Decontamination of stainless steel using cerium(IV): Material recycle and reuse
- Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (United States); and others
It has been demonstrated that the Cerium(IV) process can effectively remove radioactive contamination from stainless steel. Ce(IV) is a powerful oxidizing agent that is applied in an inorganic acid solution or as an atomized spray by injection into steam directed at the contaminated surface. Ce(IV) attacks the oxide layer and underlying metal surface to remove a 0.5-{mu}m to 3-{mu}m layer. This process has been implemented in a number of actual operations. In one application, a Ce(IV) steam decontamination process was instrumental in renovating hot cells at the High-Level Radiochemistry Facility (325-A building) at the Hanford site. The initial dose rate of approximately 100,000 mR/h was reduced to <50 mR/h and allowed manned entry during hot cell renovation activities. These valuable facilities have been returned to full operation. In an application at the West Valley Nuclear Services Co., Inc., the surfaces of stainless steel canisters that had been filled with vitrified high-level waste have been decontaminated. In some cases the free release levels for surface contamination have been achieved. In another application, five plutonium contaminated stainless steel vessels were decontaminated during decommissioning of the Critical Mass Facility at Hanford.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 598161
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970830-; TRN: 98:004758
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Beneficial Reuse `97: 5. annual conference on the recycle and reuse of radioactive scrap metal, Knoxville, TN (United States), 5-7 Aug 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997; Related Information: Is Part Of Beneficial reuse `97; PB: 565 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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