Methods of decontaminating nuclear waste-containing soil
US5495062A · kind A · utility
9Cited by
4References
18Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 12, 1994 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 12, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P10/20
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Soil including sand and clays contaminated with nuclear waste materials are decontaminated by treating with anhydrous liquid ammonia alone or in combination with solvated electrons. Methods comprise concentrating radionuclides, such as plutonium and uranium in the fines of soil and clay to yield residual soil products which are sufficiently free of contaminants to allow reclamation. Economics are improved over aqueous systems since ammonia can be recovered and recycled. By concentrating nuclear wastes in soil fines space requirements ordinarily needed for storage of untreated soil and handling costs can be significantly reduced.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.