Nonhazardous solvent composition and method for cleaning metal surfaces

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:868765

Googin, John M ^[1]; Simandl, Ronald F ^[2]; Thompson, Lisa M ^[3]

---

1. Oak Ridge, TN
2. Farragut, TN
3. Knoxville, TN

A solvent composition for displacing greasy and oily contaminants as well as water and/or aqueous residue from metallic surfaces, especially surfaces of radioactive materials so that such surfaces can be wiped clean of the displaced contaminants, water and/or aqueous residue. The solvent composition consists essentially of a blend of nonpolar aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent having a minimum flash point of about 140.degree. F. and 2 to 25 volume percent of a polar solvent having a flash point sufficiently high so as to provide the solvent composition with a minimum flash point of at least 140.degree. F. The solvent composition is nonhazardous so that when it is used to clean the surfaces of radioactive materials the waste in the form of paper or cloth wipes, lab coats and the like used in the cleaning operation is not considered to be mixed waste composed of a hazardous solvent and a radioactive material.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): US 5207838
• OSTI ID: 868765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

nonhazardous
solvent
composition
method
cleaning
metal
surfaces
displacing
greasy
oily
contaminants
water
aqueous
residue
metallic
especially
radioactive
materials
wiped
clean
displaced
consists
essentially
blend
nonpolar
aliphatic
hydrocarbon
minimum
flash
140
degree
25
volume
percent
polar
sufficiently
provide
waste
form
paper
cloth
wipes
lab
coats
operation
considered
mixed
composed
hazardous
material
polar solvent
mixed waste
radioactive material
metal surface
volume percent
metal surfaces
active material
consists essentially
radioactive materials
solvent composition
active materials
metallic surfaces
hydrocarbon solvent
composition consists
aqueous residue
cleaning operation
metallic surface
aliphatic hydrocarbon
/134/510/