly) 10% of cleanser was measured at 20 and 100 deg C. For a further clsssification, the pH value and the residue after drying st 105 deg C and after incineration at 875 deg C of the cleanser were determined. The plates had been contsminated by evaporating to dryness a weakly acidic, carriercontsining solution of the isotopes /sup 137/Cs, / sup 45/Ca, /sup 106/Ru, and /s up 60/Co. The substances tested include the household, industrial and laboratory cleanser used in the nuclear research center, metal cleansers and decontamination agents and some commercial cleaning agents. The results regarding decontamination power and foaming were only partly satisfactory. Variations of composition of the best fit non-ionic detergent solutions gave preparations showing moderate foaming at low temperatures, low foaming at high temperatures. Strong formation and high stabtlity of foam at elevated temperstares were demonstrated to exist in the case of the anionic sodium alkylsulfonste which is still contained in many cleansers. The influence of additions of complexing agents and of pH on the decontamination power of the non-ionic detergent mixtures with controlled foaming was studied on various surfaces. The complex formers included formic, gluconic, lactic, oxalic, thioglycolic, tartaric, citric a cid, disodium- dihydrogenethylenediaminetetrsacetste (EDTA-Na/sub 2/), and sodium orthophosphate. The solutions were investigsted in the pH range between 3 and 9 on PVC floor covering, epoxy resin coatings, and stainless steel (material no. 1.4541). Based on these results, a new decontaminating agent called Papan-Dekopan 85'' was developed. Its properties are included in the table of the cleansers tested; their dependence temperature and dilution is plotted in graphs. The product has successfully been used in the equipment decontsmination at the Decontamination Department (ADB) as well as by the decontamination squad in action. It is produced under license by Max Morant, A schsu/Chiemgau. (auth)

• Research Organization: Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe (F.R. Germany). Abt. Dekontaminationsbetriebe
• Sponsoring Organization: Sponsor not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-29-029134
• OSTI ID: 4939353
• Report Number(s): KFK--1848
• Country of Publication: Germany
• Language: German

Related Subjects

CALCIUM 45
CESIUM 137
CHELATING AGENTS
COBALT 60
DECONTAMINATION
DETERGENTS
EPOXIDES
EQUIPMENT
N40420* --Chemistry--Radiochemistry & Nuclear Chemistry-- Properties of Radioactive Materials
PH VALUE
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE
PVC
REMOVAL
RUTHENIUM 106
STAINLESS STEELS
SURFACES